Help Ahmed's Family Evacuate War Torn Gaza and Rebuild

Here is a message from my friend in Gaza, Ahmed. He is a 23 year old architechure student and this fundraiser is set up for him and his family who are looking to raise funds to evacuate Gaza and rebuild their lives.

Ahmed's Message:

FROM DESTRUCTION TO HOPE: A FAMILY'S PLEA FOR SURVIVAL AND RENEWAL

My name is Ahmed Rahma, and I am a 23-year-old architecture student from Gaza. I come from a close-knit family of five: my parents, who are both dedicated teachers, my older sister who is married with three children, and my older brother who is also married. Our home was always filled with laughter, dreams, and ambitions. We lived in the heart of Gaza, where our daily life was a blend of hard work, family bonding, and dreams of a brighter future.

Before the 7th of October, our lives were normal, and we were content. I was immersed in my studies at the College of Architecture, aspiring to become a renowned engineer and make a mark on the world. My parents were deeply respected in their teaching profession, and all sudden we separated from each other, part of us became in the northern Gaza Strip (my sister, her husband, and her children) and a part of us in the southern Gaza Strip (me, my mother, and my father).

But everything changed when the war broke out. Our family was torn apart, separated by the chaos and destruction. My sister, her husband, and their children were stranded in the northern Gaza Strip, while I stayed with my parents in the south. The communication between us became sporadic and filled with anxiety, each call filled with the hope that everyone was still safe.

As days turned into weeks, the war took its toll on us. Our home, a place filled with countless memories and dreams, was reduced to rubble. All our possessions, our savings, and the physical reminders of our past were lost in an instant. The university where I studied, the very place that held the key to my future, was completely destroyed. My dreams of becoming a brilliant engineer seemed to vanish amidst the smoke and debris.

Survival became our only concern. The basics of life – food and water – became scarce. In desperation, I constructed a clay oven to bake bread, trying to provide for my family with the limited resources we had left. My parents, who once inspired countless students with their knowledge and passion, found themselves without work. Many schools had been destroyed or repurposed to house the displaced, leaving no place for teaching.

Despite the overwhelming despair, we held onto each other, drawing strength from our unity. Every day was a struggle, but it was also a testament to our resilience. My parents, even in the face of such adversity, remained hopeful, instilling in me the belief that we could rebuild our lives, no matter how daunting the task seemed.

This is why I am communicating for help. We need to escape this endless nightmare, to find a haven where we can rebuild our lives. We are seeking money to cross into Egypt through the Rafah crossing, a trip that costs $5,000 per person - the amount that is our only way to safety and hope. Your support is not just a donation; it’s a lifeline. It is an opportunity for my family to see the sunrise without fear, to sleep without the sound of bombs, and to live without the shadows of death looming above us.

Please help us leave this place of despair. Help us find peace, rediscover hope, and rebuild our hard work. Every contribution, no matter how small, can help us step away from danger and get closer to a new beginning. We are more than just statistics in a news report. We are human beings, we yearn for an opportunity to live, dream, and prosper again.

Thank you for taking the time to hear our story. Your kindness and generosity can bring us closer to the day when we can look back on this time as a dark chapter that we overcame together. Together, we can transform despair into hope and rebuild our lives from the ashes. Your support means the world to us.

With deepest gratitude,

Ahmed Rahma and Family