Solidarity Against Scholasticide: Couch to 5K for Gazan Unis

Hi, I'm Aleks Palanac from Leicester in the UK, and until a few days ago was whatever the polar opposite of a runner is. The only exercise I'd do was walking my dog, as I've been managing Long Covid / dysfunctional breathing for the past five years and have been worried that pushing myself harder may bring on another relapse.

But I've been inspired to challenge myself to do the Couch to 5K over the next two to three months as I work at a UK university and have been horrified by the situation that has been unfolding in Gaza, which includes the full or partial destruction of all 12 of Gaza's universities as part of a systematic campaign of what has been termed "scholasticide".

In May 2024, colleagues at the largest three universities in Gaza came together to issue an unprecedented call for solidarity and support , saying:

“We have come together as Palestinian academics and staff of Gaza universities to affirm our existence, the existence of our colleagues and our students, and the insistence on our future, in the face of all current attempts to erase us …

We call upon our friends and colleagues around the world to resist the ongoing campaign of scholasticide in occupied Palestine, to work alongside us in rebuilding our demolished universities, and to refuse all plans seeking to bypass, erase, or weaken the integrity of our academic institutions. The future of our young people in Gaza depends upon us, and our ability to remain on our land in order to continue to serve the coming generations of our people …

We built these universities from tents. And from tents, with the support of our friends, we will rebuild them once again.” 

It is the aim of this fundraiser to raise awareness of this situation, and to raise emergency funds to help these universities rebuild once again. All monies raised will go directly to the BRISMES Fund for Higher Education in Gaza (please visit their page for further information about how they will ensure the funds reach the Emergency Committee).

Thank you for all your support, and please share the link to this fundraiser to anyone who may be interested in supporting it