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Friends Schools Financial Aid Program

The FS provides quality education to Palestinian youth of all backgrounds, an education that builds on the Quaker’s testimonies of equality and service.  The FS is interested in maintaining a student body that is representative of the Palestinian society and to which no student will be denied access for the sole reason that he or she cannot afford it.  While assisting families who otherwise are not able to send their children to the school, the Financial Aid Fund also provides assistance to families who are going through exceptionally difficult times, as well as the children of the FS staff who receive a 75%  or a 100% tuition remission, depending on their contractual arrangements.  

Recipients take advantage of either a full or partial aid scheme.  These are described as follows:

1. General Award – partial sponsorship (any amount)

This scheme supports families of students who are at school for more than one year and find it difficult to pay fees because of the deterioration in their financial situation and/or an increase in their family size. The aim of the General Award is to  support families to keep their children in the school and encourage their siblings to join them.  Families receive a between $200 and $1800 in assistance, depending on their financial situation.

2. Eli and Sybil Jones (ESJ) Awards  - full  sponsorship

Named after the two Quakers from New England who founded the Ramallah Friends School, ESJ awards are for underprivileged families who otherwise would never be able to send their children to school.  These families are supported in full.  There are currently seven grantees, spread out from UKG to Grade 12, with total tuition waivers (100%).  The RFS aims to expand the ESJ awards for the support of many other underprivileged families. We encourage supporters to commit to the long-term support of these students.   Refer to the list below for the present tuition rates per grade level. 

In addition, the school accommodates the request of supporters to have direct communication with students that they support.  We facilitate this by having a direct exchange, including the sharing of a picture, during the Christmas season.

 How Decisions are made?

A school Financial Aid Committee appointed and headed by the FS Director and comprising nine members of staff, decides on granting financial aid on a case-by-case basis. Families are expected to formally submit their application for assistance – normally towards the end of February. It is the family’s responsibility to show reason why the financial aid is required and to support that with proper financial statements and other documents.   

A formula that factors in the comprehensive household income of families, including their expenses is used to determine the size of the award.  The Committee may take the initiative to interview families, especially when documentation is not thorough or for lack of clarity. With the absence of valid and official taxation documentation, the committee occasionally bases its decision on carefully assessed local knowledge.  

Who is supported?

 For the 2008-09 school year, 14% of the student body was supported through the Financial Aid Program.   This amounted to 165 students for a total allocation of $173,678.  The applications of 95 students from 36 families were rejected due to the families’ ineligibility.    Our aim is to increase our support to reach at least 25% of the student population.  Grantees should have good academic standing and conduct – both over 70%. 

 Who are the Supporters?

Our supporters are diverse and have become interested in the schools through a variety of ways.  Many have been on the donor list for many years.   Our main donor constituents come from the Quaker community worldwide who include Quaker Meetings and individuals in America, Britain, Europe, and as far away as New Zealand, and Japan.  Alumni and their families have also been forthcoming in supporting our fund.    Some respond to appeals we put out in Quaker publications or electronically and the interest of others is sparked though visiting the school or our website.  Occasionally special fundraising functions are also organized to promote the continued support our students require.   

Our supporters can easily donate tax deductible gifts when going through our fiscal conduits in the USA and Britain; namely, Friends United Meeting in Indiana and Quaker International Educational Trust (QuIET) in Britain.  We encourage supporters to consider an on-going donation, that will help provide the reassurance to students and their families. 

Tuition Fees 2008-09 

 For more information contact Jumana Thalji, Financial Aid Coordinator, at jthalji@palfriends.org

 Click here for information on How to Donate.