In Doha, Qatar, Hamza Alsioufy, a 21-year-old Syrian student, is on the brink of graduating from one of Qatar Foundation’s partner universities. Having witnessed the effects of war as a child, Alsioufy is driven to make a difference and is a leader within his community. Originally from Homs in Syria, his family was forced to move to Jordan due to the war in Syria. Eventually, he settled in Qatar and pursued a degree in International Economics at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), where he will be graduating this year.
Alsioufy’s childhood experiences in Syria led him to question why he was born Syrian and what his purpose was. He saw GU-Q as a place where he could find answers to these questions and make a difference in the world. His passion for football led him to captain the university team, where he found camaraderie and success through hard work. Additionally, he established the Arabic Debate Club and became its president, showing his dedication to extracurricular activities during his time at GU-Q.
Accepted into a student leadership program, Alsioufy will be traveling to the US for a month to learn from politicians, policymakers, and NGOs. He hopes to implement what he learns in Doha to make a positive impact in his community. Nurmukhammad Mukhammadiev, another student set to graduate from GU-Q this year, hails from Uzbekistan and faced challenges with limited access to quality education. This experience fueled his passion for using education as a tool for social change.
Mukhammadiev and his sister started hosting summer camps in their hometown, teaching English to children and leading coding and web development camps for girls. They received grants from GU-Q for these programs and are planning to move them online to reach a wider audience. Majoring in International Economics, Mukhammadiev is interested in pursuing a career in research and is currently working on a project that examines possible racial bias in football player salaries.
He also participated in technology programs such as the XLR8 Program at Qatar Science & Technology Park, where he worked on a startup project inspired by Amazon in Qatar. With his diverse interests and dedication to social change through education and research, Mukhammadiev is a shining example of the impact that students from Qatar Foundation’s partner universities can have on their communities and the world.
