Sarah Louise

Dear friends, Sorry it has been so long since our last update. This summer has been a hot and tiring one for both me and Faris. Since our last update in June, Faris has been working hard trying to complete some online modules with his university and up until early August, he was working as a cashier in a local café to gain some extra income to cover his tuition fees and help his family afford food and essentials. The wages were very low: $180 per month. Out of the five UK universities we applied to, only Glasgow University offered Faris a place- but under the condition that he complete an internationally recognised English language exam. Sadly, the challenges with unreliable internet connection in Gaza and restricted movement within Palestinian territories made it impossible to complete this exam. And the deadline for applying to the Palestinian scholarship at Glasgow has now passed. Faris chose to focus on completing more modules online via his home university and it is my hope that good results in these extra modules may help us with more overseas university applications when we try again next year. Faris says that his studies this year are “going well” despite all the challenges. He’s a very hard worker. Another update is that some of Faris’ extended family (14 members) based in the north of Gaza have been displaced and Faris’ family have taken them into their home in Al-Maghazi. Faris’ family unit of 8 have moved up onto the roof of their house to make room, and they have built a tent structure over the top to create a more sheltered living space (photos attached.) This living situation is naturally much more difficult than before. All family members are doing well under the circumstances. We are still trying to find someone to set up a GoFundMe for Faris’ younger brother, Mohammed, so that he can start university and continue working towards his body building aspirations which have been upended by the Genocidal campaign in Gaza. Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest so far and carefully weighed up the responsibilities involved. Your care and want to help means so much even if you couldn’t commit in the end. Please reach out to me on Instagram (@londoner3712) if you are interested and want to know more. Lastly, looking back on the last year since I first started Faris’ fundraiser with Dan, its heartwarming to see all the support given by so many kind people, most of whom do not come from financially privileged circumstances. Faris’ family members are still alive, still dreaming, still living and you have all played a part in that. THANK YOU! We will keep going, doing everything we can to help this wonderful family to survive and thrive again. Written by Sarah Louise on behalf of Faris, Yasser, Fadwa, Mohammed, Ahmed, Mahmoud, Essam and Aya.