Help Abood Rebuild His Home and Life in Gaza

Hello, I’m Abdullah Ghabayen, a young Palestinian from Gaza. My friends call me Abood. I’m writing with a heart heavy with hope and ambition. War has devastated every aspect of my life, but I still dream of having a future.

My home was destroyed in two separate bombings, my family no longer has a source of income to afford even basic necessities, and my education stopped when the bombs began falling. Life has become very difficult. I need your support to help me cover the costs of my education, housing, and basic needs so I can survive and remain in my home.

I am 20 years old and aspire to complete my studies in multimedia. I was a student at the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS) before the war. Education has always been important to me and I firmly believe in the power of education as key to achieving a better life for myself and my family. I just want to live in a safe environment, where I can study and achieve my ambitions without fear or anxiety.

My room was once a safe haven, its vibrant walls covered with family photos, my artwork, and books that fueled my imagination, with a study corner where I spent countless hours learning and researching. So many happy memories happened between these walls.

After being separated from my family for more than a year, living in a freezing tent far from home while bombs fell every night, I finally returned home at the end of January. I discovered half of my home had collapsed and the remainder was now a bombed-out shell. Most of my neighborhood here in North Gaza is unrecognizable.

I feel sadness and emptiness when I remember how it was and how it has become. However, I also feel determination – I’ve been working hard to clear the rubble and make the shell of our home habitable so we can have shelter and remain here. The destruction of our home also meant the loss of our income, as the ground floor housed my father Nabil's market. With no income and rising prices, this fundraiser is our lifeline.

The conditions here are very harsh. There is little food, water, or electricity nearby. A simple glass of clean water or charging my phone have become luxuries obtained with great difficulty.

Every donation, no matter how small, will have a significant impact on my life. I promise you that I will do my best to achieve my dreams and help others in my country in the future.

I need your help to rebuild my life and restore hope. With your assistance, I can survive and one day pursue my dreams.

Your generous donations will help me:

1) Rebuild my family's home (which includes my father's market - our livelihood).

2) Continue my education in Multimedia - either in Gaza or abroad, depending on what opportunities are available. I was a student at UCAS Gaza before the war.

3) Cover basic daily needs and other personal expenses to help me get by until I have a source of income (e.g. food, clothing, etc.).

I have asked my friend Dylan, who lives in the United States, to help me with this fundraiser. GoFundMe requires recipients to have a bank account in a supported country and the currency the fundraiser was set up in. To achieve this, funds will be transferred from GoFundMe to a separate bank account Dylan has set up for this fundraiser and then wired to my bank account from there.

You can follow my progress at my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghabayen.abdulla/

About Dylan Peacock:

I live in the US state of Rhode Island and became friends with Abood after he contacted me on Instagram during the summer of 2024. Since then, we have spoken almost every day and he has become like a little brother to me. I am constantly in awe of his spirit and determination despite everything he has been through. All donations will go directly to Abood and I will keep everyone updated on his situation.