Study support for young Palestinians

A project to support the education of young Palestinians is being launched, with the University of Florence working alongside the Il Cuore si Scioglie Foundation and Unicoop Firenze, in collaboration with a network of partners that includes the Islamic Community of Florence and Tuscany, the Giorgio La Pira International Student Center, and the Giovanni Paolo II Foundation.

The aim of the project is to give young Palestinians the opportunity to fulfil a dream: to attend university and to complete the course of study interrupted by the conflict that, for more than two years, has devastated Gaza and disrupted lives in the occupied territories of the West Bank.

The initiative was presented today at the Coop in Ponte a Greve by Daniela Mori, president of the Il Cuore si Scioglie Foundation and chair of the supervisory board of Unicoop Firenze; rector Alessandra Petrucci; Izzedin Elzir, Imam of Florence; Stefano Ermini, head of Italy Projects at the Giovanni Paolo II Foundation; Maria Orfeo, board member of the Giorgio La Pira International Student Center; and Filippo Pratesi, director of the Federazione Misericordie of Tuscany. 

The purpose of the fundraising campaign, held from Saturday 13 December to Tuesday 13 January in Unicoop Firenze stores, is to finance three‑year scholarships, also providing board, lodging, language courses, psychological support, healthcare coverage, tutoring activities, and local transport passes. The beneficiaries will be 8 Palestinian university students enroled in bachelor’s or master’s degree programmes, supported by student tutors, and 2 researchers.

The project aims to ensure that Palestinian students have the opportunity to safely complete their educational path in Italy, without losing crucial years of study. It also provides support for their voluntary return to Palestine and their reintegration into the local community through the partner network. 

Once the students have been selected, the project will facilitate their arrival in Italy through the activation of a dedicated humanitarian corridor. The University of Florence will contribute by waiving tuition fees and supporting the management of their academic careers through the assignment of dedicated university tutors.

The Islamic Community, thanks to its ties with the Palestinian territory, will handle travel logistics and the preliminary phases (support in obtaining the documents required for expatriation; coordination of travel stages; organisation of reception upon arrival in Italy, etc.). The Giovanni Paolo II Foundation, by providing a specialist in first‑reception services, will support the students’ arrival in Italy, their initial entry, and all the procedures needed to ensure their prompt and effective integration into the Italian territory. The Giorgio La Pira International Student Center will organise Italian language courses for the beneficiaries both in Palestine and throughout their university studies. 

“The initiative, carried out together with the Il Cuore si Scioglie Foundation and Unicoop Firenze, will enable eight students and two Palestinian researchers to continue their studies and research, rebuilding a life project that was interrupted. This is the third action promoted by the University of Florence in just a few weeks in support of the Palestinian population, following the interventions launched in September and October in collaboration with institutional and national partners. It is a commitment that reaffirms the role of the University of Florence in ensuring access to education, continuity in training, and concrete support for research even in the most fragile contexts,” said rector Alessandra Petrucci.