Update, we have now reached over

£10000 in donations. This is amazing, thank you so much to all of you incredibly caring and generous people. as Eid approaches I feel that the time has now come to close Tasneem’s fund and transfer the money to her parents. The total has stabilized over the last few months and I feel with restrictions lifted and the ease of being able to transfer money via bank accounts without the huge charges that it is time for Tasneem and her family to have access to this fund to build the next chapter . Thank you to everyone who has played a part in this journey through the worst of times. Tasneem, her family and I appreciate every single donation and also every single thought and care shown to this family. I will keep us updated of course as I have no intention of losing touch with this incredibly resilient family.

I aim to close the fund towards the end of next week so please do share one last time on social media.

Really thank you all for this amazing support you have shown ❤️

We are on track to making a real difference but I need to do more.

Tasneem is now finally able to return to face to face schooling after two years of studying sporadically online. She is so driven to succeed and go to university. However the border is still closed, everything is still in rubble, food is still scarce and people are still being killed. This is her reality. I really hope that with your help and with this fund we can help give her a brighter future to fulfill her dreams.

Tasneem is now 17. This has been going on now since she was 15. She has had to grow up too soon and along with her younger siblings, lives her life in survival mode and in constant fear.

She is in a camp with her family and they are hungry, sick and often fearful… but so incredibly strong and hopeful. We can help to give her hope by thinking about her and caring about her survival during this horrific time, a time of nightmares.

Please please keep sharing and donating to allow them to rebuild or relocate and give the children a future they deserve.

Our efforts really can change lives and have a small positive impact in the midst of this terrible cruel destruction.

Hi, my name is Fiona and I would like to introduce you to Tasneem and her family. I was introduced to Tasneem through the Hands Up Project (www.handsupproject.org), a UK organisation which connects children from around the world with children from Palestine. I have known the Hands Up Project and the founder, Nick Bilbrough, for several years and have followed the amazing and inspiring work they have done and continue relentlessly to do. Since getting to know Tasneem I have been so impressed with her positivity and cheerful outlook despite living under the harshest, most frightening of conditions in a tent in Southern Gaza. Nick Bilborough, the founder of the Hands Up Project, has met Tasneem in person during a trip to Gaza.

Tasneem is a very ambitious, talented young person with a bubbly personality and the interests of a teenager. She has been involved in creative projects in English with the Hands Up Project since she was 9 years old.

I will now pass over to Tasneem to tell you a little more about her:

"Hi there, I am from the north of Gaza but have been forced to leave with my family because of the war and because our home was destroyed. We now live in southern Gaza in a tent. We lack sufficient food and water and are constantly cold and get sick easily. We cannot shower and have no access to any medicine. This is not a life I ever imagined having and it is so difficult to stay positive but we try and hope for a better future.

I am a passionate runner. At the age of 9 I ran 300 metres in 1 minute 53 seconds! I have even won trophies. My dad is a runner and football coach. He participated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens for the Palestinian national team. we are all so proud of him. He is a great role model and passed on his passion for running to me. He also still coaches my 3 brothers and sister in football. We all love sport and my mum is the fantastic chef who cooks for us after we have done training. We are a happy family.

I was getting a good education before the war, I loved school and am passionate about English. I also love singing and cooking, the normal things of a 15 year old who was happy and having a good childhood before the war started. I am interested in fashion and love trying to create my own designs from old clothes.( I like to use my little sister as a model ) I hope one day, with your help, I can return to these interests and have a good future.

I live with my mum, dad, 3 younger brothers – Salem, Abdalrahman and Mohammed plus one lovely little sister, Umna. We now all live in very uncomfortable conditions far from where we grew up and although we try to stay positive we are scared of what will happen to us and our futures.

We really need your help to evacuate from Gaza to Egypt or to find another safe option for our future. Your generosity can be the lifeline that saves me and my family. I am thankful for your support and kindness in giving us a chance to lead a normal life free from stress, fear and hunger.

As Tasneem describes, her family includes her parents, sister and 3 brothers. We are hoping to raise enough money to give safe passage to them all and to bring them to safety or allow them to rebuild their home and somehow bring peace to their lives.

Please join us in this compassionate cause to help Tasneem and her family find refuge and hope. Let’s come together to make a tangible difference in their lives.

Please note that the current situation is ever changing. In the hope that things change for the better and safe passage is no longer required or possible the funds raised will be passed to Tasneem’s family to help them rebuild their future in the best way possible with the resources they have to hand.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.

With hope and gratitude for a better life for this family.

Fiona