Testimonials & References
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Nahreen H. Ahmed, MD MPH
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Date: 10th October 2026
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation in strong support of Mr. Karim A.S. Abukwaik a fourth-year medical student at the Faculty of Medicine
I had the privilege of meeting Karim during my medical deployment to Gaza from August 18 to September 15, 2026. During this time, I worked closely with junior physicians and medical students, providing clinical mentorship and bedside teaching under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. Among the students I encountered, Karim distinguished himself through his enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity, and exceptional commitment to his medical education.
Karim consistently demonstrated a genuine passion for medicine and a strong desire to deepen his clinical knowledge. He was an active and thoughtful participant in teaching sessions, regularly asking insightful questions, engaging confidently in clinical discussions, and demonstrating an eagerness to translate medical knowledge into practical understanding. His initiative, engagement, and dedication to learning made him stand out among his peers.
What impressed me most, however, was Karim's determination to pursue his medical education despite the profound adversity and uncertainty surrounding daily life in Gaza. Continuing medical training under such circumstances requires extraordinary resilience, discipline, and perseverance. Karim demonstrated these qualities throughout our interactions, reflecting not only his commitment to becoming a physician but also his strength of character and sense of purpose.
I firmly believe that Karim has the intellectual ability, motivation, and personal qualities necessary to become an excellent physician. Providing him with scholarship and financial support would be a meaningful investment in a talented young medical student whose educational journey has been shaped by circumstances far beyond his control. Such support would allow him to continue developing his clinical skills, pursue his professional aspirations, and ultimately contribute to the health and well-being of the communities he serves.
Letter of recommendation for Karim Abukwaik
Heba Al Akasheh, Co-ordinator, UNWRA.
Date: 30th January 2023.
To whom it may concern,
It is my great pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Karim Abu Kwaik.
Karim was a student in one of the schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza. UNRWA operates more than 700 schools in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan providing free basic education for some 545,000 Palestine refugee children. Through its education system, UNRWA aims to ensure that Palestine refugee students develop their full potential and become "confident, innovative, questioning, thoughtful, and open-minded, to uphold human values and tolerance, proud of their Palestinian identity and contributing positively to the development of society and the global community".
Between 2018 and 2022, I worked with UNRWA as the Coordinator of the Human Rights. Conflict Resolution. and Tolerance Education Programme in UNRWA Headquarters in Amman. Prior to that I was a Junior Consultant within the same programme in 2017. As part of my job throughout those years, I managed the Agency-wide Student Parliament, a platform that was designed to provide a collective space to enhance the engagement of students Agency-wide, help them express their pride in their common Palestinian identity and strengthen their social cohesion, voice their opinions on relevant issues, and convey their views and opinions on various matters.
I had the opportunity to work closely with Karim when he was elected by his colleagues to become a member of the first-ever UNRWA Agency-wide Student Parliament in 2017. Karim was a very active, and sociable student. I always remember how much Karim was very well-spoken; despite his young age, he quickly gained the trust of the members of the ASP and was elected as the President. He was also selected by UNRWA several times to address high-level events and participate in an UNRWA management mission to New York to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. Karim has big dreams, and I am certain that he is going to continue to achieve great things in his future.
Sincerely,
Heba Al Akasheh, Co-ordinator, UNWRA.
Dear Scholarship Selection Committee,
I am very pleased to provide this letter in strong support of Karim Abukwaik and his application for a Saïd Foundation Scholarship to continue his studies in the United Kingdom.
I am writing in my capacity as Director with Human Concern International, where I have had the opportunity to observe Karim’s humanitarian and voluntary work in Gaza.
Karim has volunteered with Human Concern International since 16 September 2025. Throughout this period, he has contributed directly to humanitarian efforts supporting vulnerable individuals and families living under exceptionally difficult conditions in Gaza. He has approached this responsibility with commitment, reliability and a strong sense of service to his community.
His responsibilities have included assisting people in need and supporting the distribution of essential humanitarian supplies, including food boxes, baby formula and tents. His contribution has extended beyond the practical distribution of assistance. Karim engages respectfully with members of the community, listens carefully to their concerns and communicates effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. In doing so, he helps to ensure that those receiving support are treated with dignity, patience and compassion.
Karim’s three years of medical education have been an important foundation for his contribution to this humanitarian work. His studies have developed his understanding of human health and the needs of vulnerable people, while his voluntary experience has enabled him to see first-hand how factors such as food security, infant nutrition, shelter and difficult living conditions can affect individual and community health. This combination has given him a valuable appreciation of the wider social and humanitarian circumstances that influence health and wellbeing.
His medical education has also strengthened skills that are evident in his voluntary work, including communication, careful observation and sensitivity towards the needs of others. When engaging with families, children and individuals experiencing hardship, Karim demonstrates maturity and an ability to listen and respond respectfully. He understands that helping someone is not simply a matter of addressing an immediate material need, but also of recognising the individual and treating them with humanity.
What has particularly impressed me is Karim’s willingness to stand alongside and support his community during an extremely challenging period. Humanitarian work in circumstances where needs are substantial and resources are limited requires resilience, adaptability and perseverance. Karim has continued to contribute positively and constructively, working with others to help essential assistance reach people who need it.
Karim’s leadership is particularly evident in the way he works with vulnerable individuals and families. Drawing on his medical education and humanitarian experience, he has demonstrated an ability to listen carefully to people’s concerns, recognise differing needs and respond with sensitivity and respect. During the distribution of food boxes, baby formula and shelter materials, Karim has shown initiative by communicating with beneficiaries, supporting fellow volunteers and helping the team respond effectively to competing and sometimes urgent needs. Even under very difficult circumstances, he remains calm, approachable and focused on preserving the dignity of those receiving assistance. His willingness to take responsibility, work collaboratively and build trust with people demonstrates a compassionate, service-oriented style of leadership that I believe will be particularly valuable in his future medical career.
In my view, Karim’s medical education and sustained humanitarian service reinforce one another. His medical studies provide an academic and professional foundation, while his voluntary work has given him direct experience of the human realities behind health and social need. Together, these experiences have strengthened his commitment to medicine and his determination to use his future career to contribute to the health and wellbeing of his community.
I therefore strongly support Karim Abukwaik’s application for a Saïd Foundation Scholarship. Based on his sustained voluntary contribution since September 2025, his character, resilience, emerging leadership and commitment to serving others, I believe he has the potential to benefit greatly from the opportunity to continue his education and, importantly, to use that education to make a meaningful contribution to his community and the wider healthcare field.
I recommend Karim to the Scholarship Selection Committee with confidence and without reservation.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information or wish to verify the details of Karim’s voluntary service with Human Concern International.
Yours faithfully,
Human Concern International