Seeds of Hope - Help Ashraf and his Family

Hi, my name is Helena. I’m a yoga teacher from Belfast, in the north of Ireland.

I’m fundraising for Ashraf Omar Raida and his family of 8. He, his parents, grandmother and four younger siblings, have been displaced 4 times and are living in a makeshift tent in Rafah, Gaza.

When Ashraf first reached out to me he said, “we have moved from hunger to hunger”.

Selflessly, he didn’t ask me for help for himself, it was more to be able to feed his family and to get medication for his 12 year old brother Muhammad. Muhammad has Fanconi Syndrome - a disorder in the kidneys, which has stunted his growth, rendering him smaller than his 9 year old brother Abdul.

Over many texts and video calls (through very intermittent internet signal), I have got to know Ashraf and his family quite well. Before the war they had a full life, where they lived in Khuza’a - their home is now destroyed - they lost everything! They are a very modest family, they feel ashamed to have to ask for help or even be photographed. Ashraf was in his final year of school and looking forward to going to university. He wants to follow his father’s footsteps and become a civil engineer.

So far, through a community of wonderful people, we were able to fundraise enough money for Ashraf to buy food for his family. We have been sustaining them over the past several weeks.

My next step is to get them to safety. Muhammad is running out of medication and will need hospital care. Getting into Egypt is imperative for him and the whole family.

I often think of my nephew, who is about the same age, who has similar aspirations and goals in life as Ashraf. Only for the fact that they were born in different places in the world, they are the same. This is why this campaign is important personally, as Ashraf’s family have become like a second family to me.

Currently it is $5000 per adult, and $2500 per child under 16, to get across the border. The funds will be for the border crossing, and to help them once they are across into Egypt.

Any donation large or small is welcomed greatly.

We thank you so much, for your contribution.