Help Lina escape war and follow her dreams

Hi, I'm just a college student trying to support my dear friend. Please read his story with empathy.

Every kid deserves Education. I was saving up for my kid, Lina’s university tuition fees, before the war started. A year ago, I took Lina to visit a university lecture one day, ever since then, every night when I’m home from work, Lina would sit me and her mom down and teach us what she learned at school that day. She’d get the small whiteboard her mom bought her, and she’d passionately explain the addition rules to us. It’s been her dream to become a university professor. I’ll always support Lina with her education so one day she’ll support other people in their education.

My family is small: Lina, Osama, my wife, and me. Anyone who knows me, is aware that I’m a very private person. I have always been independent, and I am used to doing everything on my own for me, my wife, and my children. Please keep in mind that I find it difficult to finally seek for help and to share my private information for the whole world today.

The war in Gaza, however, has took a toll on me and my family’s situation. In November 2023, my little family, my elderly parents and my university-student brother were forced to flee our home and relocate to live in a tent. However much I had saved in my daughter’s university saving account had to go to the tent that’s sheltering us today. In fact, Everything I owned had to go to support my little family’s needs (me and my wife have never taken pictures of our kids in such vulnerable times. It was hard for my wife to take these pictures for the GoFundMe without the kids noticing today.)

Living in this tent is a daily struggle that I never imagined we would face. Every day, I wake up with a heavy heart, knowing that the life we once knew is gone. The tent is cramped and offers little protection from the harsh elements, but it’s all we have now. As I look at my children, Lina and Osama, I feel a mix of guilt and determination. They deserve so much more than this—more than the uncertainty and fear that have become our constant companions. It breaks me to see them trying to find some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos. Yet, their resilience gives me strength. I know I have to keep pushing forward for them. We’ve lost so much, but I refuse to let this war take away their future. Every day is a battle, but it’s one we face together as a family.

My father has two diseases: diabetes and high blood pressure. He has atherosclerosis and did 8 cardiac stents. It’s been hard to find available medicine for him, and his situation keeps worsening. We’ve been silently living in fear for a full year, it’s hard for me to not ask for help anymore.

During the war, I lost my job. I couldn’t get another job afterwards. However, I didn’t let that stop me. I started a small business where I sell cleaning products for the neighborhood which is enough for me to feed my family dinner on most days.

I understand food isn’t sufficient to raise children. As a father, I know my responsibilities are beyond feeding my children. I’m guilty of not being able to provide for my children the basic necessities, especially education.

It's been a year since my kids, or any kid in Gaza, had proper education. The war is holding Lina’s dreams. It’s holding her whole life with nothing in my control. The guilt is eating me alive everyday about my children. Seeing the fear in their eyes from the constant bombings hurts my heart.

Every time I hear the distant rumble of explosions, I see Lina and Osama flinch, their eyes wide with fear. It’s a look that no parent should ever have to witness in their children. Seeing my child sick while not being able to do much for him because of the lack of medicine literally breaks me. I feel powerless, unable to shield them from the harsh realities that have invaded their childhood. I lie awake at night, haunted by thoughts of what more I could do to change our situation. My heart aches knowing that their dreams are being stifled by circumstances beyond our control. As a father, it’s devastating to feel like I’m failing them. I promised them that they will have the chance to live free from this nightmare and pursue the bright futures they deserve.

The vision of seeing my daughter teach in a big university lecture hall motivated me to start this GoFundMe because her dreams are not just hers—they are a beacon of hope for all of us who yearn for a brighter tomorrow.

Help give my family a second chance in life. I’m going to break down the $68150 I’ve asked for. I have carefully curated a plan to start a second life with the least amount of money possible. So, please review my breakdown

$54000: the funds required to secure a crossing permit for my family of seven through the Rafah border. (7000 for each my wife and mother; 10000 for each my father, my student brother, and me; and 5000 for each of my two kids)

$5,000: the funds I’m going to dedicate for my father’s medical health.

$4000: the funds needed for my university student brother to attend the Software Engineering program at Cairo University for the spring semester

$1000: the funds needed for my children to attend school in Egypt including school fees, school supplies, and school uniform.

$1050: to rent a house for the next 3 months. (an affordable housing for 7 members is around 350 dollars a month)

$1200: basic necessities such as food for the next 3 months.

$600: Personal Care Items: Essentials like soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products

$1300: Clothing for the winter such as heavy winter jackets for the 7 members of my family.

Ofcourse, I’m going to find a job within 3 weeks of being in Egypt, I’m mainly going to look for a job in a fast food restaurant, or a supermarket. A job in such positions usually pays around 300 dollars a month.

My brother is going to find a similar job to support himself in his university journey.

Thank you for any dollar I receive. I appreciate the support I receive from good people like you.