Hope in the crisis: Help Mai and her family

Hello, my name is Gaia, and I am reaching out on behalf of my friend Mai Rajab, who, along with her family, was displaced by the bombing raids on Gaza. We are launching this GoFundMe campaign to help Mai and her loved ones resettle their lives, find safe permanent shelter, and gather basic necessities as they struggle for survival.

Here is Mai's story in her own words:

"I am Mai Rajab from Gaza . We were living a quiet and stable life until the war came and the Israeli occupation displaced us from our homes in Gaza City ( Alwehda street) on October 13, 2023. We went to Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip and took only the necessary papers.

We were sleeping in the street without shelter, and we could not find a single blanket to keep us warm. We could not find any bread to satisfy our hunger. After that, we received help from some people, and we took refuge in my aunt’s house. After that, the place was bombed, and we took refuge in Rafah with the same story. We did not find shelter and we were cold, since we could not take winter clothes to help keep us warm. We are now in a small room with strangers who could not bear to see us like this in the street: crying and dying of cold.

I lost many members of my family and friends. I lost part of my house, and my father's workplace was also destroyed. I have many dreams, I need to be safe!

During the war in 2021, I was pulled from under the rubble! Can you imagine!

Finally, I’m a human and not a number. Wish me a good life.

Thank you."

As you can see, Mai and her family have been displaced twice: first to Khan Younis, then to Rafah. They lost everything, and were made to leave with only the clothes on their backs. They lack warm blankets and winter coats. More than 80 days into the crisis, Mai and her family are running low on resources. There is no income. What food is available is extremely costly.

Mai is determined to secure warmth and shelter for her family. She loves life. She sees the humanity in her surroundings: beauty as well as the pain and sorrow. She will never stop fighting for a beautiful and peaceful life, and neither should we.

Mai is in urgent need of dental care. She has a cracked molar that became infected. She's been bleeding from her mouth and nose. She suffers from ulcers, and PTSD as a result of the bombing in 2021. All of this is exacerbated by the stress of the siege.

As well as basic needs and housing expenses, your donations will help to cover medical expenses. We have set a goal of $15,000 for this campaign. Your contributions, regardless of their size, will make a significant difference in the lives of Mai and her family.

I will personally transfer of the campaign funds to Mai via Western Union. I will provide accountability for the funds to you, the donors, via updates on this page. It is extremely hard to get funds into Gaza. If we are not able to get the funds to Mia immediately, we will hold them for her until is is possible to make the transfer.

I truly believe that each and every one of us has a role to play in preserving the value of human life. Your contribution is one small act toward that goal.

Thank you for being a part of Mai's journey towards a brighter tomorrow. Your support means the world to us.

With gratitude,

Gaia Thomas

California, USA