Support Gaza's Deaf Community
Crowdfunding $5k to sustain Gaza's Deaf Community
A huge thank you to everyone who supported last week’s firewood fundraiser. We exceeded our $7000 goal in just over 24 hours! The money is on the way to Mahmoud in Gaza, and I’ll be sharing updates from him via my Instagram page (@rhm.nm). I am so heartened by the power of community to manifest meaningful, direct support for Gaza.
I work at BuildPalestine, an organization that uplifts Palestinian-led initiatives through visibility, crowdfunding, networking, and business incubation. In response to the genocide in Gaza, we launched Nourishing Hope for Gaza—a program that identifies trusted local efforts making an immediate impact on the ground in Gaza and mobilizes funding for them. This next campaign is part of that initiative.
Deaf Relief Gaza
This next effort emerged through a collaboration between Deaf organizers here in the US and Gaza. It’s called Deaf Relief Gaza, and it’s led by Omar, a Deaf Palestinian teacher and community advocate in Gaza.
Before October 7th, Omar worked as a teacher for Deaf students and was raised in signing environments with Deaf friends, teachers, and mentors. Since the start of the genocide, he has stepped up in extraordinary ways to support the Deaf community in Gaza. Check out Deaf Relief Gaza’s Instagram page here.
What This Funds
The money Omar receives goes toward:
Food and clothing for Deaf families
Hearing aids and hearing aid batteries
Glasses and mobility aids
Emergency support (e.g., helping a family with a Deaf child who lost his father due to the genocide, or replacing a Deaf person’s broken glasses—vital for lipreading and understanding sign language).
Omar personally conducts needs assessments and allocates funds based on urgency and impact. His work is grassroots, agile, and deeply trusted by his community.
Goal: $5000 USD
We are seeking to raise $5000 to support Omar’s ongoing efforts.
There is an active GoFundMe (led by Grace Lester, a Deaf organizer in the U.S.)—or, if it’s easier, you can send funds directly to me and I’ll make a lump-sum contribution.
Here are ways to send me money—please put “Deaf Relief Gaza” in the memo:
Venmo me at @AnamR
PayPal me via anam.raheem@gmail.com
Log into Zelle, select “Send,” and scan this QR Code:
Let’s keep showing up for each other. Let’s keep supporting grassroots organizers in Gaza—those who know their communities best and are doing the work with clarity, love, and courage.
Warmly,
Anam