Help my family in Gaza build a new life and future

I hope this message finds you well and safety

Our Story:

I am Rasha Al-Wahidi, a Palestinian English teacher from Gaza City, where all the dreams and hopes of its residents have been shattered by this ugly war. I had hopes and ambitions of opening a private school to teach children, but this war destroyed my family’s home and my only source of income, as I used to work in an educational center to teach children, but it was destroyed by the war. To make matters worse, my father and mother suffer from chronic diseases, and now they do not have the basic medicines they need. My mother, who is 62 years old, is battling stage four leukemia.

Since the beginning of the war on Gaza on October 7th, my family and I woke up to the sounds of explosions and destruction around us. Everything changed in moments. In the heart of Gaza, amid what humanitarian agencies describe as “a graveyard for thousands of children and hell for everyone else,”. I, Rasha Alwaheidi, am raising funds to help facilitate the evacuation of my family stuck in Gaza.

My family was displaced from their homes in northern Gaza when the first evacuation orders were issued in early October. Since then, they have been trapped in a fierce struggle for survival. Overnight, their peaceful life was shattered.

I reach out to you today with a heartfelt plea for support for a wonderful couple, my brother and his wife, whose lives were turned upside down by the recent conflict in Gaza. Their story is one of love, resilience and unwavering hope amidst unimaginable adversity.

Their daily activities at work and school have been replaced by a relentless search for basic necessities – food, water and shelter – for themselves and their children. Can you imagine having to teach your toddler to ration their food and water?

My brother and his wife’s story:

My brother Ismail and his wife Iman’s journey began with joy and excitement. They got married in June 2023, and spent months planning their wedding. They spent their savings on a new apartment, carefully renovating and furnishing it to create a warm and loving home for their future. Their dreams were bright and full of promise. But on October 7, 2023, everything changed. The outbreak of war forced Ismail and Iman to evacuate to other parts of Gaza. They lived through 470 days of suffering, unable to see each other, separated by the chaos and destruction around them. They were only able to reunite once, for just an hour, before they were torn apart again. The war not only separated them physically, but also severed their means of communication. For two and a half weeks, they lived in agony, unable to check on each other, their hearts heavy with fear and uncertainty.

The airstrikes destroyed the only source of income for my parents and my older brother Ismail, leaving them financially unstable. The apartment they had lovingly prepared was reduced to rubble, rubble and uninhabitable from what was supposed to be their refuge. The pain did not stop there. In a desperate attempt to escape the violence, they tried to leave Gaza through Rafah, only to find the borders closed and their hopes shattered. My brother and his wife’s story is not just about loss; it is a story of enduring love and the human spirit’s ability to persevere. Their dream of a life together, despite the blows and bruises, still shines with hope. They need our help to rebuild, to find stability and security, and to create new dreams from the ashes of their old ones.

We have already lost everything. My only concern now is not to lose another life.

I have lost my work, my dad’s real estate company got bombed and demolished, and even my brother’s work.

I accepted losing my work, home, memories, school, friends, and Family members. But I just can’t accept losing my family or my parents. Thank you for your time, hopefully I can get the help and support that we need to survive Gaza.

My family members are:

Ismael Alwaheidi, 34 years old

Mosab Alwaheidi, 30 years old

Rana Alwaheidi, 43 years old

Ahmed Alwaheidi, 75 years old

Yehya Alwaheidi, 20 years old

Mohammed Alwaheidi, 13 years old

Moamen Alwaheidi, 54 years old

Rawand Alwaheidi, 34 years old

Rani Alwaheidi, 39 years old

Lana Alwaheidi, 10 years old

Tala Alwaheidi, 5 years old

Ahmed Alwaheidi, 1 year

Eman Alwaheidi, 30 years old

How the funds will be used:

The funds raised will be a lifeline for Ismail and Iman. Here’s how your generous donations will be used:

- A new home: To provide them with a safe and stable place to live, whether in Gaza or another country if they are able to leave.

- Financial stability: To help Ismail create a new source of income, ensuring they can support themselves and start over.

- Living expenses: To cover basic needs such as food, clothing, and medical supplies.

- Medical expenses: To support Iman’s sister’s recovery and any other medical expenses that may arise.

- Relocation support: To help cover the costs of moving to a safer place if they are able to flee Gaza.

In times of crisis, the power of community and compassion shines brightest. Your donation, no matter how small, will serve as a beacon of hope for Iman and Ismail. It will show them that even in the darkest of times, there are people who care, people willing to reach out and help them rise from the rubble. Let’s come together to show that love and compassion know no bounds. Let us be the reason that Iman and Ismail can dream again, the reason that they can rebuild their lives and find solace in a world that has shown them so much pain.

We are human beings who deserve to live in peace, and we long for a peaceful life. During the 470 days of war, I thanked God every day that we were still alive in a place where there is no safety, unable to protect ourselves and our children from death. However, we lost our closest family members and many friends.

I hope that everyone who reads my message can help me by donating the amount that will allow my family to leave Gaza to a safer place, to see that beautiful smile on their faces again. For those who cannot donate, please share my message with as many friends as you can.

Thank you for your generosity, kindness, and willingness to make a difference. Together, we can help Iman and Ismael find hope and rebuild their future.