AN URGENT PLEA TO SAVE A TALENTED YOUNG HUMANITARIAN AND HIS FAMILY

Hi, I'm Maya, a mom of six from Oregon who has worked with youth leaders from 70+ countries. Wassim is a uniquely talented facilitator, photographer, athlete, actor, and recent college graduate from Gaza. While his story is urgent and heartbreaking, his perspective is grounded, optimistic, and even celebratory. He had just been cast on a popular television series and intended to stay in Gaza to serve his community. But now Wassim wishes to evacuate his parents and siblings from the ongoing conflict, so his father can get medical treatment, and his siblings can attend university and live the bright futures they deserve. This family is incredibly dear to me, and they need our help to escape to safety and rebuild their lives.

A Young Man’s Story: Dreams Shattered by War

"Hello, my name is Wassim, and I’m writing to you from Gaza. This is 6th war on Gaza I've lived through. Before the war, I had many passions and hobbies. I loved playing football, handball, acting, and photography. I graduated with distinction in Public Relations and Media from the University of Palestine just two months before the war started. Despite financial hardships, my family and I persevered. My father, who worked in construction, became unable to support us due to age and multiple hernia surgeries. My younger brother Mahmoud and I worked to make ends meet, but we never gave up on our education.

We had a plan: I would finish my university education first, and then Mahmoud would start his. However, our dreams were shattered. In August 2023, just a few days after I signed a contract to work on a drama series, war erupted. My university was destroyed, and so were the places I hoped to work.

My younger brother, Mahmoud, and my sister, Shahad, are outstanding students, but they won't be able to complete their education because schools and universities have been destroyed. Many of my university friends have either been killed, forced to leave, or are still here in Gaza, living in fear and uncertainty.

Every day, I hear about the death of friends and colleagues. We experienced war-on-Gaza in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now still in 2024. This latest "war" has dragged on for eight months, bringing fear, hunger, and destruction. We drink salty, polluted water and eat canned food, leading to diseases like hepatitis A. The economic situation is dire, with skyrocketing prices and no work or income.

Our Only Hope: Escape

We never thought or hoped we’d leave our homeland, but now, immigration is our only hope for safety and peace.

Thank You

Thank you for considering my plea and for any support you can provide. Your kindness and generosity have the power to change the lives of my siblings and parents.

Follow Our Journey

You can follow my daily life in Gaza on Instagram: @manaa.20"

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Maya’s Note:

Thank you for reading this urgent plea. Please help us reach our goal to ensure Wassim and his family can escape to safety and rebuild their lives. Any amount you can contribute is meaningful. If you can match our $25, it would be a huge blessing. Let’s not leave any beloved family member behind.

$60,000 is needed to cover travel costs and basic expenses to escape the dangers of Gaza, as war profiteers have made it extremely expensive to survive and escape. This includes:

Transportation Costs: Safe passage from Gaza to Egypt, including buses, taxis, and other necessary transport.

Border Fees: Handling checkpoint and border crossing fees.

Passport Fees: Securing legal travel documents for each family member.

Medical Expenses: Addressing immediate health needs due to the harsh conditions and ensuring care during and after our journey.

Breakdown of Costs:

$7,000 per person to register with Ya Hala Consulting and Travel Agency (with emergent commissions)

$3,000 basic needs to cover until the border re-opens

$3,000 (500 x 6 months) rent and utilities

$3,000 (500 x 6 months) food, water, and household hygiene

$1,500 mattresses, bedding, and home basics

$1,500 clothing and children’s basics

$2,000 public transportation

$2,000 school, uniform, and supplies

$5,000 medical care and trauma support

Why Your Help Matters

Your support can make a world of difference. We need to secure six months of basic living expenses such as rent, electricity, food, and water. Each week, your donations will be transferred directly to our family account at the Bank of Palestine to cover our immediate needs both in Egypt and Gaza.

This is not just a donation; it’s a lifeline. It’s a gesture of solidarity and a beacon of hope for a family that thrived through five wars before the constant despair of these eight months. Your generosity can help us turn a new page, away from the shadows of conflict, towards a future filled with peace and opportunity.

Please, don’t skip this urgent appeal. Your kindness can change lives and bring light to those who have experienced so much darkness.

May you and your beloveds also be protected, always.