My name is Layla, and I have created this fundraising campaign for Alaa, a 17-year-old living with muscular dystrophy who has gone for more than two years without the treatment and care his condition requires.

Alaa has endured unimaginable loss. His father and brother were killed during the genocide, and his mother abandoned him when he was just 12 years old. Today, Alaa and his seven younger siblings depend on each other to survive through circumstances no child should ever have to face.

For the past 11 months, we have been fundraising through Alaa’s main campaign to help him access medical treatment, support his daily needs, and support the needs of his seven younger siblings.

Today, we have created this separate campaign for an urgent and practical need that could make a huge difference in Alaa’s daily life: a solar panel and battery.

Alaa relies on an electric wheelchair, but he cannot reliably charge it. He has to pay for transport to reach a charging point and then pay again to charge his wheelchair. This is not sustainable and leaves him without the independence he needs.

A solar panel and battery would allow Alaa to charge his wheelchair, keep his phone powered so he can stay connected, have light after dark, and power a fan to provide some relief from the unbearable heat. It would also make life easier for his seven younger siblings who share these same difficult living conditions.

A solar panel and battery would make a profound difference in Alaa’s daily life. It would give him a level of independence that he is currently denied and restore some of the dignity that has been taken from him by circumstances beyond his control.

It would mean Alaa is no longer forced to depend on expensive transport just to charge his wheelchair. It would allow him to keep his phone powered so he can remain connected, reach out for help when needed, and communicate during emergencies.

Recently, Alaa spent an entire week unable to leave his tent because of the unbearable heat. But staying inside the tent does not provide relief either, as the heat inside is also unbearable. Leaving the tent in extreme temperatures is not a simple option for Alaa because of his mobility limitations and difficulty accessing basic needs. He is left trapped in a situation where he cannot escape the heat.

The main goal of this campaign is the solar panel and battery because they are the most important and costly items. However, this campaign will also help with other essential assistive needs that may arise in the future, such as a medical mattress or other equipment that can improve Alaa’s quality of life.

If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with your family, friends, and community. Your support can help make a meaningful difference in the lives of Alaa and his seven younger siblings.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and compassion. Your support means more than words can express.

For direct contact with the family:

+970 567 968 287

Instagram; @lrwwh434