From Kuwait: Bethlehem University Creating the Future

He was one of Bethlehem University’s active, social, and hard working students who liked to participate in the various activities held by the University.  He tried his best to make every hour of his time at BU memorable.

Issa Michael Afeef Sakhleh (BU '04) is a 24- year old graduate of Bethlehem University who comes from a family of seven. He was born in Kuwait in 1981.  Due to the Gulf War his family returned to Bethlehem and Issa went to Terra Sancta College in Bethlehem, graduating in 2000.  Issa's dream was to be a tour guide, which requires that a person first be over 25 years old and at least holding a BA degree.

Issa enrolled at BU in the Fall 2000 semester as a Business Administration student with the goal of eventually earning a masters degree in Management in order to hold a position in an association that would give him the opportunity to broaden his skills and knowledge – while still keeping his dream alive to actually one day become a tour guide.  During the first year of Issa’s study at BU he often became upset when the teachers mispronounced his family name as Shakleh (which means ribbon) instead of correctly pronouncing his last name: Sakhleh.  "I am often the creator of humorous moments," he said, "but this time I was put in a situation quite entertaining to my classmates that made me upset.”

Issa’s practical work life started in 2003 with the Latin Patriarchate's Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) with whom he has been working since he graduated from BU in June 2004.  During the couple of years previous to this, Issa was part of the core that established a youth group known as JOC (Jeunnesse Ouviers Christian) which started with 8 people trying to help the employment sector in our society and trying to serve the Palestinian society as a whole.

Reflecting on the impact of Bethlehem University on him, Issa says: "I am so grateful for Bethlehem University.  It helped me broaden and expand my skills, knowledge and personality and made me the man I am to be.  I’ve been able to make friendships that hopefully would continue to last.”  All I’ll say for my colleagues at BU is never to lose faith, always be yourself and always to remember “there is no success without hard work.”

Issa is now temporarily living in the United States of America working as a partner with HCEF and the Latin Patriarchate.