Malak, her family and other children in Gaza

Hi, my name is Pippa Best. I am based in the UK, and I am fundraising for Malak Eslam Alwshahe and her family, and to support her activities with other families and children who have lost family members in Gaza - via Malak's Pulse of Goodness project.

For information on our GIFTS FOR GAZA fundraiser, please read the latest update below. If you would like something surprising and heart-warming and hopeful to give to your loved ones this season - that will also support those most in need in Gaza - this is for you. You can find a list of all the 'gifts' available in that update.

ABOUT MALAK

Malak and I first met via social media, and continued our friendship by text and by video call. Now we are in contact almost every day, and she has become a treasured friend. She is a bright and compassionate 18 year old woman, who dreams of continuing her studies at university (perhaps in nursing, public relations, or business administration...).

Instead, she is now urgently seeking funds to support her family, and the displaced community around her, especially children, all of whom are currently in dire need in Gaza.

To this end, Malak has created a small goodwill initiative, called Pulse of Goodness. Through this, she and a small team of volunteers are supporting other displaced families and children in Deir-el-Balah.

As the situation has worsened, she is also using some of the funds that we raise to support the survival of her own family, providing them with food, basic supplies and medical treatment - as well as funding her own education.

BENEFICIARIES OF "PULSE OF GOODNESS" IN DEIR-EL-BALAH

These are some of the children in Deir-el-Balah that Malak is helping with the Pulse of Goodness project. You can see more of those who have been helped by your donations at the top of this page, and in the films shared in the updates.

I send the money collected here to Malak to distribute to families and children in need through the Pulse of Goodness project.

The price of basic necessities has risen dramatically. This means that it costs approximately $100 to feed one family alone for a week, but people are making do with much less.

Malak also began organising entertainment and haircutting days for the children to create some much-needed moments of joy, normalcy and connection.

Funds raised here are used for the provision of regular support to children and families in the area. And the immediate costs of food, water and clothing for Malak's family for the foreseeable future. We also need to cover the cost of bank fees and money exchange commissions.

MALAK'S STORY:

This is Malak. Before the current conflict, she was a student in Northern Gaza, living near to the beach. Malak has not been able to continue her studies because all of the universities and schools have been destroyed. Her sister, Nada worked in a clothing store. But the occupation forced them to leave their home, and their family home was bombed, Her family were forcibly displaced to Deir-el-Balah.

This is the family home after it was destroyed.

Malak's father, Eslam Saleem Alwshahe, 51, was proud to witness Malak's graduation from college. Sadly, while the family were living together in a tent, Malak's father tragically died of cancer because it was not possible to access medical treatment. He wanted to travel abroad for treatment, but the war prevented this and he died on 10 December 2023 in a tent in Mawasi Khan Younis.

This is Malak's father, Eslam Saleem Alwshahe. Since the death of her father, the family has no income at all.

Malak originally shared a tent with her sister Shatha Eslam Alwshahe, 28 and Shatha's children (Sham Khaled Ataramse, 6, and Mostafa Khaled Altaramse, 5), but fortunately they have now reunited with Shatha's husband Khaled, and have their own tent.

Malak's older brother, Oday (also known as Adi) Eslam Alwshahe, 29, managed to evacuate Rafah, with his wife and son Majd Oday Alwshahe, 3, who are all now also in Deir-el-Balah.

In early June 2024, Malak was sharing the tent above with her mother (Eman Mohamed Alwshahe, 48), her little brother Obeda Eslam Alwshahe (16) and her sister (Nada Eslam Alwshahe, 21), when the building on which their tent stood was attacked - everything was destroyed.

While Malak and most of her family were rescued from the rubble, tragically Obeda was killed - aged just 16. The family are devastated.

After that attack, Malak and her mother and sister moved to an ill-equipped football stadium (Al Durrah Stadium, shown above). The stadium was overcrowded with desperate refugees.

Eventually, the family chose to return to the site of the attack, attempting to rebuild their tent there, which is still ripped by rocket fragments. Now, Malak, her mother and sister Nada (22) live together there.

There is very little protection from the changing weather. There is no electricity, food or water, and they are all suffering from malnutrition. They live on canned peas and beans when they are lucky enough to get them.

Here are some more recent photos of the family together. You can see Oday in the photo below.

UPDATE ON MALAK'S FAMILY IN NORTHERN GAZA

We were able to send a small amount of support to Shahad, another of Malak's sisters. Shahad Alwshahe, 26 is with her husband Fady Farookh, 26. Malak's nephews Omar Fady Farookh, 6, and Adam Fady Farookh, 2. Omar has a weak immune system and has suffered greatly due to a lack of medicines and functioning hospitals.

Fady lost his work (he worked in the field of sewing) and the whole family have been left without shelter or basic means for survival. They live in an abandoned apartment with Fady’s parents and siblings (Omar Farookh, 48, Rana Aesh, 45, Gotada Farookh, 13, Opada Farookh, 13, and Yazan Farookh, 22).

The situation throughout Gaza is devastating, and as rates of starvation and disease rise and attacks continue - it is only getting worse for civilians like Malak and her family; and for all those who are displaced alongside them.

So many families and children in Gaza require urgent help. Thank you so much for your support.