Hello, my name is Danial and I'm a Canadian who is fundraising on behalf of Mohammed Iyad and his family. I met Mohammed and his sister Aya through social media, where I learned of their dire situation in Gaza. They are originally from the north of Gaza but are currently displaced in Rafah in the south. Their family of 8 are seeking our help to leave Gaza and reach safety.

Mohammed's story:

Hello, my name is Mohammed Iyad and I am 25 years old from a family of eight members. Here is my story before and after the war:

My love for life, seeing beauty in everything, and cherishing beauty and art led me to study architectural engineering, and that was the best thing I ever did. However, my dream of graduating began to fade gradually due to the destruction of the university.

Before the war, I had found my soulmate and lived a beautiful love story with an amazing girl. I proposed to her, hoping to build a future together. But as the security situation worsened, this girl and her family had to travel to Germany specifically to find a safe place. Now I am stuck here while she is there.

My life came to a sudden halt due to the war that ravaged my country. I had a small carpentry workshop, my safe haven and source of livelihood. But the storm of war spared no corner of my life, as it destroyed my workshop along with my dreams. And it didn't stop there; my family's house was greatly damaged, leaving us homeless and hopeless due to the war.

This is not just my story, but the story of many who have been deeply affected by wars and conflicts. Yet, despite all the hardships, there is still a spark of hope glowing within us. So, I appeal to you today for your solidarity and support, as I am now homeless, jobless, without the dream of completing my education, and far from my soulmate. Let us stand together as one community and offer assistance to those who are suffering, to build a better future for us all.

Finally, I am launching this campaign to raise funds for traveling abroad from Gaza, where the coordination costs for leaving Gaza amount to $6,000 US per person, which is a heavy burden we cannot bear after six months of war.

Thank you for listening, and thank you for your support during these difficult times.

More from the organizer of this fundraiser:

The family consists of the following 8 members: 

I have set the fundraising goal to $70,000 in Canadian dollars which is approximately $50,000 U.S. dollars. Each family member will need at least $6000 U.S. dollars. The total amount should cover the cost for each person to travel safely across the Egyptian border, plus some small expenses when they reach their destination, such as food and temporary accommodation.

After I have collected all the money, it will be transferred to Mohammed’s family through their bank account. I have already provided my ID and necessary details to GoFundMe.

If you have any questions, please use the contact link on GoFundMe. You can also find me (Danial) on Instagram at @dsi76 .

If you would like to contact Mohammed directly or browse some of his work, click here to connect with him on Instagram.

Thank you!