The family of Aiia Maasarwe have thrown their support behind a new way to ensure her memory lives on, as they prepare to mark the first anniversary of her brutal murder.
The family of Aiia Maasarwe have thrown their support behind a new way to ensure her memory lives on, as they prepare to mark the first anniversary of her brutal murder.
Ms Maasarwe, 21, was raped and killed at Bundoora on January 16 last year. Her death shocked Victorians and was labelled “appalling” by Supreme Court judge Elizabeth Hollingworth, who sentenced killer Codey Herrmann to 36 years jail.
Gandel Philanthropy yesterday announced it was boosting the campaign to fund the Aiia Maasarwe Memorial Medical Fellowship Program with a major $50,000 dollar-for-dollar matching donation.
The initiative has the potential to raise an additional $100,000 towards a target of $200,000 to provide training for Palestinian health workers in Israeli hospitals.
Ninety thousand has been raised for the fellowship since it was launched in October.
It will provide financial support to Palestinian physicians who require training in sub specialities, so they can return to their communities and build the health capacity of Palestinian society.
The CEO of Gandel Philanthropy, Vedran Drakulic OAM, said: “The Gandel family is pleased to be able to provide support to help honour Aiia Maasarwe’s memory in a way that will enable cross-cultural training and cooperation in health between Israelis and Palestinians, and improve health outcomes for all.
Read the article by Andrew Koubaridis in The Daily Telegraph.