IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Dear friends and supporters,

We are happy to finally share this with you: our school in Gaza has officially started!

It has now been over a month since Madrasat Noor Al-Hayat opened its doors—an achievement made possible because of your generosity and belief in this project.

When we first began, we planned to welcome 50 students. Today, 85 incredible children are attending classes, learning and dreaming inside the school, despite the ongoing challenges in Gaza.

Even more children want to join, but sadly, we don’t have space for them yet. It’s heartbreaking to turn them away, but we remain committed to growing and making room for more in the future .

Why the delay?

We owe you an honest explanation.

Receiving the funds from GoFundMe was far more complicated than expected. The verification and transfer process was long, exhausting, and made even more difficult by the financial restrictions related to Gaza.

We learned that it wasn’t possible to send money directly to a bank in Gaza. That meant using multiple intermediaries, each taking a portion in fees and exchanges.

On top of that, Gaza’s liquidity crisis . In total, 39,4% of the funds went toward transfer - related costs , painful but unfortunately unavoidable under current conditions.

We sent so far €3,000, but the school received 7,261 ILS after fees and conversions. In normal conditions, they would have received 11,980.50 ILS.

Still, we did it anyway. Because each euro that reached Gaza turned into books, tables, smiles, and dreams. You made that happen.

We’re also proud to share that the Ministry of Education has formally recognized our school! This means our students can take official exams and move forward to the next grade level, just like in any other school.

One final note we want to share transparently: Some of the materials we purchased were originally aid items that had been resold in the local market. This is a common occurrence in Gaza due to the difficult situation on the ground. We’re mentioning this simply to avoid any confusion and stay fully transparent.

We’ve also included a detailed budget breakdown below so you can see exactly how your donations were used, If you have any questions or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by email

What's next ?

We are more determined than ever to expand the school, welcome more students, and build a safe, joyful, and stable learning space for every child who wants to learn, and with your continued support we believe we can.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

The Gaza Initiatives Team

Total funds sent: €3000=7,261 ILS

Budget Breakdown Summary

1. Tent – 4,399 ILS

* Infrastructure & Setup:Covers: 615 ILSWood: 750 ILSIron pipes: 600 ILSLand rental: 100 ILSSubtotal: 2,065 ILS

* Worker expenses (construction): 305 ILS

* Teacher compensation (633 × 3): 1,899 ILS

* Truck rental (materials): 130 ILS

Total Tent-Related: 2,065 + 305 + 1,899 + 130 = 4,399 ILS

2. Educational Materials – 1,139 ILS

* Tables (6): 350 ILS

* Other educational items: 789 ILS

. Copybooks (7 packs)

. Coloring copybooks (70)

. Coloring pencils (45 box)

. White Board size 60*90 (1)

. Board Markers (6)

. Erasers (15)

. Pencils ( 4 packs)

. Kindergarten books (7)

. Educational cards (15)

* Subtotal: 1,139 ILS

3. Activity Supplies – 136 ILS

* Balloons: 63 ILS

* Paper tissues: 23 ILS

* Internet/speaker charging: 50 ILS

4. Encouragement & Student Support – 292 ILS

* Biscuits: 292 ILS

5. Other Expenses

* Printing logos: 110 ILS

* Transportation: 162 ILS

Total Expenses:

* Tent: 4,399 ILS

* Educational Materials: 1,139 ILS

* Activities: 136 ILS

* Student Support: 292 ILS

* Other Expenses: 110 + 162 = 272 ILS

Grand Total: 4,399 + 1,139 + 136 + 292 + 272 = 6,238 ILS

Conclusion :

* Total Funds Received: 7,261 ILS

* Total Spent: 6,238 ILS

* Remaining Balance: 1023 ILS

________________________________________________________

Due to the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, thousands of children have been denied access to education. For children living in refugee camps, the need for a safe and nurturing learning environment is urgent. This project aims to establish a temporary tent school to provide education, structure, and hope for the children in the refugee camp where my family resides. The school will focus on essential education, emotional support, and creative activities, delivered by local volunteer teachers, including my sister Maisa Alsemeiri who is an experienced educator.

Initial Setup Costs

1. Tent materials (3 tarps): 900 NIS = EUR225 / USD243- Wood for structure: 800 NIS = EUR200 / USD216- Nails and fasteners: 50 NIS = EUR12.50 / USD13.50- Transportation of materials: 100 NIS = EUR25 / USD27- Labor costs (worker for setting up): 200 NIS = EUR50 / USD54

Total Infrastructure: 2050 NIS = EUR512.50 / USD553.50

2. Stationery and Learning Materials

Providing essential materials for 50 students:- Notebooks (4 dozen, 60 per dozen = 52 notebooks): 400 NIS = EUR100 / USD108- Pencils (5 dozen, 50 per dozen): 50 NIS = EUR12.50 / USD13.50- Whiteboard and markers: 300 NIS = EUR75 / USD81- Erasers (50 units): 50 NIS = EUR12.50 / USD13.50

- Drawing pads (50 units): 200 NIS = EUR50 / USD54

Total Learning Materials: 1000 NIS = EUR250 / USD270

3. Teacher Incentives

We aim to have 3 teachers who will dedicate their time and effort to teaching these children. While

the teachers are willing

to volunteer without payment, we believe in recognizing their hard work through a modest reward.- Monthly reward for each teacher: EUR250 / USD270 (per teacher)- For 3 teachers over 3 months: EUR2,250 / USD2,430 (total for 3 months)

4. Student Rewards

Small rewards for students to encourage attendance and participation:- Monthly rewards for 50 students: 200 NIS = EUR50 / USD54- For 3 months: 600 NIS = EUR150 / USD162

Total Costs for 3 Months

1. Infrastructure costs (one-time): 2050 NIS = EUR512.50 / USD553.50

2. Learning materials (one-time): 1000 NIS = EUR250 / USD270

3. Teacher incentives: EUR2,250 / USD2,430

4. Student rewards: 600 NIS = EUR150 / USD162

Grand Total for 3 Months: Approximately EUR3,162.50 / USD3,415.50

If we add the 35% commission to the Grand Total for 3 Months (EUR3,162.50 / USD3,415.50), The adjusted total would be:- EUR4,269.38- USD4,610.93

This represents the amount that needs to be raised to ensure the necessary funds are received after the 35% deduction. We also have to take commission of GoFundMe in consideration.

On this picture you can see the tent place we want to change into a school with new equipment.