Hello everyone,

I am Hazem Salem and I live in Canada. I am fundraising for my family member Ahmed Younis whose family is suffering to afford the basic needs.

Below is a message from Ahmed:

Greetings to everyone, it's with a heart full of hope and a spirit brimming with determination that I, Ahmed Younis, stand on the brink of graduation from the esteemed Faculty of Dentistry at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. I come before you not just as a student, but as a beacon of resilience amidst the tumultuous waves of life's challenges.

In my journey, I've always sought not just to excel in my field, but to infuse it with a joyful spirit, crafting medical content with the aim of not just healing bodies, but lifting spirits. Yet, behind every triumph lies a story of sacrifice and unwavering determination.

I hail from a family of aspirations, where four young souls, including myself, dared to dream against all odds. Despite the towering walls of financial strain, my siblings and I embarked on the path of knowledge, fueled by the sacrifices of our father, who toiled for 25 years to pave the way for our education.

As I traverse the corridors of dentistry in my fourth year, my brothers, too, tread their respective paths, with one delving into the realm of computer engineering in his third year, and the youngest embarking on his maiden year. Each step forward, however, is weighed down by the burdens that befall our family.

The tides of fate turned mercilessly on that fateful day, October 7th, shattering our dreams and plunging us into an abyss of despair. The barriers of education were not merely financial, but insurmountable, as we found ourselves trapped in Gaza, unable to flee the ravages of conflict and turmoil.

Yet, amidst the chaos, a greater storm rages within our home. My mother, the pillar of our family, battles a relentless foe within her own body — Epilepsy, her life hanging by a thread due to the scarcity of medication and the unyielding blockade.

So, as I stand before you, my heart aching with the weight of our struggles, I implore you, kind souls, to lend us your support in our darkest hour. Together, let us defy the odds, weaving a tapestry of hope and compassion that transcends the barriers that seek to confine us. Please, share our story, and may the warmth of your kindness illuminate our path forward. ❤️