heart of Rafah... the story of man making change
heart of Rafah... the story of man making change
In a small besieged city located at the southernmost tip of the Gaza Strip, where life is measured by barriers and forced departures, its sky breathes smoke, not clouds, I am Wael Ziad Qeshta, living in the city of Rafah; situated in the southern Gaza Strip, the southernmost part of Palestine.
Life in the strip is surrounded by obstacles and challenges, and I am still a young man who believes that change begins in the heart of a person; illuminated neither by cameras nor followed by agencies nor fame, but I work to brighten the lives of hundreds in secrecy, carrying the burden of an entire community on my shoulders.
Despite the circumstances... I was a light for many marginalized people
in the city of Rafah, which has been exhausted by wars and is deprived of lights. I was born and raised, like many of my generation who are born in 2000, in a reality besieged by unemployment, poverty, and an unknown future.
But I worked so that I would not be like others, but rather to choose to stand; to stand against frustration, against darkness, against restraint, against the conditions that have prevailed for decades and intensified with the Gaza War of 2023.
My journey in work and study
My name is Wael Ziad Qishta, a 25-year-old Palestinian young man.
I studied public relations at the College of Media at Al-Aqsa University - Gaza, and I am a Master's researcher in media and communication sciences at the same university.
Some describe me as: 'I was not an ordinary student,' and many say about me: 'Wael is a beacon of hope in a community exhausted by crises, and a source of inspiration for everyone who knows him.'
At a time when thousands of young people suffer from the war that has affected everyone, in the midst of a lack of horizons, I initially decided to fight despair with creativity and to confront reality with initiative and work; for the sake of social change.
I worked as a designer and editor, and I participated in organizing community campaigns to support the most marginalized groups, notably the 'Despite the Restraint' campaign Organized by the Ministry of Women's Affairs to support female prisoners in Israeli prisons, as well as various other campaigns to promote digital security, digital safety, community awareness, and new media.
📌 Why do we seek your support?
Wail does not work for fame or personal gain, but to make a real difference in the lives of others.
However, community initiatives require financial support to become impactful realities. With your support, Wail will be able to:
Conduct awareness workshops for youth on various diseases and health infection prevention.
Produce purposeful videos that highlight forgotten humanitarian issues in need of support.
Fund campaigns to support needy families and children deprived of basic rights.
Provide clean water and food and establish kitchens that support displacement camps.
🤝 Why are we here?
Because intention alone is not enough, and because passion alone cannot cover transportation fares, implement community initiatives, purchase essentials, or establish a project.
We ask for your support to enable Wael and his initiatives to continue supporting the needy.
🌱 Be part of the change with your donations
In a world tired of the news and closed to tragedies, there are those who have decided to open their eyes and speak out.
Support Wael, because you are not supporting a person, but rather an idea. You are supporting a dream that has not died. You are supporting a fighter for the lives of the needy in a different kind of resistance.
Contribute now and let this light continue to shine, even in the darkest of circumstances.
Gaza is not just a wound... but a hope, and Wael is one of the voices of this hope.
