The Waqf Fund "Bošnjaci" organized a ceremony today at the Islamic Community's Student Center to sign scholarship agreements for students and pupils for the 2024/25 academic year.
On this occasion, agreements were signed for the awarding of 64 scholarships to exceptionally talented students at both undergraduate and master's levels.
- "This Fund has been fully preserved and has nearly tripled in size. This was not solely due to our efforts but also thanks to numerous donors. So far, we have secured donations exceeding 2,600,000 BAM and an additional 100,000 BAM available for new endowments. In this sense, anyone who wishes to contribute can participate in student scholarships, either as a sponsor or a special donor," said the Fund’s director, Šahin Kerla.
He emphasized the key purpose of such initiatives: supporting the educational process for younger generations.
- "Anyone interested can get involved. Of course, they can first verify relevant information and gain confidence in what we do. Transparency in our work is easy to confirm, from the fact that scholarship applicants can assess themselves based on clearly defined criteria to the five-day appeal period, which allows everyone to understand the reasons why they received or did not receive a scholarship," Kerla highlighted.
The academic achievements of scholarship recipients speak for themselves. The average grade for undergraduate students is 9.22, while for master's students, it is 9.43. High school students receiving scholarships have an average grade of 4.90.
- "This support means a lot to us. It proves that our hard work throughout the school year pays off. It motivates us on multiple levels—not just to perform well academically but also to see our efforts recognized and to benefit from the scholarship itself," said Azra Panja, a senior student at the First Bosniak Gymnasium, in an interview with the Islamic Community’s Media Center.
So far, the Fund has provided scholarships to 3,150 students in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including 145 students who graduated with a perfect 10.00 GPA from the country’s most prestigious public universities, over 380 students who received top university awards such as the "Golden Badge," "Golden Plaque," "Rector’s Charter," and "Dean’s Charter," more than 215 students who were valedictorians, and 18 hafiz of the Holy Qur’an.
- "I believe that it is crucial for us as students to pursue what we love, as this dedication will enable us to excel in our fields. Commitment to our responsibilities will lead to achievements, realized goals, and academic progress," Azra added.
The Fund was established in 1997 by the late Alija Izetbegović. In an effort to strengthen its work and keep it free from political or other influences, he endowed its existing assets in 2001. He specified that the income from this waqf should be used for education, science, and culture, with a particular focus on supporting the Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa and the First Bosniak Gymnasium in Sarajevo.
Through this act, the waqf permanently transferred the endowed assets to the ownership of the "Bošnjaci" Fund for the purpose of doing good. In accordance with Izetbegović’s wishes, the Fund was re-registered with the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, transferring its founding rights to the Waqf Directorate.
(Preporod.info)
