Nesma and her family

Hi my name is Jess, I am in the UK and I am fundraising for my friend Nesma Khaled (18) who is currently living in a tent in Gaza.

She has been displaced twice with her family due to the current conflict and is supporting her family of 16 adults and 8 children (Laila, Khaled, Nour, Nahil, Nada, Nael, Naseem, Nader, Nevin, Nisreen, Nermin, Youssef, Muhammad and Ahmed). Funds raised here will be used for basic provisions to sustain them such as food, medication, shelter and clothing. They have experience flooding and need to renew their tent.

Nesma is an incredible young woman who is passionate about technology and education. She is an inspiring inventor and has already achieved many awards and recognition for her incredible projects such as creating a computer programme that coordinates communication and medical consultations between patients and doctors. Nesma’s application, called ‘My Doctor’ won her a first-place technology prize in Gaza. Other applications that Nesma has cleverly created are designed to support those with sensory disabilities. For example, one category of her AI-driven application can be used to translate surroundings to a visually impaired person to communicate obstacles in their path.

Before the conflict in Gaza, Nesma was taking part in competitions and courses that are recognised globally including courses through the Technical University of Munich, Cornell University New York and NASA. This brought her great joy and excitement for her future, which for such a brilliant-minded individual, is surely bright.

Nesma is an inspirational girl who was using her talent and education to innovate new ideas and projects that help others. Now due to the conflict, her life and future goals have come to a halt, and she has been forced to prioritize keeping safe and supporting herself and her family. Please read below a message from Nesma about her current situation:

‘My name is Nesma Zanoun, a scientific baccalaureate student in my last year studying at school. I am 18 years old, and I used to wake up every day hoping for a new day full of ambition and creativity. There is no difference between night and day because we are forced to wake up from terror and the sounds of missiles. Our home and all the places we love were destroyed, many of our relatives were martyred. There is no safe place as we live in a tent made of blankets that does not provide warmth from the cold of winter. Everything is destroyed by the devastation of war and bombing. I hope that whoever can help me and my family and save what remains of my dreams and ambitions will help me and my family in whatever way so I can complete the path, and we can live even a small part of life.’

This fundraiser is to help Nesma and her family through this difficult and painful time. All your support is greatly appreciated. Let’s support Nesma to not just survive the conflict but return to her normal life and pursue her dreams and education.