On August 9, 2024, I received the following update from Support Project Watermelon Families:
Hello to you, our dear Project Watermelon community! First of all, thank you for every single one of your donations over the past seven months. Your generous donations facilitate critical aid and advocacy work that Project Watermelon cannot do without your support.
In the past months we have been pursuing official NPO (Non-Profit Organization) status to further build infrastructure which will provide long-term support for Palestinians being brutalized and traumatized by the ongoing aggressions in Gaza.
Before the border closed in early May, we helped several families “top off” their evacuation funds to facilitate their eventual evacuation into Egypt. We also directly supported the evacuation of over 20 Palestinians in partnership with Safebow and The Lemon Tree Collective.
Project Watermelon has found that there are many advantages to donating to & working with smaller, Palestinian-run initiatives inside of Gaza. They are typically more agile and can respond more readily to the constantly shifting situation on the ground and needs of Palestinian families.
Those initiatives have included:
* Food parcel delivery inside in the South, Middle and North of Gaza
* Delivering medications and speciality medical supplies
* Pre and Post natal supplies including: formula, female sanitary products, baby diapers of all sizes, and protective mesh tents for newborns
* Several hot food kitchens and meal programs across the strip
* Fresh, clean water initiativesProject Watermelon has had an on the ground volunteer in Egypt for the past several months who has recently been joined by another volunteer to facilitate our Phase Two aid inside Egypt including:
* Arranging safe, comfortable, temporary housing along with clothing, groceries, and other critical living supplies
* Providing monthly cash aid to evacuated families surviving in Egypt
* Organizing and funding medical procedures for recent evacueesWe hope that you will consider making regular monthly donations to help us plan to continue these valuable projects. In order to understand what the highest needs are we work carefully with our volunteers in Egypt and aid partners in Gaza to make strategic decisions each week, ensuring every cent is maximized and carefully spent to create the largest impact possible.
Over the past few months we have been developing culturally humble mental health services with our co-founder, a Muslim-Canadian with a doctoral degree in behaviour science, Dr. Aliya, and a recently evacuated Palestinian Medical Doctor of Psychiatry. Developing this program will not only empower Project Watermelon to fund essential mental health supports for families–It empowers families to heal and cope with the devastating grief and loss experienced over the past ten months, and decades before. As we solidify our program, we’ll share more details with you.
Your support is needed now more than ever as many evacuated families in Egypt begin to run out of previous donations from self-run GoFundMe’s. When donating to Project Watermelon, you’re not just supporting the basic needs of families, you’re supporting their right to life and self-determination. Please consider making a donation today to continue providing Palestinian families everything they need to survive and fight for their liberation.
Your continued support and devotion to the people of Palestine is treasured by us all.
Shukron elkom,
The Project Watermelon team
On the same day, I also received a thank you note from campaign organizer, Sarah Potter:
First of all, thank you for every single one of your donations over the past seven months. Your generous donations facilitate critical aid and advocacy work that Project Watermelon cannot do without your support.
Before the border closed in early May, we helped several families “top off” their evacuation funds to facilitate their eventual evacuation into Egypt. We also directly supported the evacuation of over 20 Palestinians in partnership with Safebow and The Lemon Tree Collective.
We have been working with smaller, Palestinian-run initiatives inside of Gaza.
Those initiatives have included:
* Food parcel delivery inside in the South, Middle and North of Gaza
* Delivering medications and speciality medical supplies
* Pre and Post natal supplies including: formula, female sanitary products, baby diapers of all sizes, and protective mesh tents for newborns
* Several hot food kitchens and meal programs across the strip
* Fresh, clean water initiatives
Project Watermelon has had an on the ground volunteer in Egypt for the past several months facilitating our Phase Two aid inside Egypt including:
* Arranging safe, comfortable, temporary housing along with clothing, groceries, and other critical living supplies
* Providing monthly cash aid to evacuated families surviving in Egypt
* Organizing and funding medical procedures for recent evacuees
Please consider making regular monthly donations to help us plan to continue these valuable projects. In order to understand what the highest needs are we work carefully with our volunteers in Egypt and aid partners in Gaza to make strategic decisions each week, ensuring every cent is maximized and carefully spent to create the largest impact possible.
Here’s our latest Instagram video update for more details: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-dWdVPy4i-/?igsh=MXQydmNmNXpwaXFweg==
As of this post, this campaign is 75% towards its goal. So if you want to help these families in Gaza, then feel free to donate and/or share.
Other Campaigns to Support:
- Evacuate Fares and his family from Gaza – Progress of Fundraising: 60%
- SAY NO TO GENOCIDE!!! HELP MUHAMMAD SAVE HIS FAMILY!!! – Progress of Fundraising: 65%
- Rebuild livesُ: Help Me to Rescue My Family – Progress of Fundraising: 85%
- Urgent: Support Mohamad Samra Family’s Evacuation – Progress of Fundraising: 90%
- Help Seraj, Farah and their family get treatment abroad – Progress of Fundraising: 85%
- Rekindling Hope: A Fundraising Call – Progress of Fundraising: 97%
- Fund Amani and her family safe passage out of Gaza – Progress of Fundraising: 40%
- Help 25 year old Ayman continue his education and survival – Progress of Fundraising: 80% (Goal amount changed from $60,000 to $100,000)
- Beloved friends,family,and kind-hearted supporte – Progress of Fundraising: 30%
- Help save Hasan family’s life – Progress of Fundraising: 29%
- Help Sarah escape from war-torn Gaza – Progress of Fundraising: 53%
- Ongoing:
The post Support Project Watermelon Families (Update) first appeared on Hydrangea Travels.