Support Ahmed's Dream to Rebuild His Father's Shop

**UPDATE: this fundraiser was launched coincidentally on the same day that the “ceasefire” went into effect. The money raised here will first be primarily used by Ahmed and his family to rebuild their home that was completely destroyed by the Occupation in October 2023. The cover image is Ahmed sitting in what remains of his home.**

Hello everyone, my name is Izzy and I am raising funds on behalf of my friend Ahmed in Gaza and his family. This campaign has been written and set up in collaboration with Ahmed, who I have been in communication with nearly everyday since May 2024.

The money we raise will be used for both daily living necessities and also to fund Ahmed's project to rebuild his dad's supermarket.

Ahmed is one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever had the privilege of becoming friends with. He cares deeply about my own safety and wellbeing, always asking me how I am doing. He is a brilliant writer and poet, loves to play soccer and read, and has hopes and dreams to live a full life just like we all do. Once he said to me: "your heart is the heart of a free bird in the sky."

Ahmed's home and his father's shop were destroyed by the occupation. Ahmed supports his three siblings, two parents, and elderly grandmother. The occupation killed one of Ahmed's brothers in 2021. Ahmed has asked me to collect money in order to meet daily needs, provide water, food, vegetables, flour, and provide a suitable place for him and his family to sleep. They currently live in a tent that does not protect them from the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter.

Ahmed has told me about the shop his father had before the genocide began where he sold feed for pigeons and birds, along with items such as oil, sugar, and flour. Ahmed wants to rebuild his father's shop and wants to search for a decent life. He wants to “build his dreams buried under the rubble”.

Our first goal is to provide Ahmed with daily basics, and then once these needs are met, rebuild his father's shop.

I recently asked Ahmed why he likes to read and write poetry. He said: "To intensify the perfection of our humanity and read it to see the world dreaming within us. When we write poetry, we aim to highlight the perfection of our humanity, intensified by language and imagination, and when we read it, we seek to feel the pleasure that resembles the dissolution of the self in the sea."

Ahmed often says that the dreams he has are just rights in this country. I hope that we can all stand by Ahmed's side.

One last line from Ahmed: "The conflict in the world will end when the death in Gaza and the injustice that has been inflicted on Gaza ends"

Supporting this fundraiser will give Ahmed hope and continue to strengthen his steadfastness. Your kindness and generosity will go such a long way.

Thank you all ❤️

Information Requested by GoFundMe Reviewers

1. Who you are

Izzy Lapidus, 22 years old.

2. Where you're from

Brooklyn, New York, US.

3. The full names of the individuals or organizations you are seeking to support or aid, where they're located, and your relationship with them

The direct receiver of these funds will be Ahmed Ashraf Abu Rida, 27 years old. He supports his family including his siblings: Mohamed Ashraf Abu Rida, 24 years old, Fajri Ashraf Abu Rida, 17 years old, and Limara Ashraf Abu Rida, 5 years old; his parents: Ashraf Mohamed Abu Rida, 57 years old and Ward Abdel Abu Rida, 47 years old; and his grandmother, Fatima Mahmoud Abu Rida, 70 years old.

Ahmed and his family live in Gaza, Palestine.

Ahmed is a friend who I have been in communication with nearly everyday for over the past 7 months, since May 2024.

4. How the funds will be spent and how you plan to get them to the beneficiary

The funds will be spent on basic living needs and rebuilding Ahmed’s father’s shop. I will withdraw the funds, then send them to Ahmed’s friend Haitham Ennasr who lives in the US. Haitham will then transfer the money to an exchange office in Gaza called Al Majd Office so that Ahmed and his family can receive them. We have done this method several times over the past few months since Ahmed and I have been in contact and it has been successful.