Ashraf Hamad
Founder and Chairperson
80 PLUS is a UK-based non-profit organisation dedicated to helping talented students from Gaza continue their education through fully funded one-year master’s scholarships at UK universities. At a time when Gaza’s entire higher-education system has been devastated, we work to ensure that learning, hope, and opportunity do not disappear for a generation of young people.
Our name reflects both our model and our mission.
80 PLUS brings together 80 people or more, each giving £30 a month for 12 months, to fund one full scholarship. It also stands for Palestine Learning United Scholarships, highlighting our belief in collective responsibility and solidarity through education.
Since 2023, Gaza’s universities have been destroyed, academics have been killed, and tens of thousands of students have lost access to education. Many have no buildings to study in, no lecturers to teach them, and no chance to continue their degrees. This unprecedented loss – known as scholasticide –threatens not only individual futures but the future of Gaza’s society.
80 PLUS was created to offer a lifeline. By opening pathways to world-class universities in the UK, we help students gain the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to rebuild their communities and revive Gaza’s higher-education sector.
Our mission is simple but powerful:
Bringing people and institutions together to rebuild education in Gaza.
We aim to place at least one scholarship in as many UK universities as possible, creating a nationwide movement of support, connection, and shared responsibility.
A future where talented students from Gaza have equal access to world-class education, empowering them to rebuild their communities and inspire hope for generations to come.
We believe every student deserves the right to learn, dream, and grow with dignity. Our work protects this right and ensures scholars are supported with respect and care at every step.
80 PLUS is built on collective responsibility. We stand with Gaza’s students and communities, bringing people and institutions together to rebuild what has been lost.
We are committed to openness in how we raise, allocate, and manage funds. Donors deserve clarity, and students deserve trust, so we share our processes and decisions with honesty.
We prioritise students who face the greatest obstacles to education – those experiencing hardship, displacement, and barriers beyond their control. Fairness guides our selection and support.
We do more than fund degrees. We create opportunities for students to gain skills, confidence, and networks so they can uplift themselves and contribute to rebuilding higher education in Gaza.
Our strength comes from people working together – donors, volunteers, universities, and scholars. We value every contribution and believe change is possible only when we act collectively.
