URGENT UPDATE | July 25, 2025 ❤️
After 660 days of war, there is nothing left to return to. On Friday, July 25th, 2025, our family home was completely destroyed, reduced to a pile of rubble and memories. The home that sheltered our childhoods, that echoed with laughter and the aroma of coffee, vanished in an instant.
This marks the tenth time we have been forcibly displaced. We are now homeless, with nowhere to go. This devastating loss forces us to update our campaign and raise our goal. We are not just searching for temporary safety anymore; we are fighting for a chance at life itself. The living conditions are spiraling beyond control, and the financial crisis is catastrophic. To access any donated funds as cash, we face withdrawal fees of over 50%. This means every dollar you generously give is tragically cut in half before we can even use it.
"This photo of the family was taken during the 60-day military truce in March 2025."
❤️ Our Story: From Community Builders to Displaced Survivors
We are a family of five from Gaza. Before this war, our lives were filled with purpose. We founded and ran Ristretto Coffee Lab, which was more than just a business—it was a vibrant cultural and community hub. We dedicated our careers to community support, education, and social entrepreneurship. This past, built on hard work and a belief in our community, is what fuels our resilience today and our determination to succeed with this campaign.
In the heart of this destruction, our son Yaman was born. His arrival was a miracle of hope, a powerful reminder that life insists on continuing, even as the world around us collapses.
❤️ Our Children Deserve a Future
Today, our every thought is for our children. Yaman is now 1.5 years old. We face a daily, exhausting struggle to find the bare essentials for him. Baby formula, diapers, and the vital nutritional supplements he needs to grow strong are nearly impossible to find or afford.
"From left: The first photo shows the family before Yaman's birth, during the summer of 2023. The second was taken during a three-year stay in Turkey where Yarin was born. The third photo, on the right, shows the family during the displacement in Rafah and after Yaman's birth, at the end of April 2024."
Our older children, Dania and Yarin, have had their education stolen from them. Dania barely managed to complete the first grade online, and Yarin is now ready for kindergarten. Our most cherished dream is to give them the chance to continue their education online, to catch up with their peers, and to reclaim a piece of the normal childhood that was so violently taken from them.
❤️ Why We Are Asking for Your Help
With heavy hearts and humble hope, we turn to you. We are seeking to raise $48,000 to secure safe passage for our family through the Rafah border and to cover three months of essential living expenses: shelter, food, and medical care. The decision to leave our homeland is agonizing, but it has become essential for our children's survival.
Your support is more than money—it is a powerful message of solidarity. It tells us that we are not alone and that humanity endures when everything else has fallen.
❤️ Transparent & Updated Budget (6-Month Period)
Our budget has been updated to reflect the grim reality on the ground, especially the extreme fees for accessing cash.
1. Exit & Travel Coordination Fees from Gaza (No Change):
- 3 Children: $3,000 × 3 = $9,000
- 2 Adults: $6,000 × 2 = $12,000
- Travel Subtotal: $21,000
2. Basic Living Expenses (6-Month Buffer):
- Furnished Apartment in Cairo: $3,600 ($600/month)
- Utilities (Water, Electricity, Gas): $900 ($150/month)
- Food & Groceries: $2,400 ($400/month)
- Basic Necessities (Clothing, Hygiene, etc.): $3,000
- Communication & Local Transport: $900 ($150/month)
- Living Subtotal: $10,800
3. Platform & Cash Withdrawal Fees (Recalculated based on a 30% rate):
- GoFundMe Platform Fee (~2.9%): $1,363
- Gaza Cash Liquidity & Withdrawal Fees (up to 30%): $13,837
(Note: This staggering fee is the reality of converting donated funds into physical cash in Gaza, which is required to pay for the exit permits and all initial costs.)
- NEW TOTAL GOAL: $47,000
❤️ Our Future Dream for Gaza: Rebuilding Hope
We had planned to use a portion of these funds to build a solar-powered water well in the Al-Zarqa neighborhood, a project to serve over 1,800 displaced families. Tragically, this area is now an active and dangerous military zone, making the project impossible to implement for now.
"To give you a clear idea of the financial challenge, the base cost for this vital project is $18,000. However, due to the catastrophic financial crisis and cash withdrawal fees of up to 30%, we would actually need to raise approximately $26,500 just to cover this single project's real cost. This illustrates how the total funds required for any goal, including our current campaign, will continue to climb the longer the war continues."
"The detailed, approximate goal for our campaign is $73,500 USD, which is equivalent to about £57,965 GBP. The goal is set in US Dollars as it is the second primary currency used in Palestine. This total will cover the campaign's urgent costs, including travel and exit from Gaza, living expenses for 6 months, all cash withdrawal and platform fees, plus a small emergency buffer. Please note that the water well project will be postponed to a later phase."
This dream is postponed, not cancelled. We promise that as soon as the war ends or a long-term truce is established, contributing to the reconstruction of our community will be our highest priority.
Thank you for believing in us. ❤️
