Support Samah’s Family & Empower her Educational Journey

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all well. This is my story. Please believe in me and support my educational journey.

I am Samah Muneer Harara, a medical student from Gaza, Palestine.

I was supposed to have completed my fifth year in medicine at this moment, but fate had other plans. I am still alive despite the death we emerged from. Despite losing hope to continue my journey, I stood to write to you to try to survive and seize the last opportunity.

In several instances when I was in grave danger surrounded by death everywhere, my only question was whether I would survive and continue the story, or if this would be the end. Will my life simply end here, and what will happen to my dream, my efforts, and my studies that I worked tirelessly for. I have always dreamed of being an exceptional doctor and leaving a mark wherever I go; I never wanted to be just a statistic, but I must add something new and better. My dream has always been to specialise in plastic surgery, not only due to its aesthetic appeal , but also because my people today in this war are in dire need of it. During my time in the hospital, we encounter several cases of children and women who have suffered injuries that have marred their delicate bodies and altered their beautiful features.The dream continues, it will never end.

On the morning of October 7, I was getting ready for an ophthalmology exam scheduled to take place within a few hours, but something unexpected happened. The ophthalmology exam was postponed for seven months or maybe more. We found ourselves on the list of the unknown, and our future and life became uncertain.

I left my house in the early hours, taking only simple things with me, hoping to return soon, but I didn't expect that this day would be the last day in my house forever.

We went through difficult moments. A house is not just stones and cement; it's a lifetime and memories. A home means security, dignity, and everything beautiful. We cannot belong to another, no matter how vast the land.

Indeed, I lost my house, my room, my desk, my books my favourite belongings, and all the summaries I loved . I lost everything beautiful I owned once during the first week of the war. And my devastation was complete when I also lost all my digital data on my iPad. I became without anything after having everything.

I thought that was the worst disaster, but it pales in comparison to what we've experienced and continue to live through. The moment we left our house, the place of pride, we began a phase of dispersion and displacement from one place to another in an attempt to save our lives. We are now homeless due to the ongoing bombings in Gaza since October 7th . We displaced 4 times, and now we are in Deir El-balah living in completely inhumane conditions, we are running out of food all the time, there is no electricity, no water, no cleaned toilets .

Several times we were on the verge of death if it weren't for God's mercy. We emerged from under the rubble as if clinging to the long-awaited dream.

I lost my university, my college, my teachers, my colleagues, and my dream.

And because hope remains within us as long as we are alive, and because medicine and perseverance are two sides of the same coin, despite all the hardships I've endured, I insisted on volunteering in the hospital, school, street, and camp.

I volunteered at Shuhada Al Aqsa Hospital as a doctor in medical department despite being in the final years of my study, l work as a volunteer in health education on crucial health topics relevant to our people during the war with a medical team . Also, I volunteered at a medical point in a place desperately in need of a doctor. The horror of this war is greater than anything else in this world. My people have become victims of genocide being inflicted upon them. Being in the field early on gave me readiness. And changed a lot in my personality and taught me patience and faith.

As for my brother Yousef, who excelled in his studies, entered the literary branch and graduated from high school with a GPA of 98.6, to pursue his long-time passion: mobile computing and smart device applications. He excelled in it and ranked first in his class. Currently, during this year, he was supposed to be in his second year, but the war postponed his dream and delayed his entire life, and now he is the breadwinner for our family after my father lost his job in the beginning of the war.

My brother aspires to fulfill his dream and continue his education.

After our home was destroyed and all the essentials of life in Gaza became nonexistent, and we found ourselves in constant danger, and in slow death due to hunger, dehydration, displacement, the spreading of illnesses and the ongoing bombings. I can never leave my family to risk. Therefore, my first and last hope is for my family to remain safe, and this can only be achieved by their departure from Gaza.

Choosing to leave is a very painful decision to make, but the situation has become untenable. The optimal plan was for all of us to safeguard our lives and seek refuge beyond Gaza’s borders and then complete our study for me and for my brother Yousef.

Life has taught me that nothing is impossible and that hope is always within us. Despite losing my home, my life, and my dream, I am now returning to stand on my own feet and extend my hand for you to help me finish my educational journey and rebulid my home after these disasters. There's no time to waste anymore; the dream must be fulfilled. We must dream and dream until it becomes a reality.

The Funds will be used for :

1- Helping my Family of 8 members evacuate from Gaza through Rafah border crossing to Egypt, Arrange permits to leave the Gaza Strip which will cost 5000-6000 $ ( 6 adults) and 2000-2500 $ for 2 child in my family.

3- Accommodation and living expenses (transportation, food, and clothing) in Egypt for an extended period 500 $ for each .

4- Apartment rent for an extended period in Egypt 3000-4000 $

5- University fees for me and my brother.

6- fees (about 2.9 % each) for GoFundMe.

*The funds will be forwarded to me by my friend in Canada due to the limited number of countries supported by the site, *

Please help us to turn our dreams into reality, I will sincerely appreciate any donation, even small ones that will make a significant difference in alleviating our suffering. I will be forever grateful for your kind assistance in this difficult time .