Read Our Story to Understand Why Donations for Refugee Families Are Crucial
Supporting Refugee Families and read about Refugee Struggles
By Deema and Mohammed
Our world overflowed with hope. We are a young couple, we built a comfortable home . I studied engineering and spent ten years working in the energy sector. Our bond grew stronger through shared ambitions and a mutual desire to make a difference, including supporting refugee families in need. My wife was studying for her English degree, and we set common goals to build a future full of achievements. She excelled in her studies, and I began delving deeper into learning, focusing my energy on things that served our ambitions and goals. We never stopped at one goal. Three years ago, I started expanding my knowledge, studying data science and artificial intelligence, connecting it to my field of work and experience, further advancing in my career.
Our love story began a two year and a half ago when we got married. Our bond grew stronger through shared ambitions, including our efforts to contribute through donations for refugee families. She was excelling in every moment of her life, studying for her English literature degree, but she didn't stop there. She expanded her skills by learning programming.
We started preparing our home, and the first thing we thought of was building a library to document our achievements and the books that contributed to our mindset growth and skills. We envisioned a future filled with professional success, international adventure, and boundless love. Our newly built home embodied our hard work, long hours, and unwavering optimism.
The love story deepened with the arrival of our dear daughter, Sella, on June 16th, 2023 a testament to our dreams and aspirations.
Pictured above: Welcome gifts for Sella
Pictured above: October 4, 2024 - a year after living in a tent
Pictured above: Our home before the war
Then the war came on October 7th, 2023, like a fierce storm, tearing everything we held dear from our grasp. We fled our beloved home, leaving behind echoes of laughter and remnants of countless plans.
These were the first moments of the war before displacing from our house, where our only thought was how to protect our innocent child.
Every detail in this picture has a meaning.
This place reminds us of the time when the war intensified and the shelling, fear, and bos were everywhere. At that moment, we came together and isolated ourselves from anything that would prevent us from thinking about how to protect our daughter and provide her with the safest place inside the house. We thought of putting her under the table and putting the chairs back in place to increase the protection and safety in case the house was destroyed on us.
Displacement from our house
The memory of the devastating moment of leaving our home still haunts me. It was a sunny day, but the sky was covered with black smoke from continuous shelling. The sounds of shells grew louder, and our decision to leave the house was a difficult one. We left behind memories of safety and warmth, and the tent became a fragile refuge.
**Dreams Torn in Daily Struggles**
Every morning, my daughter wakes up with a frown, searching play area but not finding it. She cannot understand how her daily life has become confined within the boundaries of our tent. This daily struggle tears at my heart as a parent. I can only watch as she grows up in circumstances vastly different from what she deserves.
Our third displacement was in the Rafah area. Here we hoped the war would end with the end of January, but it did not stop. We tried to provide everything possible for our daughter's happiness, including a small toy next to her. We tried to play baby speech sounds with her in the darkness due to electricity outage, I live in a continuous struggle about what I think and how to come to terms with this reality, considering my daughter's mindset before she gains awareness and grows her mind and forms her personality. She is only nine months old, and I will do my utmost to make her smile and to build her future as we planned, aiming to raise a child with distinctive qualities, mentality, confidence in herself, and in her parents.
After deep contemplation and attempting to escape the painful picture that lies ahead due to the changes in our plans and the shape of our lives brought on by the devastating war, I realized the importance of documenting these scenes and pictures. Preserving them for us and my daughter Sella to see when she grows up, and drawing strength from them to continue on the path of struggle and success, I am confident she will become a successful and influential person in the world, just as her parents strive to be. We will work with all our efforts to be a role model for her.
We don't have other choice except travelling abroad and starting a new life.
Together, we can rebuild our dreams:
1. Securing a safe and suitable housing: we can create a refuge for our displaced family, a space where our daughter can continue to enjoy her childhood despite the circumstances.
2. The medical care we need: The war has greatly impacted our health, and your support will help us access the medical care we need to regain our strength and well-being.
3. Reviving our aspirations: We believe in the power of refugee education and its ability to pave the way for a brighter future. Your contribution will enable my wife to continue her programming education and allow me to complete my studies in artificial intelligence, opening doors to professional opportunities and self-sufficiency.
We know that rebuilding our lives will be a long and challenging journey. However, with your compassion and generosity, we are confident that we can rise from the ashes and create a future worthy of our daughter's dreams. Every donation, every shared story, is a glimmer of hope in dark times.
Together, lets continue our predetermined future plan, achieve more success and provide safer future for our child.
Best Regards,
Deema S. and Mohammed A.