鈥淭he Daughters for Life program is an opportunity for 91短视频 to support a worthy cause and to enrich the learning community here on campus at the same time,鈥� said Provost . 鈥淲e hope to bring talented young international women to campus who have significant academic and leadership potential.聽 We hope they can exercise their gifts here on campus, developing them further in order to make a significant contribution to their home communities after they graduate from 91短视频.鈥�

The foundation was founded in 2009 by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish in honor of the three daughters he lost during an Israeli shelling of their Gaza Strip home. An obstetrician and gynecologist by training, Abuelaish is now an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

He visited 91短视频 in November 2014 to talk about his book 鈥�,鈥� and to speak about peacebuilding through a medical lens. While on campus, he introduced the possibility of such a partnership with university officials. A favorable response led to more discussion and the signing of an MOU nearly a year later.

鈥淭he Daughters for Life Foundation is proud to be playing an important role in supporting the education of women in the Middle East,鈥� said Abuelaish, 鈥渁nd we are honored to have Eastern Mennonite join us in our transformative mission to foster peace through education. Establishing a just, safe, healthy and peaceful world is only possible if we ensure that women are educated and able to fully participate in and contribute to their communities and the world.鈥�

The Daughters for Life (DFL) program currently has more than 20 young scholars enrolled in a number of universities and colleges across North America and Bangladesh. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement, 鈥渂ut also for their character and commitment to improving the lives of girls and young women in the Middle East,鈥� according to the DFL website.

As part of their agreement, the students must agree to eventually 鈥渞eturn to their homelands to improve the lives of girls and young women in the Middle East.鈥� According to UNESCO, only 20% of women ages 15 and older are in the labor force, the lowest level of any world region. Women in these countries are twice as likely to be illiterate as men are and make up two-thirds of the region鈥檚 illiterate adults.

Applicants will be required to meet , said Director of Admissions .

Under the terms of the agreement, two full academic scholarships and lodging will be provided, along with international airfare, activity fees, textbooks and board.

As part of the agreement, Abuelaish will donate his time to one fundraising event to benefit both scholarship funds and DFL expenses relating specifically to the scholars at 91短视频.

Seven North American institutions, including 91短视频, will host students for the 2016-17 academic year: Coll茅ge聽Bor茅al, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Sault College, all in Ontario, Canada; and Manhattanville College and The University of Rochester in New York state, and New College of Florida, in Sarasota, Florida.

During a two-day visit to 91短视频 in early November, Abuelaish shared what he described as a 鈥渕essage of hope and of justice鈥� that views through a medical lens.

鈥淭he unit structure of our body is the cell. If one cell is sick, the whole body will react. My peace is linked to your peace. I am not in peace as long as others are not,鈥� said Abuelaish during his Suter Science Seminar speech, arguing that seemingly distant violent conflict affects everyone in the world.

In a separate interview, Abuelaish also used medical language to prescribe a first step people can take to address conflict elsewhere in the world.

鈥淲e need to dig deeper to find out the root causes of the problem,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s in medicine, we take the history, we learn the history in order to reach accurate diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis is the light, is the truth, which helps us to set up the right treatment, and not to be stereotyped or deceived or misinformed anymore. That鈥檚 what is important, the first step.鈥�

An obstetrician and gynecologist by training, Abuelaish is now an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. He also oversees the Daughters for Life Foundation, which was established in the memory of his three daughters to provide scholarships to women from the Middle East. Abuelaish is a vocal advocate for women鈥檚 education and empowerment to become 鈥渁gents of change in our world.鈥�

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a powerful reminder that the things that seem most tragic in our lives, we have the choice to turn them into something positive,鈥� said , director of . 鈥淗e places a lot of hope in educating women so that they are prepared and able to be more a part of peacebuilding processes 鈥� and that鈥檚 something that we’re committed to here at CJP to nurturing.鈥�

For several years, students supported by have been studying at universities in Gaza, Israel and several other Middle Eastern countries, and in August, five women from the region began studying at the New College of Florida. During his visit to campus, Abuelaish expressed interest in a partnership that would send students from Daughters for Life to study at 91短视频, and met with to discuss the possibility.

鈥淒r. Abuelaish鈥檚 story is compelling and one the world needs to hear,鈥� said Swartzendruber. 鈥淟ikewise, the dream of the Daughters for Life Foundation to educate girls and women from the Middle East is one that resonates with us at 91短视频. We will give serious consideration to developing a partnership with what is clearly a worthy cause, alongside the many other requests we receive from around the world.鈥�

In addition to the presentation, Abuelaish spoke at a seminary chapel, gave an evening community lecture, and attended a luncheon and conversation hosted by .

鈥淚 lost my daughters but I didn鈥檛 lose hope,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am here because of hope 鈥� [but] hope is not just a word 鈥� it needs someone to carry it, to believe in it, to move forward with it. Everything starts small. Start doing it. Others will follow you. Don鈥檛 wait for others. You need to start for yourself.鈥�

Three of his daughters between the ages of 13 and 21 were killed instantly, along with a 17-year-old niece.

Abuelaish, a gynecologist and obstetrician who was the first Palestinian doctor to work on the staff of an Israeli hospital, responded with a book, 鈥�,鈥� about his life, the tragedy that befell his family, and his vision for a peaceful future between Israelis and Palestinians. The book has been translated into more than 20 languages. Abuelaish has won numerous awards for his peace activism, and has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

During the first week in November, Abuelaish discusses his journey and the role that doctors can play as peacemakers at several public appearances at 91短视频 (91短视频).

鈥淪ince our emphasizes a holistic approach to health and healing, we are especially interested in hearing Dr. Abuelaish鈥檚 description of how healthcare delivery is linked to creating peace,鈥� said , professor of and director of the master鈥檚 in biomedicine program.

Abuelaish is now associate professor at the at the University of Toronto.

“Dr. Abuelaish has an inspiring story of forgiveness, resilience and hope,鈥� said , director of . 鈥淚n spite of losing three daughters and a niece due to Israeli shelling of his Gaza home, Dr. Abuelaish has chosen to work for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His choice to humanize rather than demonize the 鈥榦ther鈥� is a powerful example for all who are proponents of nonviolence.鈥�

The following events on campus will be open to the public:

• Tues., Nov. 4, 11-11:45 a.m. chapel, in Martin Chapel
• Tues., Nov. 4, 7-8:30 p.m. Community lecture, 鈥淔rom Forgiveness to Compassion: The personal journey of a Gaza physician鈥� followed by book signing, in Martin Chapel
• Wed., Nov. 5, 12-1 p.m. lunch and informal conversation about interfaith experiences in the Middle East, in West Dining Room
• Wed. Nov. 5, 1-2 p.m. Book signing, in
• Wed., Nov. 5, 4-5 p.m. , “I Shall Not Hate: A Journey of Hope through Faith, Tolerance and Courage鈥� followed by book signing, in Science Center 106

Abuelaish鈥檚 visit is sponsored by 91短视频, the , the 91短视频 Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, the 91短视频 Center for Interfaith Engagement, the 91短视频 and .