My name is Ahmad, and I am starting this fundraiser for my closest friend Kassem, who lives in Beirut, Lebanon.

Kassem is 26 years old and one of the hardest-working and most determined people I know. Nearly ten years ago, he had a dream of opening his own cosmetic business. From that moment forward, Kassem dedicated himself to turning that dream into reality.

For years, he worked tirelessly, putting in countless hours, sacrificing comfort, and pushing through exhaustion to build his business from the ground up. Through dedication, his cosmetic shop slowly grew into a success and a name recognized in his community.

Kassem and his family lived in the same building as his business. The building contained multiple apartments: one where he lived with his family, another that he used as an office for his work, and on the ground floor was the cosmetic shop.

Then war changed everything.

In 2024, conflict in the region already impacted his business, but Kassem managed to push through the difficulties and recover from those losses. Slowly, customers returned, and his work began stabilizing again.

But as of March 1st, 2026, a second and much more intense war began.

Like many others, Kassem was forced to close his shop and flee to a nearby city for safety. A few days later, while the war was still ongoing, he returned to check on his home and business.

What he found was devastating.

His cosmetic shop on the ground floor had been completely destroyed.

His office was gone.

The apartment where he lived with his family was also destroyed.

Years of dedication, sacrifice, and relentless work disappeared in an instant.

Today, Kassem is left with absolutely nothing.

No home.

No business.

No financial resources to rebuild what war has taken from him.

Kassem represents a generation of hardworking young people who invest years of sweat, exhaustion, and determination into building something meaningful for their future.

I am starting this GoFundMe to help my friend stand on his feet after losing everything.

Every donation—no matter how small—will help Kassem and his family begin rebuilding their lives, recover from this tragedy, and eventually reopen the business he spent years building and growing.

Your support can help restore hope for someone whose entire livelihood was taken away overnight.

Thank you for taking the time to read Kassem’s story and for helping us show that even in the darkest moments, people can come together to support one another.