Help Asem and Family Overcome Challenges

Hello,

My name is Julia Baer. I'm the Director of International Student Services at Rockhurst University. Many years ago at Missouri State University, I was in charge of all U.S. sponsored students on-campus. These are students that the U.S. government pays to have a U.S. experience who may not have otherwise had the chance. That's when I met Asem from Palestine.

Through his year at MSU, I learned a lot about the challenges they were facing back home and that alone was enough for me to really worry about his return to Palestine. Asem has always had a positive attitude despite his background, including serving the community both when he was in the U.S. teaching others about his culture and after his return with Palestinian youth in his community.

Asem has gone through what we could never imagine in the U.S. Him and his family are struggling, including losing their home after using what was left in their savings to rebuild a home and continually relocating to different areas to maintain safety. Every day is a new challenge for him and his family. Therefore i am asking for donations (anything counts) to provide for Asem so that he can use the money both for himself (he's interested in pursuing his masters degree abroad) and any family member to assist them in their journey.

Please read below in Asem's own words:

Amidst the horror of heavy bombings and airstrikes that claimed thousands of innocent lives, I find myself once more swept up in the frantic rush to escape, leaving behind the

shattered remnants of a life I once knew. In the chaotic scramble for safety, there is no time to pack, only to run, leaving behind memories trapped in the icy grasp of a family

photo album, the comfort of my winter clothes I am supposed to wear, and the digital remnants of a past life stored on a personal laptop. This is the ninth evacuation, each escape more harrowing than the last. The deafening cacophony of airstrikes fills the air, drowning out all other sound, a relentless reminder of the Nakba that engulfs us. In this merciless war, civilians are nothing but helpless prey, desperately fleeing their hunters. Fear and hesitation whisper in every corner of my so-called “shelter”, a black-colored tent that gives little protection from the horrors outside. In this war-ravaged city,

survival becomes the sole imperative, and hope dwindles with each passing day of violence and uncertainty.

My name is Asem Al-Ashqar, and I am a 26-year-old English literature graduate. I am a survivor of five aggressions, clinging to the hope of safety and survival in this war. It is hard for me to believe that I have spent what should be my prime years enduring brutal, unimaginable wars. Today, having lived through the 245th day of this merciless aggression, I have learned resilience and the real value of life. I am the third child of five. I have two older sisters who lost their jobs during this brutal aggression. My older sister, Eman, was a finance officer at a local logistics company, while my other sister, Reem, worked as a graphic designer at a design company. Now

both sisters face uncertain futures. My only brother, Ahmad, who has finished his studies in graphic design, was recently looking for an opportunity to get a job. My younger sister, Deema, 19, who has finished high school, was supposed to start her first semester at college a few days before the start of war. Unfortunately, both Ahmad and Deema have their dreams shattered by war. The future is uncertain, especially for my

young sister, Deema, who has been depressed and hopeless living this tough war, knowing that her future has no possibilities here in Gaza. Over the past nine months, Gaza has endured intense bombings and air strikes. Every day, we are inundated with new images of merciless murder and destruction—mothers and children dead in the streets, hospitals, schools, and universities blasted apart, and

residential homes destroyed. One cherished possession, our family home, which my two sisters and I dedicated years of diligent effort to accumulate the necessary funds for

buying it, was destroyed by a merciless air strike before we even started constructing it. After much contemplation, I have finally decided to launch this campaign for three

reasons: to help rebuild the house we lost during the war, support my younger sister in pursuing her education abroad, and facilitate my own departure from Gaza.

Doing this fundraising campaign is the only hope for my family and myself. As you are likely aware, we have been experiencing significant hardships, and with each passing

day, we lose a bit more of the hope we still cling to. However, with the support of compassionate individuals like you, our hope can be restored.

With this in mind, I am reaching out to you today, humbly seeking your support to aid in the reconstruction of our home, assist my sister, Deema, in starting her education abroad, and facilitate my departure from Gaza. The funds generated through this campaign will be allocated towards covering the expenses associated with crossing Egypt for both my sister and myself once it opens, transportation, temporary housing,

and the reconstruction of our home in Gaza, as well as financing my sister’s education. We greatly appreciate any support you can offer, whether it be through a donation or

simply by sharing our story with your network. Your contribution, no matter the size, holds the potential to provide us with the hope we so deeply deserve. Transitioning from the confines of the besieged Gaza Strip to the boundless skies of hope and freedom, I believe my sister and I will be able to spread our wings and fly out of our cage, embracing a brighter future full of possibilities, far from fear, uncertainty, and constant danger that consumes us.

Thank you for your kindness and compassion.

Asem Alashqar