Help Shihada Family evacuate Gaza and find education

I’m Rawan Shihada, and I’m reaching out to you from the heart of Gaza, where I and my family (my parents - 2 sisters -2 brothers) trapped in a relentless cycle of conflict and destruction that have robbed us of everything we have.

I’m a renewable energy engineer, graduated in 2022 and worked hardly to improve my skills in my field and build a better future for me and my family. Through my study I was searching for Gaza electricity deficit solutions using biomass and published a paper "Investigating the feasibility of biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC)as a power alternative in Gaza strip”, also I started looking for a master degree in renewable energy to contribute in sustainable development of my country.

Since October 2023 my dreams collapsed. The unimaginable war and genocide on Gaza Strip destruct our lives and plunging us into financial despair. We lost our home which was held after 25 years of my parents' work; a home of 3 floors with 3 departments, full furnished and equipped.

We lost sense of safety and security as we have been displaced 6 times from the north of Gaza to middle governorate then to Rafah and recently in Zawayda (middle of Gaza) where we live without human basic needs of water, electricity or healthy environment and staying in a tent which is a place to live, sleep, cook and wash.

Despite the countless obstacles we face, we refuse to surrender to despair. Instead, we cling to hope and resilience, determined to carve out a path to safety and stability.

For me, that path begins with pursuing a master's program abroad, where I can continue my education and rebuild my career in a more peaceful environment.

My brother Karam, a passionate medical doctor, dreams of beginning his residency program outside Gaza, where he can make a difference in the lives of others.

My sister Ruba is a software engineer, a field she is deeply passionate about. She is on the brink of completing her study, she was preparing for graduation in July 2024, but due to the devastating war and destroying of her university her study suspended.

My young sister Tala 17 years old is distinguished in her study, she expects to finish her secondary school (Tawjihi) in 2025, but unfortunately it may extend to unknown date.

My parents, brothers, sisters, and I dream of a life free from the constant threat of violence, where we can pursue our aspirations without fear or constraints. With your support, we can turn these aspirations into reality and lay the foundation for a brighter future.

However, the road to safety is fraught with obstacles, chief among them the financial burden of evacuation. With seven members in our family, each requiring $5,000 to cross the Rafah Border -every dollar counts-. I and my family can embrace a future filled with hope, rebuild our lives and pursue our aspirations. Your kindness and compassion can make a world of difference to me and my family.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a profound difference in the lives of our family.

Thank you for your compassion, your empathy.