On April 12th, 2012 two of our graduates Rita Asfour (BU'11), and Dana Abu Lail (BU'10) completed a six week - Sir. John McGuckin Mentoring Internship program, at California State University Stanislaus (CSU).

Dana and Rita interned at CSU's Advancement Office, under the supervision of Michelle Lahti the Assistant Vice President for University Advancement.

It was a wonderful opportunity to see two of our English Literature graduates Rita and Dana (via a Skype Video Conference, organized by Raneen Al-Arja) active in their McGuckin Internship program - and to learn more about the generous hospitality that our friends at California State University at Stanislaus are offering Rita and Dana.

Wala' lives in Hebron and graduated at Bethlehem University in English Literature in 2010. She works as an Intercultural Learning Tutor for the International Palestine Youth League, an NGO that focuses on developing the skills of women and young people, and promoting democracy and cross-cultural education.

Her many voluntary activities have included being a Student Ambassador for international delegations to Bethlehem University, working at the IPYL's Media Centre, and joining Youth Against Settlements to expose Israeli human rights violations. She represented young Palestinians at the Global Youth Congress in Liverpool and, in 2008, she was selected to attend the University of Alabama for a semester and to be a Palestinian cultural representative there.

Shatha Abu Sroor '07, a graduate of Bethlehem University's Social Science department, is an example of how hard work and perseverance can over come any obstacle. Shatha is now a trainer at the Center of Development Studies at Bir Zeit University, coordinates academic research projects on country development, research that is  especially needed as Palestine continues its state building. Working with both local and international institutions, Shatha is involved with community based projects that seek to empower marginalized groups and integrate them in the development process.