Sr. Cecilia Serra, a Comboni missionary working with Bedouin communities in the West Bank, shares the story of a young woman who managed to realise her dreams through tenacity and perseverance.
She is a young Palestinian Bedouin woman who grew up in a West Bank community as part of a large, low-income family. She is the second of eight children – seven daughters and one son. She came of age during a time marked by insecurity, economic hardship, and conflict; there were many circumstances that might have led her to believe certain dreams were simply too big for her.
We met her a few years ago while visiting her village to answer the community’s request to open a preschool and offer English classes. At the time, she had just started university, but her academic performance was not particularly successful. We spoke with her, encouraging her to believe more in her own abilities and not to give up in the face of challenges.
Curiously, it was English – the very subject she struggled with most – that became a source of motivation for her. From then on, she never missed a class. Her curiosity, enthusiasm, and desire to learn were evident in every session; she listened attentively, asked questions, and sought to make the most of every opportunity.
Her dream was to pursue university studies in Information Technology. Yet, for a young woman from a large family with limited financial means, achieving that goal was far from guaranteed.
Her mother always believed in the importance of her daughters’ education. To enable them to study, she worked long hours doing embroidery, contributing to the family’s livelihood. There were years when her father could not find work, and the burden of family responsibility fell largely on her mother’s shoulders.
She, too, understood the cost of her dream. Every day, she made the journey from her village to Al-Quds University in Abu Dis, taking several buses and contending with distance, traffic, and numerous other obstacles just to get to class.
We were able to support her for several years through a scholarship. It was not merely financial aid; it was a way of telling her that her dream was possible, that it was worth persevering, and that someone believed in her.
A few days ago, she graduated with a degree in Information Technology from Al-Quds University, distinguishing herself as one of the brightest students in her class. On graduation day, she also had the honour of delivering the speech on behalf of her entire class.
She began by giving thanks to God: “Praise be to God, for through His grace, beautiful things come to pass. He has transformed patience into joy and hard work into success.”
Her entire story is captured in those words: the patience, the hard work, the perseverance, and, finally, the joy of seeing a dream realised.
But perhaps the most beautiful part of her story comes now. When she received our support, she promised that one day she would share with others what she herself had received. Today, she is keeping that promise.
Last September, she launched a course in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship for Bedouin women from various villages. She will put her knowledge and skills at the service of other women, helping them acquire new abilities and discover new possibilities for their futures. The young woman who once needed someone to believe in her has now become a young woman capable of believing in others.
