Rebuilding Lives: Help a Family Escaping Gaza War

This campaign has been set up by Fatin Farhat, a cultural researcher based in Palestine, with the help of Marie Le Sourd (cultural manager based in France) to help a Palestinian family in Gaza that Fatin met a few years ago and has been in daily contact with since the 7th of October 2023.

Fatin met Abeer a few years ago in Gaza City. Abeer is a wonderful, beautiful woman, and along with her husband, she is raising three talented kids, including Dani Sahwil, whose story is shared below. Last year, Abeer was shortlisted for the Young Writer's Award in Literature. She is an example of a strong-willed woman who has been relentlessly working hard to secure a decent living for her family.

This is Dania’s story, Abeer’s daughter:

I am Dania Sahwil. I am from Gaza City, but I am currently displaced in Rafah. I live in a displacement shelter with my parents and two siblings. I want to share my story with you, hoping that you have it in your heart to support me and my family and help us find safety and hope for a better future outside the Gaza Strip.

I am 17 years old, and I have already survived several wars. My childhood memory is haunted by wars, shellings, and fear. I was supposed to finish high school this year and follow my dream by studying fashion design at the university. I am an aspiring visual artist passionate about painting, drawing and designing. Since childhood, I have grabbed all possible opportunities to develop my talent in fine arts through training and exhibiting. Layal, my sister, is 16 years old and dreams of attending law school. She also has several hobbies: reading, writing, designing videos, and playing sports. She plays the violin. Karim and I, my youngest brother, who is 12 years old, both play the oud. He is trying to repair his destroyed oud on his own. He finds consolation in playing the instrument.

In this war, we lost everything, and we lost our memories, home and belongings. I lost my paintings and all of my artwork. We left everything behind under the rubble of our completely destroyed house.

But amidst the rubble, we refuse to lose hope. We're coming together to rebuild, restore, and reclaim our futures. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us during this difficult time.

What is the funding helping for?

Funding needed to cross the border to Egypt for five people part of the family:

Abeer Muhammad Rabah Al-Madhoun - mother

Ashraf Muhammad Muhammad Sahwil - father

Dania Ashraf Muhammad Sahwil- child

Layal Ashraf Muhammad Sahwil - child

Karim Ashraf Muhammad Sahwil - child

Gazans must pay a 4620 euros fee per person only to cross from Rafah to Egypt. This is the minimum cost. Upon making the payments, Gazans will have to wait in turn. The cost was reported to be 8300 euros per person to expedite the process.

(see article here: https://theintercept.com/2024/03/07/gaza-palestinians-border-crossing-egypt/)

Total in US dollars: 45,505 US $ / 42,000 euros (including charges)

How the funds will be spent and how you plan to get them to the beneficiary

The funds will be redirected from France to different organisations to reach the family.

The money transfers will be made through Money Gram or Western Union in smaller increments. There is also the possibility of sending the money through a local organization.