The Needs.
(1) An “educide/scholasticide” of Gaza’s academic community is being committed. From preschool to doctoral programs, Gazans only attended one-month of the academic 2023-24 year. Online education portals Gaza-wide have been inaccessible during the same timeframe. It is crucial to provide immediate continued education and skill development opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and scholars abroad and/or remotely.
(2) Gaza, often overshadowed within the broader Palestinian narrative, faces unique challenges including blockades, occupation, and continuous conflict. Despite its rich cultural heritage, resilience and ingenuity, the world’s understanding of Gaza remains limited, perpetuating misconceptions and hindering effective advocacy, misallocation of resources, and pertinent reformation discussions.
Services & Action Taken.
Resettlement Services for Evacuees, Students, & Scholars —
Aimed at supporting the health, well-being, and stability of Gazans, we are securing higher education opportunities for evacuees abroad. Services include education advising/repurposing, application counseling (CV/resume writing, portfolio development), financial aid and scholarship solicitation and matching, securing visas, assistance in skill-building through remote work or internship experiences, family welcoming (language, housing, etc.), case management, and other necessary services.
Remote Reformation Research —
Drawing from the past 5 years of Gaza health reform research, scholarly initiatives are focused on facilitating an effective and efficient reformation of Gaza. This involves evidence-based submissions to academic peer-reviewed journals; references from reputable sources, conference posters and presentations; and the publication of open research data, preprints, white papers, and more with critical global academic partners and institutions.
Reclamation of Gaza’s History, Heritage, Culture, & Arts —
Facilitated through preservation and documentation efforts. This includes the creation of digital archives showcasing Gaza’s land, landmarks, and sites; Gazan written interviews and oral histories; and the digitization of available Gazan art. Additionally, we provide education on critical Gaza-specific history, current events, data, and innovative social media and action-driven educational campaigns such as #greenforgaza
Our Mission.
We aspire to provide support to evacuees, students and scholars of Gaza to continue higher education and skill development training, and encourage reformation research to rebuild as Gazans know best. To illuminate the untold story of Gaza, emphasizing its beauty, resilience, and cultural significance. We aim to educate and engage global audiences, fostering empathy, understanding, and support for Gaza’s journey towards peace and prosperity.
Our Vision: Impact We Hope to Make.
We envision a Gaza characterized by the freedom to travel and live off the sea, inviting multiculturalism while preserving traditional ways of life. Our ideal society values education; embraces freedom of movement, communication, and self-sufficiency; and is at peace.
Gaza is a land of resilience and resourcefulness, because Gazans are a people of faith and intellectuals.
Our Values.
- Resilience & Faith — Upholding hope and happiness in the face of adversity.
- Resourcefulness & Self-Sufficiency — Empowering individuals through education, encouraging intellectual pursuits and promoting proactive action.
- Truth & Honesty — Committing to humility and transparency.
Our Founding Team.
The founding team includes Gazan-American evacuees who experienced internal displacement numerous times before evacuating the current 2023–24 war. They have visited and resided in Gaza for a total of eight years.
Three of the founding team members were medical students at the Islamic University of Gaza and are deeply committed to combatting the genocide of their people through various means. Their primary focus is on reclaiming the narrative of Gaza, emphasizing its beauty and resilience to dispel misconceptions through their social media presence and website, MyDearGaza.com. They aim to educate the world about Gaza’s ingenuity and advanced living conditions despite the significant barriers imposed by the 17-year land, sea, and air blockade. Before relocating to Gaza, they all achieved valedictorian status in their American high school classes, boasting an unweighted perfect 4.0 GPA across Honors, AP (Advanced Placement), and concurrent enrollment community college class curriculum.
The fourth founding member is an Independent Research Scholar who has dedicated her work to Gaza Health Reform since 2020 while living in Gaza. With over 30 years of experience as a best-selling author and prolific writer, her expertise has been recognized by major media outlets such as Associated Press, TIME, CNN and many more. She is committed to combating the “educide/scholasticide” of Gaza’s academic community and is leading efforts to secure undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate student and scholarly placements for evacuees to rebuild Gaza’s academia. She also heads the research division by actively documenting the current state of Gaza through scholarly works.
** Currently, we are strictly a collective of volunteers. We are undergoing the process of incorporating as a nonprofit organization in the State of California and applying for 501(c)3 status with the IRS for tax-exemption.
Last updated, Friday, May 24, 2024 3:39 pm Pacific Time