Giving Safely During A Genocide

The importance of working with people and organizations you trust when supporting Gazan families to exist and resist genocide.

A couple of weeks ago, a woman contacted the Elham Fund claiming to be Noor Harazeen, a well-know reporter from Gaza.

Noor Harazeen’s image, a well known one in the Gazan community, made her message welcome.

Her message read:

"Hello, Assalamualaykum. Thank you for sharing my post so the world can see the inhumane treatment we endure daily. Please continue sharing and supporting Palestine 🇵🇸."

We were elated to collaborate with her to advance our mission of funding a free Palestine in the legacy of the late, great, Elham Farah.

But two important things set off our alarm bells:

1. She was pushy. She quickly asked us to donate via her private GoFundMe page. She asked immediately for a screenshot to confirm. She messaged again within an hour, and repeated the request later, demanding confirmation that we had sent her money.

2. She ignored verifiable alternatives. We requested that she apply for a direct cash-transfer through the Elham Fund, and get connected to the services in the Elham Fund Whisper Network that support Gazans surviving genocide with telemedicine, tents, and food. She disregarded this request.

Noor Harazeen herself has a significant online presence — which made her an easy target for copycats seeking to exploit massacres for money.

Unfortunately, even in the most tragic situations, opportunism arises.

At the Elham Fund, we have had critical lifesaving medication en route to families trapped in the Holy Family Catholic Church stolen by bandits.

In fact, we regularly see merchants take a 20% fee to release cash from Bank of Palestine Accounts as banks have been destroyed by Israeli attacks.

Though scams are rare compared to genuine pleas for help, the sheer number of donation requests can be overwhelming.

Many areas of the Gaza strip are currently unreachable due to:

• Lack of infrastructure

• Ongoing violence

• Poor connectivity

• Siege

While big agencies focus on what’s scalable, the Elham Fund prioritizes reaching every individual in need.

Success in helping marginalized communities requires local knowledge, and the best people with this knowledge are those on the ground—everyday Gazans connected to these families, including pharmacists and physicians.

Gazan Families have the capability to save themselves; they just need the support of donors and advocates.

At the Elham Fund, we understand this dynamic well.

We believe that empowering Gazans to live with dignity is crucial.

Knowledgeable in direct cash transfers, the Elham Fund is designed to overcome hurdles and reach people through a network of dedicated individuals.

As a result of being related to, or connected to, so many families on the ground, the Elham Fund is able to provide much-needed aid, including money, chronic medication, access to consultations, medical information (telemedicine), and, in some cases, direct support to hard-to-reach areas.

At its core, Elham Fund is driven by the spirit of Elham herself—a caring individual deeply connected to her community.

Elham Farah established the first music program in Gaza, teaching students all over the strip and worldwide.

She touched the lives of everyone she met; she cared deeply about the community, was spirited, and the Fund is an extension of her impact.

We are dedicated to helping people who might otherwise be forgotten.

In the midst of genocide, Gazans need cash transfers — they intimately understand the needs of their families.

Founded by family and community members born in Gaza, we operate on a bedrock of solidarity and transparency.

Leveraging deep local knowledge and connections, our grassroots whisper network of families, pharmacists, physicians, and aid agencies in Canada, Cairo, Rafah, and Gaza are all united with one mission: to be a lifeline to Gaza and to fund a free Palestine.

By empowering local leaders like pharmacists and physicians, the Elham Fund is able to reach even the most remote areas, where credibility is vital in ensuring effective aid delivery.

Adaptability and local expertise play a crucial role in navigating and responding to the ever-changing dynamics within hard-to-reach communities in Gaza.

The Elham Fund's remarkable outreach in Gaza is fueled by the trust it inspires among local families.

With a pledge that 100% of donations directly aid Gaza families, providing essentials like money and medicine, the Fund ensures confidence in your impact.

Unlike GoFundMe, we provide transparency and direct communication with the families you support.

We only accept donations through two official links: our website (elhamfund.ca) and Chuffed.org.

Our verified social media accounts and YouTube channel further reassure donors that we are committed to making sure that every penny goes directly to families in need.

The Elham Fund's success is not just in its assistance but in the trust it has earned through unwavering dedication to the community.

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The Elham Fund is a Palestinian-led Canadian non-for-profit.

To date the Elham Fund has raised and distributed CAD $40,000 in direct cash transfers, delivered needed supplies inaccessible through other means, and provided lifesaving chronic medications.