Help Salma from Gaza take up her place at Cairo University

Hi, we are Rachel and James and we are fundraising to enable the the wonderful and brave Salma, daughter of our friend Taher, to go to university after suffering the most unimaginable trauma in Gaza. We both lived in Gaza back in 93/94 working for UNRWA. We made firm and lifelong friends with Taher when we lived there and have remained in contact ever since. The horrific events of the past year have seen the whole family and community suffer in ways we cannot begin to imagine. We have looked on in horror, helpless to support them, now we have chance to do one important and practical thing to help which is to try and help Salma take up her place at University. The family have managed, against all the odds, to escape to Egypt and Salma has managed to self teach to get through all her exams with flying colours and gain a place to study law at Cairo University. We hope that with community support we will be able to raise the funds for her to take up her place (we have set a target of raising the money for the fees for the 4 year degree at this stage (£10500) but if by any chance we are able to raise more it would go towards her living costs, books etc) . There is so little we can do to change what is happening in Gaza - but this is one small but tangible thing we can collectively do to help. Please help me and James to support this amazingly determined young woman from Gaza to achieve her dreams of going to university and becoming a lawyer. Please see Salma's words below :

My name is Salma, on September 27th, 2024, I will be turning 18. I am a Palestinian refugee, born and raised in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Despite the constant blockade and occupation, I consider myself fortunate compared to many of my peers. I excelled in school, have a loving family, and surrounded by wonderful friends. My future seemed bright, my dream was completing my high school exams this year and pursuing a degree in law.

Nevertheless, all of that changed. The war on Gaza that erupted after October 7th shattered not only my dreams, but also, those of an entire nation. In a matter of days, my world was turned upside down. I witnessed unimaginable horrors, lost loved ones, lived in constant fear for my life and my family’s, I was forced to flee my home under relentless bombardment. These experiences have left scars that will remain with me forever.

After enduring seven months of war, on April 24th, 2024, my family and I managed to escape Gaza and flee to Egypt. It felt surreal to be in a place where the sky is not covered with drones and explosions, where death did not lurk around every corner, and the air was no longer heavy with dust and the smell of explosives. Yet, despite the relief of escaping the war, the trauma still lingered, making it difficult to adjust to this new “normality.”

My family encouraged me to resume my studies and complete high school so I could chase my dream of studying law. At first, I could not bring myself to focus on school. The weight of everything I had been through was too much. However, after many conversations, I agreed to sit for the second round of exams in August. It was a battle, with only two months to prepare on my own, without teachers or support. It was an enormous challenge, but I was determined—not just for myself but for all those in Gaza who could not take their exams this year.

With the words of my mother in my heart—"You have the spirit of a warrior"—I faced this challenge head-on. I completed my exams, and just recently received my results: 81%. Though it was not the score I had envisioned, I am deeply proud of this achievement given the circumstances.

Now, as I stand at this new crossroads, I still dream of studying law. I am proud of what I have accomplished, but I need your support to continue this journey and fulfill my lifelong ambition.

Thank you so much for any support you are able to give me

All best wishes

Salma