Tawakkol Karman Foundation

“I never imagined that I would reach such an advanced level in English as I have today.”

Mazen Al-Sabri shares how Leaders for Future scholarship from Tawakkol Karman Foundation brought him closer to realizing his potential.

Mazen says:

My experience with the English language scholarship provided by Tawakkol Karman Foundation is truly unique. I consider it an invaluable opportunity, and such opportunities are rare these days. For a long time, I had wished to return to studying English in a classroom, but due to the war in Yemen, particularly in the city of Hudaydah where I live, achieving that dream seemed nearly impossible. Then, Tawakkol Karman Foundation gave me this opportunity.

Initially, after a long break, I was unable to utter even a single sentence in English. But today, I find myself in a completely different position. I am now able to communicate with many colleagues who are not native Arabic speakers in English. Although I still make some language mistakes while speaking, I know this will improve over time with practice. The main goal is being achieved: I can now express myself in English, and the other person responds in the same language. This is an unprecedented achievement for me. I believe that, ultimately, I will continue to develop even further, and, most importantly, I aim to maintain my passion for learning and keep going.

I have many academic goals. I am pursuing a master's degree in accounting, and I have completed the preparatory stage and am now working on my thesis. Studying English has benefited me in my academic field in two key ways. First, it has enabled me to access a wide range of English references needed for my studies. It has greatly improved my ability to browse English content online more effectively than before. Secondly, the language skills I developed through this scholarship allowed me to pass the English proficiency test required by my university, which was a fundamental requirement for the master's program.

On the professional level, I am now looking for accounting jobs in English online, and I have made significant progress in this area. I strongly believe that English will play a major role in advancing my career. I have reached an advanced stage now, and I consider myself to have overcome the biggest obstacle that was limiting me to the local sphere.

The training and courses have added significant knowledge, helping me fill in many gaps in both my professional field and my overall ability to interact with others, particularly in my profession. I have become more balanced and clearer in my vision than before. As a trainer and academic instructor in my field, I plan to share what I have learned from this program with those around me.

I am still halfway through the scholarship, and I believe I am in an advanced stage. I am certain that I will develop further by the end of the program. I am very happy with the progress I have made and the connections I have built with people from all around the world, including professors and students. It has been a unique experience, and I am very grateful for it.