Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a group of Cleveland students has come together to support Palestinian families in need.

A lot of families in Gaza are currently trying to get out of the war zone and flee to safety in Egypt, a border country of Palestine. Right now Palestinians are lacking access to healthcare, water, electricity and other resources.

Over the last summer Adila Harrison, a junior at Cleveland, got involved in activism, specifically around Palestine. She found out about families in need on social media and helped them leave the war zone, by donating money to them via GoFundMe. There are organizations that vett the legitimacy of those families before people transfer money. “I wanted to bring it to the school, because I knew that there was an interest for it,” she said. She decided to establish a school club and fundraise for families in Gaza.

Right now the process of entry into Egypt is very long and complicated. It also costs a lot of money. Members of the club hope that now that Hamas and Isreal agreed on a ceasefire, crossing the border to Egypt will become easier.

Students meet once a week to check in and come up with projects. They’ve raised around $400, by doing bake sales and selling self-made jewelry, stickers, and screen-printed shirts. 

If you’re interested in supporting the club, feel free to attend one of the meetings. They are every Wednesday in room 372 and everyone is welcome to join. You can also find a lot of websites online, where you can donate and help families in Gaza.