Help Hala Continue Her Medical Education in Gaza

My name is Hala Al-Shawaish. I am a 19-year-old medical student from Gaza, Palestine, and I am reaching out with hope that I can continue pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor.

For as long as I can remember, I have believed that education could open the door to a better future. I worked hard throughout school and graduated from high school with a 96.1% average in the scientific stream. Being accepted into the Faculty of Medicine at the Islamic University of Gaza was one of the proudest moments of my life. It was the beginning of a journey I had dreamed of for years.

But the war changed my family’s life in ways I could never have imagined.

My family and I endured repeated displacement, moving from place to place more than 15 times. We lost our home and our source of income, and our lives became filled with uncertainty and financial hardship. Even as we struggled to meet our basic needs, I tried to hold on to my education and the future I had worked so hard to build.

Our family also experienced a heartbreaking loss when my uncle passed away after he was unable to access the medical treatment he needed. Losing him was deeply painful. After his death, my father took on the responsibility of supporting both our family and my uncle’s family, adding to the financial pressure we were already facing.

Despite these hardships, I continued my medical studies and completed my first year. Reaching my second year meant so much to me because it showed that, even during the most difficult circumstances, I was still moving toward my dream.

Unfortunately, my family’s financial situation has become so difficult that we can no longer afford my university tuition fees. I have been unable to enroll this semester, and I am facing the painful possibility of having my education interrupted, not because I have given up or stopped working hard, but because we cannot afford the cost of continuing.

It is difficult to describe how it feels to work so hard for something and then fear losing it because of circumstances beyond your control. I want to return to my university, continue learning, complete my medical education, and one day become a doctor who can help others.

That is why I am asking for support.

I hope to find people who can help me continue my medical education, cover my university fees and necessary educational expenses, and keep moving forward through the coming semesters. Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean so much to me. Sharing my story could also help it reach someone who may be able to make a difference.

My dream is not simply to earn a degree. I want to use what I learn to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Having experienced the pain of losing a loved one who could not access the medical care he needed, I understand even more deeply how important healthcare and compassion are.

I know the road ahead will not be easy, but I am not ready to give up on the future I have worked so hard for. I still believe that, with the right support and the opportunity to continue my studies, I can become the doctor I have always dreamed of being.

If you are able to support my education or share my story with others, I would be sincerely grateful.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for caring about my future, and for helping me hold on to my dream during one of the most difficult chapters of my life.

With gratitude and hope,

Hala Al-Shawaish