This is Amir.

He is an artist and a university student from Gaza.

"The photos you see are not from a gallery. They are from my destroyed home. This was my room the place where I used to study, paint, and dream. Today it stands filled with rubble, broken wood, shattered walls, and dust covering everything that once felt safe.

In one moment, I lost the space that held my childhood, my memories, and my future plans. My mother and I were forced into displacement. For months, we lived in a tent, carrying water, facing cold winter storms, and enduring a life where even rest felt temporary. Survival became our daily focus.

But even inside destruction, I did not stop being an artist. In the middle of broken walls and debris, my painting was still there a quiet witness that something inside me refused to collapse. Art became my breath when everything else felt suffocating.

Recently, I made the difficult decision to rent a small apartment. It is simple, but it gives my mother and me something we have not felt in a long time: stability. A small corner to study. A quiet place to paint. A chance to rebuild with dignity.

I am now in my final year at university. With support for rent and basic living expenses, I can complete my education this year and continue creating art that carries my story and the story of resilience to the world.

Your support is not just financial help. It is a hand reaching through the rubble. It is proof that even after loss, something can still grow.

Thank you for standing with me and my mother as we try to rebuild our lives from what remains. ❤️"

Caitlin's note: I am setting up this Go Fund Me page for Amir and his mother. Because GoFundMe does not operate in Gaza, they cannot link their local bank accounts to receive funds directly.