Meet Alaa, the new Project Volunteer here at the International Secretariat!

Greetings everyone, I am Alaa. I am Palestinian, and I come from the city of Hebron. Now, I’m starting a new chapter in my career path, working as a project volunteer at SCI in Antwerp, Belgium. My commitment to peace takes on a profound significance given my origins in Palestine, a place where the struggle for peace is a daily reality.

My role at SCI is both promising and challenging. I am collaborating closely with the Project Officer and contributing to the impactful “No War Anywhere” project. I am also taking on responsibilities including organising physical training courses, helping managing microgrants, and ensuring meticulous project reporting.

My professional journey began with a profound commitment to education and social work. In 2018, I worked as an English teaching assistant at Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron, where I nurtured language skills among college students and facilitated enlightening language and cultural exchange days. Till the summer of 2019, I embarked on an internship at the Poland Representative Office of Palestine “Polish Aid”, in Ramallah, Palestine. During this tenure, I conducted field assessments, a vital step in evaluating and supporting projects funded by Polish Aid in the West Bank.

However, my journey extends far beyond my professional experience. Recently, I have pursued a rigorous Erasmus Mundus postgraduate program in Southern European Studies. It has been a transformative journey, spanning the University of Glasgow in Scotland, the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece. This European and international academic exposure has enriched my perspective and equipped me with a profound understanding of southern European dynamics.

As I step into this year with SCI, I am eager and hopeful for success, tranquility, and personal growth. I look forward to contributing my skills, experience, and passion to our collective pursuit of a more peaceful world.

The volunteering experience is possible thanks to the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union, and supported by the Belgian National Agency JINT.