$65 for a Duolingo English Test — the only English certificate accessible from Aleppo, Syria | Applying for a Master's in International Affairs
I'm a human rights lawyer in Aleppo, Syria, applying for a Master's in International Affairs.
Every program I apply to requires an English proficiency certificate. There is no IELTS testing center operating in Aleppo. The only accessible option for me is the Duolingo English Test — taken online, costs $65. This is the single barrier between me and every application I submit.
My academic background:
I hold an LLB in International Law from the University of Aleppo, graduated 2019 — during active combat near my home. I completed specialized training in transitional justice and enforced disappearance through Saint Joseph University in Beirut. I built my entire legal education through books and self-study during a war.
The financial and economic hardships I face:
I have hemophilia — a bleeding disorder with no available treatment in Syria, forcing me to bear heavy costs for what little care I can access. I recently developed symptoms suggesting a vestibular schwannoma, and medical care here is only available at amounts I simply cannot afford. These financial burdens make even $65 a significant barrier. Education is my only way toward a better future.
My story was published by the World Federation of Hemophilia:
📖 whdstories.wfh.org/stories/mohamad-abdulkader-lababidi
How to help:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/p/4751537
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/p/2910300
👉 buymeacoffee.com/mohamadlabl
Or you can help by paying the test fee directly:
• Log into my Duolingo account and pay the $65 test fee on my behalf
• Or create a new Duolingo account for me and purchase the test
(DM me for account details)
Even sharing this post costs nothing and means everything.
Thank you for reading.