I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my friend Ola Saed to help her escape the war in Gaza. Ola is one of Gaza's brightest minds. In high school, she ranked 3rd in Gaza. She attended one of Palestine's top universities and recently secured a scholarship to continue her higher studies in the US. Currently, she is with her family in Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza. The situation is dire. There's heavy bombardment, and she has nowhere to go. We need your support to help Ola evacuate to Egypt and then travel to the US for her studies. Please read Ola's message bellow:

Hello, my name is Ola. I am 22 years old. I am Palestinian, and I live in Gaza.

The past 4 months have been indescribable. I lost relatives. I lost friends. I lost my beloved university, where I had one semester left to graduate. And as I write this, I don't know what else I might lose next.

I never asked for help in public but today I really need your help. Since the war started, I have been seeking refuge in Rafah, hoping it would be safe for me and my family. Today, no place in Gaza is safe. Rafah is under heavy bombardment, and I have no place to go.

My only option is to evacuate to Egypt. However, to do that, I have to pay $10,000 to get the required permits and documents to cross to Egypt. The cost is far beyond what my friends alone can help with and that's why I am writing this publicly.

I always loved learning and education. In high school, I ranked 3rd in the country. I studied at one of the top universities in Gaza. And most recently, I secured a scholarship to continue my higher studies in the United States. I have my American visa and all the required documents to enter the US. But to do that, I have to escape this war first.

Your support will not just change my life, it will also save it. Thank you so much for reading. I really appreciate your help in this difficult time.