The Barzilai Foundation is proud to introduce the four 2024-25 recipients of our scholarship program with the University of Gibraltar. Launched in 2023, the Barzilai Foundation Scholarship provides educational access for promising students who have a proven track record of academic success but would otherwise be obstructed from higher education by financial barriers. Our 2024-25 cohort consists of four recipients: Oussama Sahnoun, Lucia Cardenas Bernal, Manuel Villalobos Belizon, and Sarah Thomas.
“These four not only distinguished themselves from a strong candidate pool, but also represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds and potential,” said Brandon Sosa, CEO of the Barzilai Foundation. “This program is about finding potential that is being held down by financial obstacles and removing those obstacles.”
Sarah is driven to learn more about her passions. She has already attained a degree in Nursing and, while working as a nurse, began master’s-level coursework in America in the field of climate change. She is attending the University of Gibraltar to complete that coursework and attain an MSc in Environmental Science and Climate Change. With this, she plans to unite her experience and expertise in healthcare with her education in Environmental Sciences to be at the forefront of emerging health needs driven by climate change.
Manuel on placement aboard Windstar Cruises
Lucia is a very active volunteer in numerous charities and organizations in the Gibraltar community. She sees the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing degree as the next step, saying, “Nursing is a profession I have always admired and respected. The fulfillment and pride that this career can offer me is what I strive for in my day-to-day life.” Through this program, Lucia believes she can continue and extend her outreach and find ways to improve the lives of those less fortunate.
Manuel is pursuing a degree in Maritime Sciences to further feed his passion for the sea. He is also dedicated to financially supporting his parents, who have made great sacrifices to place him and his brother on an academic track. Manuel’s relatives in nautical and maritime fields have been central to his passion, most notably his father’s involvement in sailing and maritime employment: “This has strengthened my resolve and inspired me to follow in his footsteps, and I intend to develop in this field and make a significant contribution to the maritime sector in Gibraltar and the wider Strait area.”
Oussama comes from a low-income home in Morocco and is driven to alleviate the financial strain on his household. This bursary will ease the burden on his father, who supports a family of five plus grandparents who live with them. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree he is pursuing will equip him to set a new trajectory for himself, contribute to the Gibraltar community and ultimately aim to improve his family’s financial stability.
The Barzilai Foundation is proud to support our scholarship recipients as they work to earn their degrees and build a better future for themselves and their families.
First cohort of recipients for the Barzilai Foundation Access to Nursing Bursary announced. 12 students enrolled in the University of Gibraltar course were selected representing a diverse set of experience and needs.
Barriers to completing upper secondary school are significant in low-income communities of Ethiopia, blocking the best opportunity to escape poverty. Partnering with imagine1day we are restoring this potential through an innovative bursary program.
Mohammed is a young student excelling in multiple areas of study and is on track for university. He's done all this despite being born into a low-income family and having no access to a local school and having a severely limiting disability.
The Barzilai Foundation is proud to be supporting another cohort of students for our Undergraduate Studies Bursary program, in collaboration with Bayside School, Westside School, Gibraltar College of Further Education, and the EV Foundation.
A recipient of our 2023 Access to Healthcare bursary, Amanda has continued her educational journey despite financial barriers in her way. Knowing the long-term payoff will be worth it, she is pushing through those barriers.
Barzilai Foundation is proud of our 2024 cohort of recipients for the Barzilai Foundation Access to Healthcare Bursary. Six bursaries were awared to individuals who are working to advance their careers through educaiton.