Amman, 15 October 2018
The Deputy Director General for neighbourhood policy and Enlargements Negotiations in the European commission, Mr. Maciej Popowski inaugurated “My Story” photo exhibition at the German Jordanian University (GJU) on Thursday, October 11th, 2018.  Mr. Popowski was received by the German Jordanian University President, Prof. Dr. Manar Fayyad. In addition, the EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana and the German Ambassador Ms. Birgitta Siefker-Ebrele were among the attendees.

My Story is a student-led initiative by the EU funded programme EDU-SYRIA. The initiative aims to achieve a better understanding of young Jordanian and Syrian students, their backgrounds and their ambitions.

Prof. Dr. Manar Fayyad praised the European Union for their support for EDU-SYRIA project at the German Jordanian University and for granting the students the opportunity to pursue their higher education and help them shape a more secure future for themselves.

Moreover, Dr. Dhiah Abou-Tair, EDU-SYRIA project manager, briefed the audience about the project’s achievements through which more than 1400 Syrian and Jordanian students have been granted higher education Scholarships.

Furthermore, Mr. Popowski met 150 EDU-Jordan and EDU-Syria students funded and engaged in a panel discussion with four students who participated in “My story”. This discussion comes in line with the EU’s focus on Education and Youth in Jordan.

During the panel discussion with the students, Mr. Popowski expressed his admiration for the efforts made by these students who managed to study despite the difficult circumstances they were living in.

“We are proud and happy when different Universities come together with our contribution to support higher education scholarships” said Mr. Popowski.

The initiative features a collection of stories about the lives of young Jordanian and Syrian students in host communities and refugee camps in Jordan who are trying to find their way under challenging conditions. The 24 participants are studying for an associate, bachelor or master’s degree under the European Union-funded programme “EDU-SYRIA”. This initiative includes a photo exhibition, a photo-book that has been written and designed by students, and a compilation of videos where the students share their stories.

About the EU Regional Trust Fund, the 'Madad' Fund:

Since its establishment in December 2014, an increasing share of the EU’s non-humanitarian aid for Syria’s neighbouring countries is provided through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis, the 'Madad' Fund. The Trust Fund brings a more coherent and integrated EU aid response to the crisis and primarily addresses long term economic, educational, protection and social needs of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, and supports overstretched host communities and their administrations. Today, the EU Regional Trust Fund is one of the key instruments through which the new EU partnership priorities with Jordan and Lebanon will be implemented.

https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhoodenlargement/neighbourhood/countries/syria/madad_en

About the EDU-SYRIA Project:

EDU-SYRIA is an EU funded project that helps vulnerable Jordanians from refugees host communities and Syrian refugees in Jordan to get access to higher education through a set of scholarship programs.

In 2015, the EU granted GJU with an initial contribution of Euros 4 Million that has enabled 400 students to enroll in Higher Education Institutions in Jordan. In 2016, the EU Syria Regional Trust Fund ‘Madad’ provided a second contribution of Euros 11 Million enlarging the number of scholarships to support 1400 students. The project is managed by the German Jordanian University ‘GJU’ and in partnership with Zarqa University, Jordan University for Science and Technology, Yarmouk University and Luminus Technical University College.

EDU-SYRIA provides Syrian refugees with advanced training and education, which will contribute to the future efforts of rebuilding the Syrian economy. Therefore, it supports the "No Lost Generation" strategy that aims to provide those affected by the conflict with the chance to shape a more stable and secure future for themselves and their families.

Hence, the project closely cooperates with Jordanian institutions that help vulnerable Jordanians such as the National Aid Fund, Tkiyet Um Ali and the Al-Aman Fund.