Hello, my name is Elizabeth Barnes and I am a U.S. citizen. I am raising funds on behalf of my friend Waleed, who is from Gaza and recently evacuated to Egypt. Kindly read his story:

Waleed

I am Waleed Osama Adel Aweideh, 23 years old from north Gaza. I have managed to evacuate and cross into Egypt, but this was only the first step in surviving the genocide, and my family was forced to stay behind, still in Gaza. I am living in cramped conditions with extended family in Egypt, while my mother is injured and in poor health in Gaza. I hope with all my heart that the Rafah crossing will reopen and allow my mother and four other family members to evacuate. Until that happens, I need money to help meet their daily needs and living expenses.

My family was recently hungry and living on the streets, but with the help of friends, I managed to help them buy a tent and I need to help support them as much as possible until they can evacuate. I would like to find my own apartment or accommodations so that I will have room for my family when they join me in Egypt:

My sister Alaa Osama Adel Aweida, 25 years old

My sister Ay Osama Adel Aweida, 20 years old

My brother Ahmed Osama Adel Awaida, 16 years old

My mother: Aida Hussein Suleiman Abu Daqqa, 49 years old

My brother-in-law: Nael Hussein Suleiman, 27 years old

Waleed's Life Before and During the War

I was excelling in my study of mechatronics at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City and I was on the verge of graduation, but on October 7 the genocide in Gaza shattered my professional dreams. My university was destroyed before the end of 2023.

I established a programming, advertising, and marketing company, which was not just a business venture but a unified family, where I hired unemployed graduates and worked together to achieve success.

I was separated from my family but trying to run the business when it was destroyed by occupation bombing. I spent a day in Israeli custody myself before being released. I was also engaged to be married, and I was on the verge of marriage, but the war also destroyed this dream.

There was another dream, a cafe project, which represented a gateway to the future for me, but its opening coincided with the beginning of this most recent war on Gaza, and everything I had built with my effort and determination was destroyed.

Additionally, I lost my father at an early age, but I did not give up; instead, I fought with unwavering determination until I reached my passion and ambition to build a better future.

My love for animals has always been an integral part of my life, and during the many wars in Gaza, I was always there to help and protect animals in times of difficulty.

The Future

The war has destroyed everything, but I still believe in our ability to build a better future. I am here to prove to the world that resilience and determination are the keys to success, and that dreams cannot be destroyed by an occupying force.

I hope to help my family evacuate from the besieged Gaza Strip. And now, I turn to you, my friends, requesting your assistance to unite together in building a better future and helping my family leave Gaza to live in peace, away from wars, and to return to establishing my own business.

I would also like to establish a company here in Egypt, employing people who left Gaza because of the war.Let us come together and build a bridge of hope and solidarity to achieve our dreams together.

Thank you for your support and understanding. Let's make the dream a reality, and the challenges are just obstacles to overcome with solidarity and giving.

With gratitude,

Waleed Osama Adel Aweideh

Expenses Breakdown

$5000 USD per adult for evacuation = $25,000

$10,0000 USD for food, travel, and other expenses for my family to survive until they can join me