Saad Abdul Latif Scholarship Programme launched

AMMAN — Despite being a “promising” student, Heba Hamoudeh had almost given up hope of going to university due to financial constraints, when the Tomooh Scholarship Programme gave her the chance to “pursue her dream”. 

The 20-year-old, who has seven siblings, would have been “deprived from entering university” if it were not for the PepsiCo-sponsored initiative, which was launched in 2007 in cooperation with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) and is implemented by the National Goodwill Campaign. 

Physical therapy had always been a passion for Hamoudeh, who is studying the subject at Hashemite University.

“I find myself involved in it… I love how this type of treatment can improve people’s mobility and ease their pain,” the third-year student told The Jordan Times on Wednesday on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the conclusion of the seventh phase of the Tomooh Scholarship Programme and the launch of the Saad Abdul Latif Scholarship Programme. 

Some 1,130 students have benefited from the Tomooh scholarships, which fully cover their university tuition fees. 

A total of 205 of the beneficiaries have graduated so far. 

In addition, more than 6,000 students in the region have received educational aid under the programme. 

At the Wednesday’s ceremony, attended by JOHUD Executive Director Farah Daghistani,  HRH Princess Basma, president of the campaign’s higher committee, voiced her appreciation for this “distinguished” partnership in providing education to students in need.

The Saad Abdul Latif Scholarship Programme was launched in memory of the late Saad Abdul Latif, former CEO of PepsiCo in Asia, Middle East and Africa, who announced the company’s commitment to donate $1 million annually to support education in the Arab world.