Fulda student wins E³UDRES² Award

FULDA/ST. PÖLTEN. This year, the Fulda University of Applied Sciences took first place at the E³UDRES² International Science Festival: Najia Jalal is a Master's student on the "Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society" study programme at the department of social and cultural sciences at Fulda University of Applied Sciences and is also the founder of the organisation "Gift for Girls". With this effective initiative, which supports women and girls in Najia Jalal's home country of Afghanistan, the student impressed jurors and the audience at the competition organised by the European University Alliance, beating off competition from 19 other projects from various European countries.

This year's E³UDRES² Festival took place under the motto "Local Pulse, Global Waves" at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten in Austria in collaboration with universities from all over Europe. The aim of the festival was to explore how research and innovation can drive global transformation. The projects, which run under Najia Jalal's "Gift for Girls", comprise two key initiatives: One is to build and support schools for girls in Afghanistan, and the other is to provide psychotherapeutic and psychosocial support services for women and girls in crisis situations. In the voting rounds, the Fulda student's project received the highest number of votes - both online and in the on-site voting - and thus secured the prize money of 1000 euros (first place).

She wants to shape a future full of hope and meaning
Najia Jalal's mission: "We support Afghan girls and women in gaining human values and laws and in shaping a future full of hope and meaning." Even though Najia Jalal is studying in Fulda, she still follows events in her home country. She has clear words for the events and conditions there: "Afghanistan is now a place where human values such as human dignity, social justice, kindness and acceptance, collaboration and equality as well as human rights are trampled underfoot, progress is impossible and classes no longer exist. And this despite the fact that around 18.4 million people were in urgent need of humanitarian aid in 2021." This is why the student launched the scholarship programme for girls and women.

The "Gift for Girls" project supports girls in Afghanistan who are unable to attend school in certain districts and provinces. Through the facilities of so-called "underground schools" with experienced teaching staff and a regular syllabus in the areas of science, literature and social sciences, Najia Jalal's scholarship programme offers lessons five days a week. "Some girls in our three underground schools have been receiving lessons since September 2022, which has become a ray of hope for them," reports Najia Jalal. Young girls are also increasingly suffering from depression and sexual discrimination due to their insecure living conditions. Against this background, "Gift for Girls" has launched a psychotherapeutic program that started in the villages and has begun its activities: "We have provided information on mental illness for about 70 women through psychotherapeutic social workers. We also offer the opportunity for psychotherapeutic advisory services."

Further information about the organisation is available online at giftforgirls.org

About Fulda University of Applied Sciences
There are 9500 students at Fulda University of Applied Sciences. More than 170 professors teach and conduct research in eight departments. Fulda University of Applied Sciences is one of the most research-intensive universities of applied sciences in Germany. There are more than 60 study programmes to choose from at Fulda University of Applied Sciences - including offers that are unique in Germany. In addition to Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in attendance and full-time, integrated training programmes, part-time and dual study programmes are also offered. Since 2016, Fulda University of Applied Sciences has been the first university of applied sciences in Germany to have the independent right to award doctoral degrees.

About the European University Alliance E³UDRES²
E³UDRES² is a European university alliance of small to medium-sized universities and universities of applied research from small to medium-sized cities and regions. The name "E³UDRES²" is derived from this regional anchoring: "Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions". The aim of the alliance is to network rural regions and support their development into smart, sustainable regions. In addition to Fulda University of Applied Sciences, it includes: USTP - University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten (AT), Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (PT), Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (HU), University College Leuven-Limburg (BE), Politehnica University Timișoara (RO), Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (LV), Saxion University of Applied Sciences (NL) and Jamk University of Applied Sciences (FI). Fulda University of Applied Sciences has been supported as a full member of the E³UDRES² university alliance since 1 October 2023.