When Naouar Abdul Wahab's family made the decision to return to Syria in July 2025, her IIE Odyssey full scholarship to study Business Management at the Beirut Arab University in Lebanon could no longer be used. In a first for the program, Jusoor and IIE negotiated the reinstatement of her scholarship, adapted to cover her studies at Homs University in Syria, making her Jusoor’s first scholar to study at a University in Syria.
Even before knowing that she would secure a scholarship, Naouar had already navigated the Syrian university registration system on her own and secured enrollment at Homs University through the Open Education track, majoring in Small and Medium Enterprise Management. During that time, Jusoor maintained close contact, supporting her motivation and tracking her progress. Beginning in November 2025, conversations with IIE led to the successful negotiation of a resumed full scholarship to cover her studies in Syria.
The renewed support includes tuition and registration fees for four years, monthly stipends,transportation allowance, and health insurance coverage.
Who Naouar Is
Naouar was born in Homs and grew up in Tripoli, Lebanon. She graduated from Tuyoor Al-Amal High School in 2024 as a Jusoor High School Scholarships recipient with a diploma in Sociology and Economics. She is eager to learn and explore new concepts, and works consistently to improve her language skills.
Her character shows up in small details. In the winter of 2024, she volunteered to educate three of her neighbors' children who could not afford private lessons, spending between one and two hours every day supporting them. In Syria, she has also volunteered assisting a doctor in medical work and distributing school supplies to young children. Additionally, she has worked as a tutor, developed her computer skills through online training, and found courses in economics and accounting particularly impactful, as they helped her think more practically about managing a company and strengthened her interest in leadership and finance.
Outside her studies, she enjoys cooking for her family as a way to express her care and relieve stress, and watches drama films, which she sees as a way to enhance her English language skills and learn about new cultures. She is learning, always, from wherever she happens to be.
Her goal is clear: internships first, to gain experience and become familiar with the business world, then to start her own company in management and finance. She wants to work in a managerial role, lead teams, build something, and contribute to Syria's future.
"When I learned that the scholarship to study in Syria had been reinstated, I was overwhelmed with joy and pride. This scholarship is like a glimmer of hope at the end of a dark tunnel, because it will help me build my future. The future isn't a place we go straight to; it's something we build every day. I am incredibly grateful to Jusoor and IIE for giving me this opportunity again. Sometimes, opportunities come from nowhere. Every difficult experience teaches you something new and brings you closer to achieving your goal, so don't lose hope and don't stop striving; the distance between you and your dream might just be a single step." – Naouar Abdul Wahab
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