CAIRO, 12 February 2007 — Suad Juffali was awarded an honorary doctorate by the American University in Cairo (AUC) at the winter commencement ceremony at the Cairo International Conference Center. She also delivered the commencement address at the ceremony during which 460 students received their undergraduate degrees.
“My focus has always been on my duties toward my family and my responsibilities toward society and the underprivileged. Receiving this honor in recognition of my lifetime work means a great deal to me,” Suad Juffali told the audience of students and their families.
Suad Juffali established and organized the first Women’s Welfare Society and the Al-Faisaliyah Women’s Society in Saudi Arabia, both of which deal with the education and health of mothers and children. In 1985, she founded the Help Center, a special educational institution in Jeddah, for mentally challenged children.
Suad Juffali, who grew up in Jerusalem spoke of the hardships her family endured, first during World War II and then during their flight from Palestine in 1948. In 1949, her family immigrated to Saudi Arabia where they were welcomed by the late King Abdul Aziz.
Suad Juffali also spoke of the strong support she received from her husband, the late Sheikh Ahmad Juffali, in carrying out her humanitarian work. “I received great support, encouragement and motivation from the late Queen Effat, wife of the late King Faisal, whose vision of women’s education in Saudi Arabia was extremely inspiring,” she said. “Thanks to her great vision, we had the first school for girls in Saudi Arabia. In 1954, Dar Al-Hanan was established in Jeddah. It still exists and has been joined by Effat College which was named in honor of Queen Effat.”
Stressing the importance that her own parents had placed on education, Suad Juffali urged the graduating class to apply the knowledge they gained through their education to serve their countries and to contribute to their development.
“We need you desperately in the Arab world,” said Suad Juffali, revealing that around 45 percent of Arab students who study abroad do not return to their countries after graduating. “The Arab world is desperate for young pioneers, researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs in all disciplines,” she pointed out.
In addition to being a member of AUC’s Board of Trustees, Suad Juffali is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Academy of Amman, the Arab Thought Foundation in Beirut and the Board of Overseers of the Lebanese American University. She is also a member of the board of several other organizations such as Dar Al-Hanan, the Saudi Institute for Health Services and Effat College.
In Jerusalem, Suad Juffali is a member of the Board of Trustees of Dar Al-Tifl Al-Arabi, an orphanage, school and college. She is also a member of other Palestinian organizations such as the Friends of East Jerusalem Hospitals Committee, the Faisal Husseini Welfare Society, and the Relief of Medical and Hospitals Aid in Palestine.
In recognition of her outstanding services, Suad Juffali has received several awards and certificates of appreciation including AUC’s Distinguished Honorary Alumni Award and certificates of appreciation from the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The AUC’s winter undergraduate commencement ceremony witnessed the graduation of 460 students. The speech of the representative of the students’ graduating class was delivered by Ethar El-Katatney.
During the ceremony, student awards were announced including The President’s Cup. It was awarded to the student with the highest GPA, Dalia Ismail Hammouda, electronics engineering major.
