Stand with Mahmoud: Rebuilding His Freelance Life After War

Saving Mahmoud's Hope to Rebuild His Life, Career, and Leave Gaza

In a desperate attempt to regain hope, I come to you today asking for your support, as I am in dire need, and unfortunately, hope is slowly fading.

I am Mahmoud Al-Muqayad, a 27-year-old Palestinian. I worked as a photographer and filmmaker for seven years, and I am also a sound engineer and voice-over artist. I hold a diploma in television broadcasting and am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Media at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza (third level). However, due to the war, my university was destroyed, and my chance to continue my education and fulfill my dream of obtaining a higher degree was lost. I can no longer capture images of life and hope or produce the content I once worked on. All I see now are scenes of terror, death, and destruction. The dream I built with my own hands has shattered before me.

Fortunately, the ongoing war in Gaza has not harmed me physically, but it has left unbearable pain. I lost my equipment, which was my only livelihood, and my home, which was my refuge and the fortress I worked hard to build. Now, all that remains are the ruins of pain and sorrow.

My life has turned into an ongoing tragedy. I was forced to sell food in the streets to survive, but this attempt failed. The long distances I walk and my rented cart only add to my suffering, and I’ve started experiencing back pain due to continuous effort. On top of that, I face daily risks due to the bombing and airstrikes. Each day the situation worsens, and danger is closer than ever before.

The situation in southern Gaza has become catastrophic, with no shelter, safety, enough food, clean water, or even medical care. My family is suffering just as I am, and hope has almost become impossible.

But hope still exists because of you.

I am seeking an opportunity for a new life and a safe place where I can start over, continue my education, and work towards a better future for myself and my family. However, Gaza is no longer a safe place, and there is no access to education as the educational system has been completely destroyed. The only option available to me is to travel to Egypt, but it requires an exorbitant cost, as if it has become a “ransom” for my life and future.

With your support, we can achieve this goal. We can replace despair with hope, fear with safety, and death with life once again. Donations will help cover the costs of travel and accommodation, followed by continuing my studies in Egypt, so I can eventually rebuild my life and support my family. It is an opportunity to restore faith in life after the destruction, and I will never forget your support and belief in humanity.

The costs required to achieve this hope:

Passport: 200 EUR

Coordination with Hala Travel Agency (Egypt): 5,000 EUR

Study fees and supplies: 5,000 EUR (for two semesters)

Accommodation rent during study and exams: 800 EUR

Personal expenses: 400 EUR

Your donations will be the hope for rebuilding my life after devastation. I will never forget your support.

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