Give Tasneem and her Family in Gaza a Safe Future

Update, we have now reached over £8000 in donations. This is amazing, thank you so much to all of you amazing people. We are on track to making a real difference but I need to do more.

Tasneem turned 16 last year. She has had to grow up too soon and along with her younger siblings, lives her life in survival mode and in constant fear.

She has managed to travel in the last few days to Northern Gaza from the camp where she has stayed for a long time in Central Gaza. Her family house and all the surrounding buildings have been completely destroyed. However they keep looking forward and holding on to hope.

Please please keep sharing and donating to allow them to rebuild or relocate and give the children a future they deserve.

Our efforts really can change lives and have a small positive impact in the midst of this terrible cruel destruction.

Hi, my name is Fiona and I would like to introduce you to Tasneem and her family. I was introduced to Tasneem through the Hands Up Project (www.handsupproject.org), a UK organisation which connects children from around the world with children from Palestine. I have known the Hands Up Project and the founder, Nick Bilbrough, for several years and have followed the amazing and inspiring work they have done and continue relentlessly to do. Since getting to know Tasneem I have been so impressed with her positivity and cheerful outlook despite living under the harshest, most frightening of conditions in a tent in Southern Gaza. Nick Bilborough, the founder of the Hands Up Project, has met Tasneem in person during a trip to Gaza.

Tasneem is a very ambitious, talented young person with a bubbly personality and the interests of a teenager. She has been involved in creative projects in English with the Hands Up Project since she was 9 years old.

I will now pass over to Tasneem to tell you a little more about her:

"Hi there, I am from the north of Gaza but have been forced to leave with my family because of the war and because our home was destroyed. We now live in southern Gaza in a tent. We lack sufficient food and water and are constantly cold and get sick easily. We cannot shower and have no access to any medicine. This is not a life I ever imagined having and it is so difficult to stay positive but we try and hope for a better future.

I am a passionate runner. At the age of 9 I ran 300 metres in 1 minute 53 seconds! I have even won trophies. My dad is a runner and football coach. He participated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens for the Palestinian national team. we are all so proud of him. He is a great role model and passed on his passion for running to me. He also still coaches my 3 brothers and sister in football. We all love sport and my mum is the fantastic chef who cooks for us after we have done training. We are a happy family.

I was getting a good education before the war, I loved school and am passionate about English. I also love singing and cooking, the normal things of a 15 year old who was happy and having a good childhood before the war started. I am interested in fashion and love trying to create my own designs from old clothes.( I like to use my little sister as a model ) I hope one day, with your help, I can return to these interests and have a good future.

I live with my mum, dad, 3 younger brothers – Salem, Abdalrahman and Mohammed plus one lovely little sister, Umna. We now all live in very uncomfortable conditions far from where we grew up and although we try to stay positive we are scared of what will happen to us and our futures.

We really need your help to evacuate from Gaza to Egypt or to find another safe option for our future. Your generosity can be the lifeline that saves me and my family. I am thankful for your support and kindness in giving us a chance to lead a normal life free from stress, fear and hunger.

As Tasneem describes, her family includes her parents, sister and 3 brothers. We are hoping to raise enough money to give safe passage to them all and to bring them to safety or allow them to rebuild their home and somehow bring peace to their lives.

Please join us in this compassionate cause to help Tasneem and her family find refuge and hope. Let’s come together to make a tangible difference in their lives.

Please note that the current situation is ever changing. In the hope that things change for the better and safe passage is no longer required or possible the funds raised will be passed to Tasneem’s family to help them rebuild their future in the best way possible with the resources they have to hand.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.

With hope and gratitude for a better life for this family.

Fiona