The GSSN counseling team focuses their efforts beyond traditional application guidance in light of the unique challenges students in Gaza now face. Counselors work with students to address these five expressed areas of hardship, many of which have been exacerbated during the recent escalated destruction:
- Lack of governmental and institutional support for Palestinian students
- Few universities have publicly offered pathways
Lost Records
Many students have no hard copies of records and cannot access transcripts with schools and servers destroyed
Internet Blockade
- Limited & intermittent internet make online educational options very challenging
- University applications cannot be accessed without outside support
Travel Restrictions
- Visa restrictions prevent Palestinians from traveling to many countries
- Attaining passports and travel documents is almost impossible
- The blockade means no one has been allowed in or out of Gaza since May, 2024
Competitive Scholarships
- Students are competing for a limited number of highly selective scholarships worldwide
- Few are ear-marked for refugees