Aya first reached out to me through Instagram in August 2025, seeking urgent support to help her family meet their basic needs. She and her husband, Jamal, are both twenty-three years old. Before the war in Gaza, Aya was studying nursing at the Islamic University, with only one year remaining before completing her degree.

Since we began corresponding, Aya and Jamal have endured repeated displacement. They moved from a tent into a small cement storage unit that cost $400 per month, only to later return to living in a tent. On July 10, 2026, Aya gave birth to their daughter, Maria.

Aya creates and posts artwork on her Instagram to raise awareness for her family’s condition. I produce prints and stickers featuring her work, which can be purchased by contacting me directly via Instagram or email. All proceeds benefit Aya’s fundraiser.

The banner displayed here brings together words written by Aya, my portrait of Aya and Jamal, and a QR code linking directly to their fundraiser.