Support Mazen’s Fight for Survival in Gaza

Hi world, it’s Mazen.

Please take a moment and read this as if I were a member of your family—maybe your brother, son, or close friend. Imagine that my family, now living under the constant threat of death, was your own.

I’m Mazen, from Gaza City, Palestine. Before the war, I had a hopeful and beautiful life. I was studying engineering and had just started my third year at a university I loved. I worked hard and was on track to graduate after five years, often earning first place in competitions.

But now, everything has changed. My home is destroyed, my university is gone, and I’m living with my family in a relative’s garage, trying to survive one day at a time. The war has taken away everything I once knew.

Since the war on Gaza started, I lost almost everything

My brother was badly injured when a piece of a rocket hit him, cutting the tendons in his hand, and sadly, we’ve lost more than five of my cousins and relatives because of this ongoing tragedy.

But the hardships didn’t stop there. After being forced to flee our home over five times, escaping rockets and danger, we returned only to find it nearly wiped out. Our house was destroyed, and it’s no longer livable. Now, not only are our hearts heavy with grief, but we also have no place to call home. We’re currently staying in a relative’s garage, trying to get through each day.

You might wonder: Why don’t we just leave and go to another country? Or why do we want to rebuild our home?

It’s simple—this is my country, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s part of who I am, and no matter how many times it gets destroyed, we’ll stay and rebuild it again and again.

I introduced myself as a student from Gaza, a young man in his twenties with big dreams, a future full of plans and goals. In a short time, I’ve lost so much. But I’m not afraid of death; what scares me most is losing my dreams and my education. I can’t imagine life without university. Unfortunately, I can’t continue my studies here because the universities are destroyed, and many of my professors are gone. That’s why I need to study in another country—to keep my dreams alive.

After nearly 12 months of this genocide, Gaza’s borders remain closed, trapping us inside. The only way out is through the Rafah border into Egypt, but it comes at a steep price—between $7,000 to $9,000 per person.this amount is far beyond what we could ever afford.

Here’s how the money will be spent:

- About $10,000 for each person to cross the Rafah border safely into Egypt.

- Approximately $17,000 to complete my university studies in Jordan, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia, where they have strong programs in cybersecurity.

- Around $2,000 to cover GoFundMe transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

- The remaining funds will go toward housing, food, and essentials during our time in Egypt.

Asking for help is my only option to secure my family’s future. Your support can become the hope we desperately need in these dark times. Every dollar you contribute can save a life, lift a heavy heart, and help secure the future of a young person trying to rebuild his dreams.

Please don’t see this as just another tragedy. I’m asking for your help to prevent it from becoming worse. I’m not seeking sympathy—I’m asking for action. Whether you donate or share this with someone who can help, please act as if it were your own family—your mother, your siblings—facing these conditions. Your support can make all the difference.