Support Mohammed and Lama's Education Dreams

I'm Basma Hijazi, a retired educator based in San Francisco, California and I am raising funds to support my niece and nephews education.

This is the story of Mohammed Hijazi, his sister Lama Hijazi, and their family, who lost everything when their world was turned upside down in an instant. On October 7th, they woke up to the terrifying sound of rockets and gunfire, and with little time to think, Mohammed, Lama, and their siblings were forced to flee their home in Gaza, responding to multiple warnings from the army to evacuate.

They faced unimaginable hardships — days without electricity, water, safety, or a place to call home. Mohammed would wait for hours in line at the bakery, hoping to get a bundle of bread, while Lama and the family endured daily uncertainty and fear. Every trip for necessities, like fresh water, meant risking their lives, narrowly escaping death several times.

As the war continued, so did the suffering. Waste piled up in the streets, sewage leaked, and diseases spread. Mohammed lost 9 kg, and his health deteriorated without access to medicine. The family found temporary shelter in Rafah, cramped in a one bedroom apartment, praying for peace and to return to their home.

But when Mohammed risked his life to check on their home, he found only ruins. Their house was burned, his room destroyed by a tank, and their family’s pharmacy — their only source of income — was gone. They lost everything.

Mohammed and Lama’s family home before the war, and its current state below

Now, Mohammed and Lama have sought refuge in Egypt, hoping to rebuild their lives and continue their education. Mohammed dreams of finishing his pharmacy studies, and Lama plans to start her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Gaza’s universities and schools destroyed, Egypt is their only chance to move forward — but they cannot do it alone.

We hope our community can come together to help Mohammed and Lama rebuild their lives and help fund their education. The funds raised will be used to cover the following expenses:

• $4,830 for university application and acceptance fees.

• $3,000 per year for Mohammed’s pharmacy studies over the next 5 years.

• $2,250 per year for Lama’s education over the next 4 years.

• $400 per month for rent.

• $400 per month for university-related expenses.

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings Mohammed and Lama one step closer to rebuilding their lives and obtaining their degrees and creating a brighter future.

Thank you for taking the time to read their story and for any support you can provide.