Your support means everything to Doaa & her family

I do not know that I am lucky, because I am a Palestinian girl from Gaza City, that small spot. My name is Duaa Hassan from Gaza. I am 25 years old, born in Gaza City on May 27, 1999.

But over the years that I grew up in Gaza, I witnessed many wars, since my childhood up until now.

I remember how I experienced the first war very well: it was and I was was 11 years old. I lived through many wars after that over the years, but I never gave up following my ambitions and achieving my dreams. I grew up, studied health administration and patient care at the university, and graduated. I loved doing my profession in my beautiful city. Volunteer work makes me happy: serving everyone who needs me.

I even got engaged: my fiancé, Iyad, and I are looking forward to be the most beautiful newlyweds. But this damned war separated us. The wedding was planned on September 18th..

I can truly say that my life was simply beautiful: a warm home, my family, friends, my city, the beautiful neighborhood in which I lived and had dreams for the future!

But after that the black day of October 7, due to the heavy bombing, our family home was destroyed, and we’ve lost my older brother Omar because of these attacks, as well 3 of my uncles. My family and I, which consists of 4 brothers, 4 sisters, and my brother’s young children, Lulu, Hammoud, and Kinaz, were displaced to the southern Gaza Strip, to the safe area, as they call it. But in reality there is heavy bombing everywhere, and in all directions. We're located in the Nuseirat Camp. We are trying to make it through the days. Prices are extremely high, and it is so hard to get water and food. My family and I are now living in a tent. No real walls, only surrounded by cloth which does not protect us from the cold and the intense summer heat, and the biting insects and mosquitoes. I am sharing a lot of this on social media, staying in touch and with the outside world and showing what life is like.

I do not want to wake up one day to yet another new tragedy and the loss of the next member of my family. I want the family and the kids to live a beautiful life, as beautiful as their laughter and the smiles that never leaves them. I hope with all my heart that everyone will support us so that we can continue and be well and happy. We need all the help we can get for rebuilding our beautiful home that contains many memories of my twenty-five years in Gaza.

I hope that my life will return to how it was before October 7th. I want to complete my life's journey. I want to rejoin with my fiancé Iyad, to have my wedding ceremony and be crowned as a beautiful bride and get back to building a home that we built with all our love. My friends, thank you for reading my story and sharing and donating. With from my family and me.

Doaa

- hi, my name is Billy-Jean Gravenberch from The Netherlands. I'm asking for support to help Doaa and her family be fed and be safe. She, like every Palestinian wants and deserves a chance at a normal life.

I know Doaa as a caring young woman who is extremely resilient and keeps taking care of her family and friends, during these trying days. This to me is so typical for Palestinians, they help and care for others so much. They would never have thought that this is where they would end up. They'd rather invite me over for a wonderful holiday and show me the beautiful Palestinian life. She shows her daily life on Instagram for us to see, and it's all she has right now to tell her story.

The very least I can do, from my safe home, is ask everyone to open up your hearts and donate what you can.

Doaa in Gaza needs your help. Together we can make a difference for her and her future. She was about to start a life with her fiancé. Now their houses are gone, and they can't be together. It should have been her new start in life now. Instead basic life is a struggle. But even water and food are difficult to get by. Her father's house was damaged badly too. Their family home. We want this to get rebuilt but it will need a lot of effort and funds. This is the main goal. Build a home and in the mean time, staying safe and without hunger.

Donate and share ❤️