As violence and displacement continue to shape Palestinian lives, I am taking my senior project beyond the classroom to serve Palestinian refugees on the ground in Athens. This work is deeply personal to me. My grandfather was born in Akka (Acre), Palestine, in 1942 and was displaced during the Nakba in 1948. This is an experience that continues to echo through my family’s history. That legacy has shaped my sense of responsibility and strengthened my commitment to supporting Palestinian communities in meaningful, hands-on ways.

Since October 2023, as the genocide in Gaza has unfolded, it has taken a profound emotional toll on me and my family. In response, we have consistently worked to organize, protest, raise funds, donate, and support Palestinian relief efforts in every way we can. This trip represents a culmination of years of organizing and volunteering locally across the Bay Area to contributing on the ground, a chance for me to move from advocacy at a distance to direct service, working alongside experienced volunteers, listening to refugees’ stories, learning from their resilience, and supporting their daily needs with care, humility, and respect.

In April, I will spend 2 weeks in Athens assisting Palestinian refugees through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), an organization that prioritizes safety, structure, and above all, ethical volunteer engagement. Over the past year, I have also been intentionally improving my Arabic so I can communicate more respectfully and effectively with the people I will be supporting. I am raising $2,450 to cover flights, travel insurance, program fees (including housing, meals during workdays, volunteer staff, and organizational support), and basic local transportation and food on weekends. Every contribution helps make this project possible. Thank you for supporting my senior project and helping me give back in a way that truly matters to myself, my community, and the refugees I hope to serve.