This is my friend Oday; I was recently matched with Oday as part of Project Love Brocade, a collective of people amplifying the voices of Palestinian people and assisting with fundraising and providing empathy and compassion around the world.
Oday is 21 years old. If Archie faced the same challenges, I would desperately hope that there would be people who could help. Oday and I have been matched because we share a love of photography.
Oday and his family lived in Gaza, just east of Khan Yunis. Oday began college in 2021. His major was multi-media, majoring in photography and production. Unfortunately, due to the 11-day war that Israel launched in 2022 his family lost everything and had to take refuge in in Khan Yunis. Oday had to stop studying to support his family. Jobs in Gaza are limited, and he relied on selling vegetables in the local markets, earning about $100 a month.
In late 2022 Oday had to leave Gaza to try to support his family. It was a long journey to get to Belgium where he is waiting in the Red Cross Refugee Camp for his residence permit and work visa. He also must learn both French and Dutch to assist with finding work. His sole purpose is to support his family in Gaza. He dreams of one day returning to study and living like a normal 21-year-old.
Oday is the only source of income for his family. Any money raised goes towards providing necessities for his family. Often his family is told to evacuate & given no time to take their tent or belongings. It is a life filled with dangerous uncertainty.
Oday’s family luckily survived the massacre of Mawasi Khan Khunis yesterday but their need for water, food, and medication is desperate.
Oday could be my son & it breaks my heart when I imagine Archie in the same position.
If you could help at all, it would not only help Oday & his family, it will also send a small message that people care.
I am working on a new set of exclusive Greeting Cards for the gallery which will assist with fundraising for Oday and hope to have these finished tonight.
Thank you so much
xxxLara
Beauty, hope, joy, & inspiration
Comments