Tuesday August 4, 2020, 6:08 p.m., apocalypse in Beirut. Hundreds of dead, thousands of injured, hundreds of thousands of displaced and our capital in ruins. How can we remain numb to this kind of tragedy? 

As President of RDCL World, I firmly believe it is our responsibility to give back to the society that has played such a significant role in our success.

After graduating from a French-speaking school, studying economics at USJ was a no brainer. I come from a rather conservative community, and I was curious to join an academic institution that promotes cultural pluralism. 

Solidarity is a core value. It means being attentive to the needs of our society and our fellow citizens. 

When I reached out to USJ for the establishment of a Scholarship Fund and the means to help USJ students, the answer was that USJ “greatly appreciates my concern for solidarity with students through my interest in the establishment of a Scholarship Fund.” 

My name is Aida-Maria Toufic Abou Jaoudeh, I hold a Bachelor in Computer Science and I will soon get a Master in Telecommunications, Networks and Security from the National Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics (INCI) at USJ. 

As alumni of USJ (FGM and FSE), my husband Gilbert and I have a strong sense of belonging and attachment to our University. We have always wanted to help the Lebanese youth and especially USJ students.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Financial Aid Office for their guidance and assistance. I truly appreciate their continued dedication.

The situation in Lebanon is critical and the needs of people in need are immense: food, medicine, hospitalization, etc. 

I am extremely grateful to have been the recipient of the Berge Setrakian Scholarship for my Master of Laws, concentration:Private Law at USJ. This scholarship has allowed me to take a much-needed step in my legal education at a critical time in the history of the country, as well as at a significant time in my professional life.