Dema's American School Enrollment
Donation protected
Dema Akram was student from Gaza who lived and studied in Iowa in 2016. While here she was able to educate and inform her peers about life in occupied Palestine.
During the time she lived with our family, Dema excelled in school and was able to impress everyone she encountered with her intellect and passion for her people. In western Iowa, she gave her peers an opportunity to interact with someone outside of their normal circle and provided a face to population often forgotten.
Born in Germany and returning to Gaza as a teen, Dema has an acute understanding of how Muslims and Palestinians are misunderstood. Her dream is to be Gaza's first female ambassador to the UN.
The current situation in Gaza has hit Dema's family hard. Electricity and clean water are only available for a few hours a day. The hospital where her father teaches cannot operate and her family has no reliable source of income.
If Dema even hopes to return to America for a proper education, she needs to attend the American School instead of the Gaza public schools. The clock is ticking, enrollment closes early September. If Dema is unable to receive an education in the American school, she fears she will spend the rest of her life in trapped occupied Palestine.
Dema is a young woman with rare intelligence. She has a passion for her people, and a drive to make a difference. She hopes that through her service, the world can better understands Gaza and the challenges of living under constant bombardment and deprivation. Far from feeling sorry for herself, she is motivated to represent her people as an educated, Muslim woman in the world.
I am making this attempt because Dema lived with my son and myself when she studied in Iowa. I consider her to be a daughter to me and am constantly concerned about her life and the life of all in the Gaza strip. I am currently living in Sioux City, Iowa working as a prevention specialist for a recovery center and as an interim pastor for a Lutheran congregation.
The funds raised will be used to help Dema pay the tuition fees necessary to attend the American School in Gaza. There the class numbers are smaller and she will get a better education in both English and Arabic. She has already passed the entrance exam so she can attend if the fees can be raised.
The funds will go directly to Dema's father and mother to pay the fees via moneygram.
During the time she lived with our family, Dema excelled in school and was able to impress everyone she encountered with her intellect and passion for her people. In western Iowa, she gave her peers an opportunity to interact with someone outside of their normal circle and provided a face to population often forgotten.
Born in Germany and returning to Gaza as a teen, Dema has an acute understanding of how Muslims and Palestinians are misunderstood. Her dream is to be Gaza's first female ambassador to the UN.
The current situation in Gaza has hit Dema's family hard. Electricity and clean water are only available for a few hours a day. The hospital where her father teaches cannot operate and her family has no reliable source of income.
If Dema even hopes to return to America for a proper education, she needs to attend the American School instead of the Gaza public schools. The clock is ticking, enrollment closes early September. If Dema is unable to receive an education in the American school, she fears she will spend the rest of her life in trapped occupied Palestine.
Dema is a young woman with rare intelligence. She has a passion for her people, and a drive to make a difference. She hopes that through her service, the world can better understands Gaza and the challenges of living under constant bombardment and deprivation. Far from feeling sorry for herself, she is motivated to represent her people as an educated, Muslim woman in the world.
I am making this attempt because Dema lived with my son and myself when she studied in Iowa. I consider her to be a daughter to me and am constantly concerned about her life and the life of all in the Gaza strip. I am currently living in Sioux City, Iowa working as a prevention specialist for a recovery center and as an interim pastor for a Lutheran congregation.
The funds raised will be used to help Dema pay the tuition fees necessary to attend the American School in Gaza. There the class numbers are smaller and she will get a better education in both English and Arabic. She has already passed the entrance exam so she can attend if the fees can be raised.
The funds will go directly to Dema's father and mother to pay the fees via moneygram.
Fundraising team: Friends of Dema (2)
Joy Gonnerman
Organizer
Sioux City, IA
Carl Norquist
Team member
