‘My dream is to leave this hell’

Dawn Morais

History will not judge us kindly. The genocide in Gaza was televised and yet the rest of the world did not do nearly enough to stop it.

Political leaders have not taken steps to end the ongoing genocide and continuing Nakba (catastrophe) in Gaza. The violence in the West Bank by armed settlers protected by Israeli military and police continues to dispossess Palestinians there too.

It is hard not to despair. But we cannot afford to look away.

The key to staying hopeful is doing what we can, as individuals who care, to help those struggling bravely to survive. As one saying goes: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

Here is an opportunity to help one family in Gaza who is counting on our common humanity.

Vicky Brotherton in the UK started a GoFundMe appeal on behalf of the family of a friend, one of thousands struggling to survive the horrific conditions created by the daily indiscriminate bombing and violence by Israel in response to the brutal surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023.

I have donated. I implore you to do so as well. Any amount, no matter how small, will help this family meet their basic needs.

As Hadeel Mohamad Sersawi, one of the daughters in this family, says, “My dream is to leave this hell.”

A Malaysian university scholarship?

Hadeel has seen people get offers of scholarships to study in other countries, and she prays for a similar offer to come her way.

She is currently studying English translation at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. “Our university is destroyed, but we are studying online,” she says. “My family and I live in a rented house after losing our original home, our source of income, and our savings.

“I am responsible for paying my university tuition, my brother Kareem’s school fees, house rent, water, electricity, and food. We rely 100% on donations.”

If you are associated with a university or college that can offer Hadeel a scholarship and a way to realise her dream of leaving what she understandably calls hell, please feel free to reach out to her directly via WhatsApp at +970592174823 or her personal email at [email protected]

Want to learn Arabic?

Meanwhile, to earn some money, Hadeel has started teaching the Arabic language via Zoom.

“I am highly proficient in Arabic and can teach you from scratch to proficiency,” she says. “The system will be structured in monthly courses, where we work on a specific focus each month – first reading, then writing.”

Her fees are extremely modest but will help her meet the cost of supporting her family of six. She and her sister Dareen are trying to continue their university studies online while their two brothers, Omar and Karim, are still in school.

They live with their parents in a bullet-ridden rented house with walls that have holes caused by repeated bombings and some windows that have been blown out.

But it is better than the alternative. They dread the prospect of returning to the hardship of living in tents – if the donations dry up.

Together, we can help keep that dreadful prospect at bay.

Hadeel’s mother describes their situation: “We once lived in a beautiful, spacious house overlooking the sea. Our life was comfortable – we ate the finest food, dressed well, and went on family trips together. My children had a safe home where they could study, play, and grow.

“Then, without warning, everything collapsed. Our house, filled with love and memories, was destroyed in a single moment. Suddenly, we became homeless. We fled barefoot, without clothes, without belongings, and without even a piece of our precious memories.

“Since then, we have been displaced again and again, moving from place to place, never knowing where we will sleep the next night. I lost many relatives, friends, and neighbours. Every day, I live in fear of losing someone else I love.

“My children wake up terrified in the middle of the night. The lack of food, clean water and safety has deeply affected my mental health and theirs. Since 7 October 2023, we have been waiting for this nightmare to end, but each day feels more hopeless.”

The sounds of bombings and drones fill the sky.

The violence has continued throughout what has been described as a ‘ceasefire’ – but to the people living with the constant sound of drones overhead and the daily bombings and killings, there is no semblance of any so-called ceasefire.

There appears to be no end in sight to the hellish conditions they continue to endure.

Here is the link to the GoFundMe Appeal.

Susan’s is a desperate cry for help: “I am reaching out with humility and hope. I am asking for support so that my family and I can survive.

“Life in Gaza has become unbearable: food is scarce, clean water is almost impossible to find, and healthcare is collapsing. My children often go to sleep hungry, and I have no way to protect them from sickness or cold.”

Dawn Morais is a Malaysian-born communications professional, educator and writer who has championed social justice, environmental protection, Native Hawaiian causes and community engagement. She has held senior roles in communications and advertising across Malaysia, Singapore and Hawaii, and holds a PhD in English from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps: