In a remarkable achievement, three teams from the Islamic University of Gaza emerged as winners at the Engineer Ziad Al-Zaza Award for Best Community Initiatives and Service Projects. The teams claimed first place in two initiatives and second place in another, all falling under the “Team” category. The esteemed award aims to promote volunteerism and community service, while encouraging individuals and institutions to think innovatively in order to address social challenges and foster awareness of community initiatives.
One of the first-place winners in the “Team” category were Engineer Ahmed Sowan and Engineer Mahmoud Sowan, both alumni of the university’s Mechanical Engineering program (Class of 2015). Their initiative targeted the issue of rainwater drainage blockage. The duo devised ingenious solutions, such as implementing galvanized iron baskets as water filters to capture large debris and waste. The baskets are encased in galvanized iron or stainless steel mesh. Another solution proposed by the team involves constructing large manholes on sidewalks to capture sizable suspended particles, filtering the water and directing it to clean collection pools without causing drain blockage.
The second first-place team comprised Dr. Abdelraouf Elmanama, Dean of Quality and Development at the Islamic University, along with Ms. Nour Abu Tayyem, Ms. Renad Abu Dan, and Ms. Sabreen Abu Zeiter. Their initiative, “Raising Awareness about Antimicrobial Resistance,” has been successfully organized annually for the past seven years, from November 18th to November 24th. The campaign sheds light on antimicrobial resistance, a silent global threat to humanity. Its primary objective is to develop plans to mitigate antimicrobial resistance and its consequential health issues, including the spread of infectious diseases, increased mortality rates due to bacterial infections, and the resurgence of eradicated epidemics.
By advocating for optimal use of antimicrobials, the campaign actively engages volunteers and initiatives from the Islamic University of Gaza’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the Communicable Diseases Surveillance Center, and collaborates with both international and local institutions.
Additionally, a third team from the Islamic University secured second place in the same category and award. Comprising Ms. Israa Al-Dahdouh, Ms. Shaima Khalil, Ms. Yara Abu Shareia, and Ms. Hiba Shamalakh, their initiative focused on the local economic and agricultural sector. Their approach involved producing a range of feeds using snails, transforming them from a problem faced by farmers into a nutritional asset. These feeds, made from natural ingredients abundant in essential nutrients, cater to the specific requirements of poultry or cattle, taking into consideration factors such as breed, age, and growth stage. Crucially, the initiative supports the health sector by reducing the reliance on chemical substances, antibiotics, and hormones commonly overused by traders and farmers. Instead, they employ natural plant extracts from garlic as growth enhancers and protective agents.
The recognition garnered by these exceptional initiatives reflects the Islamic University of Gaza’s commitment to fostering innovation and addressing critical societal challenges. These teams’ accomplishments serve as a testament to the remarkable talent and dedication present within the university’s academic community.
