I am Iman... and all I have left is my voice"

Hello,

I am Iman Odeh, from Gaza — an actress and theater trainer from Palestine. I was raised on stage, surrounded by the laughter of children whom I trained to transform pain into scenes, tears into scripts, and rubble into stories filled with hope.

For years, I believed that art was salvation, and that the theater was our safe space when life became too heavy.

But the latest war took almost everything from me...

My father, my anchor, was killed in the bombings. My home was damaged, my source of income vanished, and responsibilities fell heavily on my shoulders.

I became the sole provider for my family.

All I have now is myself, and a few memories I carry as treasures within me... Memories of children who smiled after performing painful scenes, of mothers who thanked me because their children spoke again after trauma.

But even that feels distant now.

I’m launching this campaign because I’ve reached a moment where I need a hand — a lifeline — a glimpse of hope, not from the stage this time, but from your hearts.

I need to travel — not to escape, but to find a window into a new life, where I can breathe again, gather my strength, and provide a minimal sense of dignity for myself and my family.

I need support to stand up again, to grow, to come back stronger and truer — and to continue doing what I’ve always done: creating light from within the darkness.

I’m not asking for a specific amount, because I know what the soul needs can never be measured in numbers.

Every bit of support, no matter how small, is a tiny light in a long tunnel.

Every share, every word, every heart that believes in me, is part of this journey — one I hope will lead me to a shore with just a little safety.

Thank you to everyone who made it to these words.

Thank you for still believing that every human deserves a chance… even after the war.

With all my gratitude,

Iman Odeh