Before studying at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, Hadi Daaboul completed a Bachelor's degree (honours degree) in speech therapy at the Lebanese University in Beirut and can look back on a wide range of social commitments. He took part in the "Salt and Bread" project in Lebanon with a youth group, which provided food to people in need in Beirut. Over a period of more than three months, they distributed food to those in need and organised communal meals to strengthen a sense of community and cohesion.

Hadi Daaboul also completed various internships in the social sector. In a care home for the elderly, he looked after people, many of whom suffered from dementia. He and his colleagues organised communication-enhancing activities, held discussions on various topics, organised joint cooking sessions and led cognitive exercises to improve the residents' mental flexibility.

His social expertise also included several internships at various schools and daycare centres in Beirut, where he helped children improve their communication and language skills. One of his most formative experiences was an internship in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. There he worked with children with disabilities, including autism and cerebral palsy, and helped them to develop essential skills.

DAAD Prize
The DAAD Prize, which is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, is awarded annually to international students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and social and intercultural commitment. The prize is intended to help make the large number of international students at German universities more visible and thus emphasise their stories. It is endowed with 1000 euros.