Engineer Bilal Zedan is representative of something positive and possible for Palestine, a young man with a long term focus on using his skills and knowledge to construct not just buildings in his troubled native land, but also futures.
The 26-year-old, born in 1997 on the day Palestinians observe Nakba, or the catastrophe remembering the 1948 displacement of the people, is currently far from events in both his own West Bank and Gaza.
Mr Zedan, born in the north West Bank city of Tulkarm, is the current recipient of the Copty Scholarship, awarded each year to a Palestinian student to study for a masters at Queen’s University.
Jerusalem-born Georgina Copty and husband Chris McDowell, a former Queen’s student, founded the scholarship in 2020 and recently announced it will continue for a further five years.
The scholarship is “empowering me to envision and work towards a future where I can leverage my skills and knowledge to make a tangible difference, especially in the reconstruction and development of Palestine”, Mr Zedan said, adding his chosen masters is in construction and project management.
“For Palestinian students aspiring to study abroad, the journey is fraught with obstacles, from financial hardships to the complexities of navigating international education systems,” he said.
“Yet, the aspiration to contribute to our homeland’s development drives us to overcome these challenges.
“Scholarships do more than just provide financial relief; they open doors to world-class learning experiences that are often out of reach.
“They enable us to bring back valuable knowledge and skills that can be instrumental in rebuilding and advancing our communities. My eyes are always set on Palestine.”
Mr Zedan, who headed the American Society of Civil Engineers at the An-Najah University in Nablus prior to his move to Belfast last year, is planning to pursue a PHD in civil engineering with the aim of contributing to “the construction of not just buildings, but futures”.
Tulkarm, entered by Israeli Defence Forces in October last year, is renowned as a city of knowledge and scholars, Mr Zedan said. His engineer father inspired him to pursue a career in the field, while the value of education was instilled by his mother, a high school biology teacher.
His birth on the day of the Nakba, May 15, “serves as a constant reminder and motivation for me to strive for excellence, embodying the resilience born out of pain and the enduring spirit of my people”.
“My ultimate goal is to be a pivotal force in the narrative of Palestinian resilience and prosperity, transforming challenges into stepping stones for a brighter future for my homeland, Palestine.”
Mr McDowell said: “Our intention, through this scholarship, is to directly support individual Palestinians, empowering them through education and international exposure to make a positive difference in their communities.”
