Hello,

My name is Yaz and I am based out of Alpharetta, GA and my goal is to help support Palestinians in the current catastrophic war that is happening in Gaza leaving millions of innocent people in inhumane situations. I have several brilliant Palestinian friends and Mohammed is one of them. I hope to share his story to the world to grant him hope so he can rebuild his life and prosper. Please read his message to the world as follows:

Hello, my name is Mohammed Abu Younes. I am 28 years old and a Libra. Although some believe that those born under this sign are the luckiest, my life hasn't been fortunate due to the harsh conditions in Gaza.

I graduated in 2018 with a degree in Applied Chemistry, but I have been unable to find a job since then. I have tirelessly sought employment, but opportunities are extremely scarce. Despite this, I didn't wait for luck to knock on my door; I pursued my goals with determination.

Since childhood, I have loved drawing, capturing everything I see around me, which later led me to learn digital drawing and turn it into a source of income. Life in Gaza has always been challenging, and daily expenses have become a heavy burden on my family. I worked tirelessly to provide for our basic needs and help us endure these difficult times. I discovered my passion for entrepreneurship and project management, and founded a startup called ArtFeat to support Palestinian art and artists. I created a website to showcase and market art pieces.

In addition, I served as a mentor and trainer for young entrepreneurs, guiding and coaching them in life skills, 21st-century skills, and environmentally friendly project management.

I am the eldest son in a family of nine: my 62-year-old unemployed father, my 52-year-old mother who dedicates her life to being a successful homemaker, and my three brothers—Ahmed, Samir, and Ibrahim—and three sisters—Suzana, Lina, and Raghda.

With my daily savings, I built a beautiful home that symbolized a life filled with love and warmth for my family. I felt immense joy when I completed my house and became capable of supporting my family, as if a light had begun to shine on my path. But fate was cruel. The war came without warning and destroyed everything beautiful in our lives. My home and my family's home were destroyed, our dreams shattered, and we lost many loved ones. All we have left is to survive. Now, all we hope for is to have food and water to stay alive.

We need an opportunity to escape this hell and start anew outside Gaza, but the cost of travel is very high, and we don't have enough money. The cost per person ranges between $5,000 and $8,000, and we are nine people: myself, my brothers Ahmed, Samir, and Ibrahim, my sisters Suzana, Lina, and Raghda, and my parents, which makes the total cost around $79,000. I was hesitant to ask for help, fearing I would be heartbroken, but my friend encouraged me to take this step to save my family. We desperately need your assistance to escape this suffering. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in saving our lives. Thank you to everyone who extends a helping hand during these difficult times. You are our only hope.

Here are some pictures so you can see what life was like for me before the war and after:

Message from Yaz: The funds for Mohammed will be sent via bank of Palestine so my friend and his family can evacuate and rebuild their lives.

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Update as of March 8, 2025

After a temporary halt to military operations in the Gaza Strip, the suffering of Muhammad, the eldest son of his family of nine, continues.

During the war, Muhammad was unable to leave the area due to the closure of the crossings, leaving him and his family trapped amidst intense shelling and destruction. They narrowly survived the genocide, but they lost everything. Muhammad lost his home, which was a safe haven for his family, and they are now homeless. Additionally, he lost his sole source of income, making him unable to meet his family's basic needs, including securing food. His losses extended beyond shelter and employment; he also lost many of his loved ones and friends, leaving a wound in his heart that does not heal.

Currently, Muhammad and his family are living in a dilapidated tent amidst the rubble, facing the severe winter cold and heavy rains without any protection. These harsh conditions have driven them to the brink of despair, with Muhammad standing helplessly before his family's needs, unable to provide even the minimum requirements for a dignified life. In this ordeal, Muhammad appeals to compassionate individuals to provide urgent assistance that ensures their survival, whether through providing food or shelter.

Any help, no matter how small, could mean a new life for Muhammad and his family, bringing a glimmer of hope in the darkness of this ongoing humanitarian tragedy. Do not hesitate to assist Muhammad's family; they are in dire need of your support

In this blessed month, while families gather around their iftar tables, Mohammed and his family sit in the darkness of war and hunger, living in a tent with no home to shelter them, no food to ease their hunger, and no hope except for God's mercy and the kindness of good people. He has lost everything under the fire of war, and his life has become a daily struggle just to secure a morsel of food for his family.

In Gaza, hunger kills more than bombs, and the cold is harsher than destruction. Mohammed is not asking for much—just enough to keep his family from starving this Ramadan. Your donation today is not just assistance; it is a lifeline for a family desperately waiting for a helping hand. Don't leave them alone in their suffering.