Help Two Young Activists from Gaza Save Their Family's Life

Help Two Young Activists from Gaza Save Their Family's Life

Hello everyone, My name is Jaden Reed and I am a senior at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I come with an urgent request from a dear friend of mine, a former Missouri State University student, Ameer Hasanain, to help evacuate him and his family from Gaza to Egypt. Currently in Rafah, they fear an Israeli ground invasion any day now, and the cost of evacuating is too much to bear. I appeal to you to help this family in any way you may be able.

I met Ameer last spring at a Model Arab League Conference that my Mizzou Model United Nations team attended at MO State in Springfield. He instantly connected with our members, and many stayed in touch with him even after he returned home to Gaza after completing his exchange semester. As soon as he left Missouri, he went right back to his activism, advocating for the right to education of all Palestinians. I believe that Ameer is one of the world's change makers, and he deserves to live a life of freedom and to pursue higher education with dignity. Please help us make that a reality.

Read Ameer’s story:

Hi, my name is Ameer, 22, a senior law student, youth activist, and volunteer. I write to you with a heavy heart, clinging to the tiny peak of hope to help my family escape the war in Gaza.

If I were to reflect on 2023 before October 2023, I felt reborn, as if I had been given a second chance, much like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Breaking through the blockade in Gaza to pursue my dream scholarship in the U.S. was a huge victory for me. It wasn't just about getting to study at Missouri State University; I was, for once in my life, free to make my own choices and shape my future. Every step of that journey was filled with hope and excitement. I made friends with people from different backgrounds, took classes that fueled my passions, partied, danced, and had some of the best moments of my life.

So did my brother Abdallah, aged 24, a law graduate, civil activist, and writer for the We Are Not Numbers project (WANN), aimed at illuminating the stories of Palestinians beyond the statistics in the news. For him, 2023 is the pinnacle of his existence. Participating in the Student Leaders program in the United States proved to be a life- changing experience for him. It was a year of immense personal growth, during which he tasted the flavors of a new life for the very first time. Immersed in unfamiliar territories, he discovered new adventures, embraced diverse cultures, and broadened the horizons of his understanding, fueling his passion for new experiences. Additionally, he forged meaningful friendships with peers from various Arab states, further enriching his cultural exchange and widening his perspective on regional issues.

How Gaza Turned into a Nightmare

When we came back to Gaza, we both devoted our time to helping empower youth in our community and promote the principles of human rights and democracy.

However, it all turned into an unending nightmare. Since October 2023, Gaza has been under heavy bombardments. Thousands of people have lost their lives, hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, and our lives have flipped out. We have endured relentless bombings, severe shortages of food, and limited access to clean water. Living conditions have deteriorated drastically, pushing us into survival mode and access to basic necessities has become our daily struggle.

Even during such a crisis, we tried to stay resilient, and our devotion to helping our society never stopped. Abdallah and I have provided aid and humanitarian assistance to our people.

But the situation is getting worse, and the threats to invade Rafah, where we reside, are becoming real. We lost our father at an early age, and we can’t endure witnessing the loss of another member of our family. That’s why we feel obliged to take the only way to help our family’s passage to safety.

Our Source of Hope

Our family is not merely a collection of names; they are the beating hearts that sustain us, the embodiment of our dreams and aspirations.

Habiba, our beloved youngest, at seven years old, embodies innocence and resilience beyond her tender years. I cannot forget her conversation with her friend Nada, a displaced member of a Gazan family, when the latter told her, in the language she knows, that the army would visit Rafah to kill and evacuate people, as they did in northern Gaza. She pointed her finger towards the opposite building and added, "If they throw a bombardment over this community, the whole square will be wiped out." Habiba entered home with her face controlled by fear and asked me if we were going to die. At that moment, I did not know how to answer. Indeed, till now I do not have a clue about this question.

Mohammed is just twelve years old, yet he has been burdened beyond his years. He has been trying to eke out a living to assist his family and himself. At first, he started to collect a small amount of snacks that were missed in the market. Then he started buying some pudding, but the sugar became very expensive to the extent it was called "White Gold." He started kite crafting as a final way to struggle in life. Although he is only twelve years old, the war played a tangible role in changing his mindset.

Raghad, thirteen, is a bundle of energy, her infectious laughter a balm to our weary souls. Raghad was used to chilling out with her school gang who were obsessed with fashion and styling like many teenage girls. Those girls have no outlet for their energy but their company. My sweet sister has a very tender heart. She cannot absorb or justify the huge acceleration of Genocide events, so her subconscious helped her by incessantly dreaming about her deceased father trying to ease her mind's up.

Nada, twenty-one, is a third-year English student. She is very devoted; once she promises herself to achieve something, then it is already done. She was planning how to be well-skilled in the translation major and searching for any course that may help to facilitate her upcoming life. When the war began, and her university got wiped out, she felt like her whole future was wiped out, not just the building. Nada has a very light spirit and full of joy and the pursuit of a good and charitable life.

Shahd, twenty-five, is a graduate of French literature. After graduation, she sought a job that matched her qualifications, as she was the pioneering character of her team with a lightful impact she brought to her team and the beneficiaries she dealt with. Shahd took the honor of working with Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Cancer patients, taking the lead in advocating on their behalf to provide assistance. She has an inexhaustible passion and an indistinguishable flame. Shahd finished her work with a masterpiece success story, highlighting that having the goal of helping people in need is a true measure of success.

Merfat, our beloved mother, is the cornerstone of our existence; her unwavering love and sacrifice are guiding lights in the darkest of times. My mom was raised fatherless from a very young age. When she got married and started to have a family and children, her husband passed away, and she became responsible for us, raising orphans as she was raised. When we look into her eyes, we can see how many difficulties she faced to cherish us. She gives us that feeling of how precious we are! Important like oxygen for her. We know, as she told us dozens of times, "Every pain you feel, I feel it duplicated."

Our Goal

Our goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of our family members and help them get to Egypt. We are currently focusing on the process of obtaining the money required for the coordination fees to get the family to safety.

Once the family is settled in Egypt, we aim to secure scholarships for everyone to pursue their education and rebuild their future.

Ways You Can Support

Contribute: Your financial contributions play a role in covering expenses related to evacuation, providing opportunities for my siblings, and assisting with my family's relocation and living expenses.

Spread Awareness: Sharing information about our cause can significantly broaden our reach and garner support.

Connect: If you have connections or resources pertaining to scholarships, educational opportunities, or immigration support, your advice and support would be greatly appreciated.

Backup Plan

If we can't evacuate everyone away, we'll use the money left to help our family get by in Gaza each day. This involves making sure they have what they need and access to care until we can get them to safety.

What Your Money Will Be Used For

Evacuation fees for 5 Adults: US$ 6000*5= US$30000

Evauation fees for 3 children: 3000$*3= US$9000

GoFundMe fees of 2.9% +0.30 = Approx. US$1250

Accommodation and living expenses for the transitional period(2-6 months) in Egypt and any other expenses = US$8000-10000

Total = US$50000