This fundraiser is to help pay for schooling for a 2nd grade and 6th grade student (friends of our family) in their hometown of Ramallah, Palestine. Schools that provide a safe and reputable learning environment are expensive and the work situation in Palestine is incredibly difficult at the moment. $2,500 will cover one student, so the fundraising goal is to relieve her family of at least half the cost. If we can raise more than that, we could potentially cover the cost for both children.

At the beginning of the school year, my daughter told me about a classmate who moved here from Palestine. Her classmate didn’t speak much English and was new to the country. Over time my daughter befriended Janit, who really began to blossom. My daughter and Janit became fast friends, even exchanging BFF necklaces and notes to each other about being best of friends. Coincidentally a few weeks later on a field trip I met Janit’s older brother Amir at which time I learned they were moving back to Palestine in just a few days for various complicated reasons.

Upon hearing this news I got in touch with their parents and began corresponding frequently with their mother. One of her biggest concerns going back was that jobs are scarce in Palestine, especially in light of the tragedies taking place in their corner of the world currently. They are back in Palestine and her husband was re-hired at his old job but he is basically starting at the bottom (despite having worked there for 13 years) and she is searching for a job but isn’t optimistic she will find work. Her husband’s job has not started yet school fees are due soon and she is not sure how they will manage payment. They are emotionally, mentally and physically drained from trying to adjust here, making arrangements to move back, and get on their feet once they landed. The goal of this fundraiser is just to make one small thing easier for a family that has been through so much.

Janit and Amir’s family still have an American bank account. I have gotten their mother’s permission, and when the fundraiser closes I will transfer the money to their American bank account which they will access to pay school fees in Palestine.