Support my Family's Journey to Safety and Opportunity

In just a few heartbeats, everything changed. A time that whispered the promise of another normal working day for my family and I, echoed with the roaring of hundreds of incoming missiles, followed by massive explosions. Through the fear and panic for my family, it took a few minutes to understand that the war had arrived. Our enthusiasm turned to dust, to fear and frustration, and our plans for how to succeed in the world turned into how best to survive. This is the cruel reality of war – it was not just peace that was stolen from us, but our humanity.

My name is Ramzi Abed. I am a 47 year-old father of four: two sons and two daughters. Alongside my wife, we have worked tirelessly to provide them with a nurturing environment surrounded by love, access to quality healthcare, and education. Our goal has always been to prepare them to be independent, proactive, and contributing members of society. Like any parent, regardless of what part of the world they come from, we have poured our hearts into guiding them toward a future filled with opportunity and fulfillment.

The catastrophic war in Gaza has shattered any ambition to achieve this goal, leaving us grappling with a scarcity of essentials like food, water, and medicine. The once-vibrant educational and healthcare facilities lie in ruins, and now we are left mourning vital services we once heavily relied on. We miss the simple comforts most people take for granted – safety, security, the peace and the quiet. Instead, we are faced with the roar of explosions and the anguished cries of children. There is no refuge from the bombardments, no sanctuary to shield us from harm, not even in the so-called ‘safe zones’ or ‘evacuation centers’.

There is no safe place here in Gaza, and every day, the situation deteriorates further. As a father, a husband, and the sole provider for my family, it is difficult for me to feel terrified, to feel hopeless, yet now it consumes me. My family and I are stood face-to-face with a lack of humanitarian aid or any form of safety, and I have never felt so powerless in my ability as a parent to protect my children.

Prior to the war, I worked mainly as a Lecturer at the faculty of IT in the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), which was destroyed during the war, causing me to lose my main source of income. Alongside that, I pursued a career as a freelance Software Engineer, however the loss of electricity and destruction of vital internet infrastructure has evaporated my other avenue of income. Now I move blindly, fighting the prospect of providing for my family in an environment devoid of stability or security.

My wife, Samira, is a housewife. With a bachelor’s degree in English Arts, and a diploma in Education, she brings the nurturing character our household could not thrive without. Besides being a successful mother and wife, she plays a vital role in overseeing our children’s education at home, and her dedication has empowered them to pursue their dreams with confidence and independence.

And if society turns a blind eye towards a 47 year-old man or his wife, what about their 4 children? What about thousands of children, whose entire futures have passed in front of their eyes through no fault of their own? Amidst the scarcity of food, water and medicine, most educational and healthcare facilities have been destroyed. Their dreams have been trampled beneath the rubble of war, and I fear my children will be denied the opportunities I promised them.

Mohammed, my first son, is in his 3rd year of university, studying Software Development. Eager to develop his skills, he has attended a number of bootcamps and internships over the years, and has been awarded a diploma in Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the first steps in his entrepreneurship journey.

Israa is in grade 12 (Tawjihi), in a scientific discipline, where she wants to be a doctor. Besides that, she is learning computer programming as is eager to develop it as a skill that could help her tremendously in her future.

Mays is in grade 11; she chose the scientific discipline too as her first step to be an architectural engineer. She is also an artist and created an Instagram account (messoabed07) to show the world her drawings.

Ahmed is in grade 5 which is an essential grade for any child to develop beyond the basics. Besides his general school education, he enjoys learning the basics of electronics and dreams to be an electronic engineer.

Unfortunately, for all 4 of my children, the war has prevented them from pursuing their studies, as all schools and universities have demolished. They are in desperate need of another facility that can provide them with the education to develop their skills.

Just like you, your parents, and your children, each one of us has worked hard to achieve our goals, and to this day, we have ambitions we wish to achieve, but how do we do this now when our primary focus has shifted to survival?

With this goal, we have been forced to take the difficult decision to leave our home, Gaza, and to seek refuge in a safer environment where we can prioritize the well-being of our family and access essential aid. I pray that this will help me secure stable employment and access to quality healthcare for my family. Above all else, my heart aches for my children – I hope they can reclaim their education, to pursue their goals and dreams once again.

This journey costs about UK ￡69,000 for all 6 of our family members (Ramzi, Samira, Mohammed, Israa, Mays, and Ahmed Abed). This covers travel expenses (UK ￡32,000), and initial re-settlement in Egypt expenses (UK ￡37,000).I am asking for your support to help me and my family escape from the war in Gaza, allowing us the chance to rebuild our lives. We want nothing more than to pursue our goals and make a positive impact within our community. Your generous contribution, regardless of how big or small, will provide us with the means to form a new life for my family and a future for my children. If your collective donations grant us the opportunity to re-settle in Egypt, I someday hope to be an integral part of your community, where I can extend a helping hand to those enduring similar hardships.

Please understand that your kind donations will not end with my family and I, but will also extend far beyond, indirectly supporting countless others in needed.

Thank you taking the time to consider our circumstance. My family and I are deeply appreciative of any assistance that comes our way.