Help Ghazal Save Her Family's Lives!

Hi, my name is Alyson Wick and I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA! I am fundraising for my dear friend Ghazal Abudalal in Palestine. She is a beautiful, kind and compassionate soul, who gives back to her community in so many ways and I want to share her story with you!

My beautiful friend, Ghazal! (IG - ghazal.abu.dalal)

She has a 7-person family, including herself:

Ghazal's siblings Hazar, 15, Hassan, 18 and Ghaydaa 22

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Before the war, Ghazal had a career in information technology and a beautiful family home. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, giving back to her community, eating delicious food, listening to music and living her life!

Ghazal in her office before the war

Now her world looks like this:

Food has become scarce and very expensive. The cooking fires are fueled with anything they can find, as gas is not available. Water is hard to find and requires standing in long lines in hopes you get some to drink. Starvation and death by dehydration are imminent.

Hundreds of people share single toilets and showers. Diseases run rampant and her home is damaged from attacks, which is unsafe. Drones buzz all night, bombs and gunfire are never ending, and a new weapon, a quadcopter that emits the sound of screaming women and children cause constant distress. They cannot sleep at night because they never know when they might be struck and killed.

This is not life, this is a psychological torture and a slow death sentence!

Pictures of every day life for Ghazal and her family

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Despite losing almost everything and struggling to survive herself, Ghazal volunteers to give back to her community through local initiatives! She spends many of her waking hours helping to prepare and package meals, then distributing them to fellow displaced people.

She once shared a saying with me, "People are for people." She believes that it is our obligation and duty to share and help our fellow people, no matter how little we have, ourselves. She is truly a kind soul and generous person!

Some of Ghazal's volunteer work with local initiatives

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Ghazal shares:

"Hello, my name is Ghazal, I'm 24 and from the Gaza Strip. I graduated from the University of Palestine with a major in Information Technology and I used to work in many fields. I am from a 7-person family. In this damned war that managed to completely destroy our lives, I lost my job and career aspirations. This war has harmed us psychologically and physically.

We suffer everyday from lack of food, water and experience nonstop bombing. We are in grave danger. Please help save us from the massacre and genocide! During the war, we were displaced and left our destroyed homes for tents because of the brutal occupation and now we are suffering. I only ask you to help me to live.

We wish to collect enough to leave Gaza, and save the lives of those that remain of us. Your support could mean the difference between life and death for my family, so please donate. Even $1 can make a difference to us. If you can't help my donating, then please share. All help is greatly appreciated."

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Ghazal shares with me that her brother, Hassan once went by boat abroad to provide for the family for a time, before he even turned 18. It was very dangerous and he almost drowned. In Gaza, it is risky to dream, but he took the chance, so that that his family could have a future and she is thankful for his efforts. She hopes that you help donate, so that they can dream of better days!

We can help Ghazal have happy days like these once again!

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We all know that the cost of leaving Gaza is sky high. Coordination fees for leaving Gaza into Egypt have nearly doubled, going from $5000 a person to $7000 on average. While that number is unattainable for the average Palestinian family, you can help make this amount happen.

If Ghazal were to go missing or get killed, the money will be distributed to her remaining family. If her family were to perish, the remaining money would be distributed to other Palestinian families in need.

Money will be withdrawn and transferred directly to Ghazal's bank account.

From Alyson: I am an active member of my local community and Bookstagram. I've also founded multiple nonprofit organizations in Anderson Twp, Cincinnati serving survivors of trauma and increasing literacy. I consider myself a cat mom who is passionate about justice and peace. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Please donate to my friend or amplify her voice by sharing her story. Imagine one of your dearest friends suffering like this; your family suffering like this, and take action. Together we can change lives.