Help a Mother and Daughter Escape War and Rebuild in Egypt

Dear Compassionate Supporters,

I have started this campaign to help my dear friend, Sara Hejji, and her mother, Nuha. I first met Sara 4 years ago through the We Are Not Numbers program (a human rights project pairing young Palestinian writers with international mentors to write their stories). I was particularly impressed by her intelligence, her compassion, and her courage. I just knew that Sara had a bright future ahead as a writer and an educator.

Now the world has changed for Sara and Nuha who have been stuck in Rafah for 6 months and in desperate need of our assistance to leave Gaza for Egypt - their very survival depends on this.

Below is Sara's story in her own words - please consider giving in any amount - every dollar will get them closer to safety.

"With a heart heavy with desperation, I come to you today, seeking your assistance during a time of dire need. I am Sara Hejji, and I am speaking on behalf of my beloved mother, Nuha, and myself.

For six agonizing months, Gaza has been ravaged by war, leaving us, a mother and daughter, struggling to survive and repeatedly fleeing from one danger to another with no safe haven in sight. We are currently seeking shelter in a school in Rafah, which stands as the sixth location in our forced evacuation journey. We live in terrible living conditions filled with despair, fear, uncertainty, health-related diseases, a lack of contaminated water, and very limited healthcare.

(queue for water at the camp)

(living conditions - we are living in a corner of a classroom)

We have lost everything we once held dear: our home, our land, our only source of income, and our sense of security.

With just one year left until my graduation from the English department at IUG, the war in Gaza brought an abrupt end to my educational journey and promising career in fields I have been working diligently in, such as translation, education, and journalistic writing.

Now, we have finally made the difficult decision to seek refuge in Egypt, where I can resume my education and create a brighter future for myself and my mother in Egypt.

As females without a male provider, our journey of rebuilding our lives is fraught with challenges. We lack the means to cover the essential expenses required for our relocation and resettlement.

our support can make our dream a reality. Your generosity can provide me with the educational opportunities I desperately need and deserve.

Here are the expenses we need assistance with:

• Ya Hala travel agency to get out from Gaza. (est. $10,000)

• Monthly residence fees in Egypt (est. $30/month for person x 2 x 12 months, total $720)

• Daily living expenses (est. $500/month x 12 months, $6000 total)

•$500 for the fees of travel and transportation from Gaza to Egypt.

•$10,000 will go towards shelter/house rental in Egypt, resettling, buying clothes, urgent healthcare, and other humanitarian needs for a few months up to 1 year.

(note - initial funds will be transferred by Sara's relative in Egypt to Ya Hala Travel Agency & the remainder upon her arrival to Egypt)

Your contribution goes beyond finances; it is a key to unlocking a new chapter for my family. Your support can pave the way for us to rebuild our shattered lives, forge a new beginning, and get a step closer to a brighter tomorrow.

Please consider contributing to our campaign in any amount and sharing it with your network so we can transform our despair into a tale of resilience and renewal."

Thanks a million for your compassion and solidarity,

Sara Hejii & Cheryl Qamar