The opportunity to study abroad was life-changing for Syrian 27-year-old Bushra Dabbagh, who left Aleppo at the age of 19 and who was selected this year by the European Commission (EC) as one of 16 young leaders to take part in the EDD 2018 Young Leaders Programme.

Speaking for N1, Dabbagh said she tended to stay positive because that was the only way for Syrian people to survive eight years of the war. Speaking of the issue of refugees and displaced persons, the young leader expressed hope the European Union would introduce new policies and reduce the suffering of those people.

“It’s a huge chance for me to come here and represent people who are not able to present themselves and talk about their stories, and it’s a very nice chance to meet young leaders from other countries, to be inspired by their work and to attend EDD 2018,” she said.

Dabbagh pursued a Master of science in molecular biology, ecology, and immunology from the University of Vienna, as well as a Masters of Science in Biotechnology and Enterprise from Northeastern University in Boston. She is the founder of Eelitna, a foundation that provides psychological and financial support for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Aleppo, through which she developed educational catch-up classes for children and youth.

The full interview with Dabbagh available in the video below: