Alaa: From Rubble and Loss… to Hope and Quiet Resistance
United States
Alaa once lived in a warm home in Gaza. It was not just a house — it was the heart of her family. A place filled with jasmine by the windows, soft afternoon tea made by her father, evening visits from her beloved aunt, and cousins laughing in the living room. That home witnessed her childhood, her first dreams, her nights studying to become a journalist. It held her books, her memories, and her sense of belonging. Until one day, a single missile turned it all to dust. In an instant, the walls that held decades of love were gone. So were the photos, the letters, her favorite coffee mug… And so was her father’s heart. Her father, a devoted doctor who spent his life caring for others, couldn’t bear the loss of their home. The pain was too much. Days later, his heart gave up. He died from sorrow. Alaa didn’t just lose a house — she lost her father, her beloved aunt, two cousins, and every bit of security she once knew. Escaping with a Small Dog and a Heavy Heart When Alaa was finally able to leave Gaza, she took nothing but her soul… and her little dog Coco. Coco had been with her during the bombing. He trembled with each explosion, hid under the table, and whimpered into her arms. For four long months, she fought to get him out of Gaza — and finally did. Today, Coco is safe but deeply traumatized. Whenever a plane flies overhead, he hides under beds, behind doors. His eyes reflect memories he cannot forget. He needs regular medical treatment, trauma therapy, and special care — and Alaa takes care of all of it, no matter the cost. A Baby Born After Death Two weeks after her father passed away, Alaa’s sister gave birth to a baby boy. A new life… after so much death. But the baby was born with a rare neurological condition, requiring ongoing care every three months, special testing, and expensive medications. Alaa stepped in — she follows up on every appointment, holds his tiny hand, and tells him, “You’re not alone.” From a Family Home to Renting in a New City Alaa and her mother once lived in a home they owned. There was no rent, no fear of being uprooted. Now, in a city far from what they knew, they live in a rented apartment, surrounded by silence and the ghosts of everything they lost. Since her father’s passing, Alaa has become the sole provider for her mother and the family. She juggles rent, utilities, food, medical care for Coco and the baby, and emotional support for her grieving mother — all while navigating her own trauma. She Still Writes — Even with a Shaking Hand Alaa is still a journalist. She documents stories of survivors, voices of the unheard, and the truth of what war leaves behind. But now, she writes between errands, between vet visits, and between hospital runs. Despite it all, she has not stopped trying to rebuild her life. She has traveled in search of opportunity, of safety, of a new beginning. In the winter of 2025, she reached New York, volunteering in humanitarian work and with children — giving back even while healing herself. But she could not stay. After her temporary visit, she returned to Cairo, still holding on to the hope of a job, a platform, a place to continue her mission. Alaa is not waiting for rescue. She is moving, giving, and surviving — but she can no longer do it alone. What Does Alaa Need? Alaa is not asking for luxury. She is asking for the basics of dignity, to continue carrying the people who depend on her. • A stable, safe home for her and her mother after losing everything • Monthly support for Coco’s medical and psychological care • Access to regular treatment for her nephew with a rare condition • Basic living expenses: food, transportation, medicine • Psychological support for both her and her mother, who is still mourning her son and home How will the donations be used? • Helping to pay the rent for a stable apartment, away from the temporary refuge life, ensuring Alaa and her mother have a safe and secure environment free from fear and instability. • Providing regular psychological therapy sessions for Alaa, her mother, the child, and Koko to improve their mental health and help them recover from the traumas they have experienced. • Covering the full medical treatment costs for the sick child, including medications, regular check-ups, assistive medical devices, and physical therapy sessions if needed. • Continuous medical and psychological care for her dog Koko, including regular vaccinations, anti-anxiety medications, behavioral therapy sessions, and treatment for any physical illnesses that may have developed due to trauma. • Providing a calm and suitable environment for Koko, including comfortable home arrangements and tools that help him feel safe, such as his own bed and soothing toys. • Covering basic living expenses (food, medicine, transportation, electricity, water). • Supporting her studies and professional training in humanitarian journalism by covering course fees, purchasing work tools like a laptop and camera, and communication and internet costs. • Providing legal and administrative support to facilitate her residency and work procedures abroad, including legal fees, documents, visa fees, or work permits. • Providing essential equipment and tools for the child, such as educational toys, books, assistive devices to develop skills, in addition to medications and daily care supplies related to his illness. • Providing regular healthcare and meeting the needs of the mother, including routine medical check-ups, special medications if necessary, and psychological support to help her cope with life’s pressures and daily challenges. • Supplying balanced healthy food assistance to ensure proper nutrition for the child and mother under difficult circumstances. • Providing safe transportation means to help Alaa travel between hospitals, treatment centers, and work without hardship or relying on others. • Supporting communication and internet costs to enable her to connect with work and educational institutions and maintain social relationships that help reduce feelings of isolation. “I’m still writing… just with a trembling voice.” Alaa is the kind of person who rescues even as she’s drowning. She is the one who pulled a dog out of war, who comforts a sick child, who holds her mother through the night — while reporting stories the world would otherwise never hear. All she asks for now is a hand to hold, so she can keep holding others.
Anonymous
2
-
$40,000.00
Funding Goal -
$0.00
Funds Raised -
0
Days to go -
Campaign Never Ends
Campaign End Method
Product Description
United States
Alaa once lived in a warm home in Gaza. It was not just a house — it was the heart of her family. A place filled with jasmine by the windows, soft afternoon tea made by her father, evening visits from her beloved aunt, and cousins laughing in the living room. That home witnessed her childhood, her first dreams, her nights studying to become a journalist. It held her books, her memories, and her sense of belonging. Until one day, a single missile turned it all to dust. In an instant, the walls that held decades of love were gone. So were the photos, the letters, her favorite coffee mug… And so was her father’s heart. Her father, a devoted doctor who spent his life caring for others, couldn’t bear the loss of their home. The pain was too much. Days later, his heart gave up. He died from sorrow. Alaa didn’t just lose a house — she lost her father, her beloved aunt, two cousins, and every bit of security she once knew. Escaping with a Small Dog and a Heavy Heart When Alaa was finally able to leave Gaza, she took nothing but her soul… and her little dog Coco. Coco had been with her during the bombing. He trembled with each explosion, hid under the table, and whimpered into her arms. For four long months, she fought to get him out of Gaza — and finally did. Today, Coco is safe but deeply traumatized. Whenever a plane flies overhead, he hides under beds, behind doors. His eyes reflect memories he cannot forget. He needs regular medical treatment, trauma therapy, and special care — and Alaa takes care of all of it, no matter the cost. A Baby Born After Death Two weeks after her father passed away, Alaa’s sister gave birth to a baby boy. A new life… after so much death. But the baby was born with a rare neurological condition, requiring ongoing care every three months, special testing, and expensive medications. Alaa stepped in — she follows up on every appointment, holds his tiny hand, and tells him, “You’re not alone.” From a Family Home to Renting in a New City Alaa and her mother once lived in a home they owned. There was no rent, no fear of being uprooted. Now, in a city far from what they knew, they live in a rented apartment, surrounded by silence and the ghosts of everything they lost. Since her father’s passing, Alaa has become the sole provider for her mother and the family. She juggles rent, utilities, food, medical care for Coco and the baby, and emotional support for her grieving mother — all while navigating her own trauma. She Still Writes — Even with a Shaking Hand Alaa is still a journalist. She documents stories of survivors, voices of the unheard, and the truth of what war leaves behind. But now, she writes between errands, between vet visits, and between hospital runs. Despite it all, she has not stopped trying to rebuild her life. She has traveled in search of opportunity, of safety, of a new beginning. In the winter of 2025, she reached New York, volunteering in humanitarian work and with children — giving back even while healing herself. But she could not stay. After her temporary visit, she returned to Cairo, still holding on to the hope of a job, a platform, a place to continue her mission. Alaa is not waiting for rescue. She is moving, giving, and surviving — but she can no longer do it alone. What Does Alaa Need? Alaa is not asking for luxury. She is asking for the basics of dignity, to continue carrying the people who depend on her. • A stable, safe home for her and her mother after losing everything • Monthly support for Coco’s medical and psychological care • Access to regular treatment for her nephew with a rare condition • Basic living expenses: food, transportation, medicine • Psychological support for both her and her mother, who is still mourning her son and home How will the donations be used? • Helping to pay the rent for a stable apartment, away from the temporary refuge life, ensuring Alaa and her mother have a safe and secure environment free from fear and instability. • Providing regular psychological therapy sessions for Alaa, her mother, the child, and Koko to improve their mental health and help them recover from the traumas they have experienced. • Covering the full medical treatment costs for the sick child, including medications, regular check-ups, assistive medical devices, and physical therapy sessions if needed. • Continuous medical and psychological care for her dog Koko, including regular vaccinations, anti-anxiety medications, behavioral therapy sessions, and treatment for any physical illnesses that may have developed due to trauma. • Providing a calm and suitable environment for Koko, including comfortable home arrangements and tools that help him feel safe, such as his own bed and soothing toys. • Covering basic living expenses (food, medicine, transportation, electricity, water). • Supporting her studies and professional training in humanitarian journalism by covering course fees, purchasing work tools like a laptop and camera, and communication and internet costs. • Providing legal and administrative support to facilitate her residency and work procedures abroad, including legal fees, documents, visa fees, or work permits. • Providing essential equipment and tools for the child, such as educational toys, books, assistive devices to develop skills, in addition to medications and daily care supplies related to his illness. • Providing regular healthcare and meeting the needs of the mother, including routine medical check-ups, special medications if necessary, and psychological support to help her cope with life’s pressures and daily challenges. • Supplying balanced healthy food assistance to ensure proper nutrition for the child and mother under difficult circumstances. • Providing safe transportation means to help Alaa travel between hospitals, treatment centers, and work without hardship or relying on others. • Supporting communication and internet costs to enable her to connect with work and educational institutions and maintain social relationships that help reduce feelings of isolation. “I’m still writing… just with a trembling voice.” Alaa is the kind of person who rescues even as she’s drowning. She is the one who pulled a dog out of war, who comforts a sick child, who holds her mother through the night — while reporting stories the world would otherwise never hear. All she asks for now is a hand to hold, so she can keep holding others.
Anonymous
2
| ID | Name | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1244 | Listing Agent | [email protected] | |
| 1215 | Listing Agent | [email protected] |
