Meet Aya Fouad: Designer and Survivor

Authors note: I first met Aya through LinkedIn while searching for a talented Gazan graphic designer for a personal project. The ceasefire had just been announced, and Palestinians were emerging from the sheer struggle to survive. When I reached out, she told me she’d love to take on the project—but only after she could return north to see if her laptop had made it through the bombings. Her dedication to her craft, even in the midst of unimaginable loss, moved me deeply.

“My life before the war was pretty great,” Aya told me, reflecting on the days before October 7th. “I had just graduated with a diploma in Multimedia Technology, achieving a GPA of 90%. I landed my first job as a remote designer and was finally earning my own money. Two days before the war started, I received my first salary. It felt like the beginning of something beautiful, like I was stepping into the life I had always dreamed of.”

Aya’s passion for design shines through her words. “I loved my work. It wasn’t just a job—it was my way of creating something meaningful, something that felt entirely mine. I would wake up, make my coffee, and lose myself in my designs. It was my escape.”

But when the genocide began, everything changed.

Aya’s family has always been her foundation. With three married sisters, two married brothers, and a host of nieces and nephews, their home was a hub of laughter and love. “We used to gather together, all of us, and the house would be so loud and full of life,” she recalls. “But the war separated us. My older sister and her family fled to Egypt, and my brother went to Amman. We were displaced to southern Gaza, while my other sister stayed in the north. For months, we didn’t know if she was alive.”

Despite the distance, Aya’s love for her family remains unwavering. “I miss them every day,” she writes. “I miss the chaos, the laughter, the warmth. I miss my old house, the one I grew up in. It’s gone now, destroyed by the occupation. But even though we’re apart, we’re still connected. We’re still a family.”

For months, Aya and her family lived in a tent—a small, cramped space measuring just 3x4 meters. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced,” she admits. “We had no water, no gas. Every morning, I would run with a bucket, searching for water. In the evening, I would gather firewood to cook our food. It was exhausting, but I did what I had to do to keep going.”

Even when she fell ill with hepatitis and spent two weeks bedridden, Aya’s spirit remained unbroken. “I felt weak, but I never stopped thinking about what I would do when I got better. I knew I had to keep fighting—for myself, for my family, for my dreams.”

After the ceasefire, Aya and her family returned to the north of Gaza. Their new home—the one they had moved into just two weeks before the war—was damaged but still standing. “It’s not perfect,” she writes, “but it’s ours. We have a roof over our heads, and that’s something to be grateful for.”

The challenges are far from over. Water is scarce, and the internet—essential for her work as a designer—is unreliable. “I lost my laptop during the displacement,” she says. “It’s been hard to work without it. But I’m determined to find a way. Design is my passion, and I won’t let it go.”

Aya’s dreams are as vibrant as ever. She longs for a laptop to return to her work, for skin treatments to heal the damage caused by months in the sun, and for the chance to continue her education. “I want to earn my bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Technology,” she says. “I want to keep learning, keep growing. I want to see Gaza beautiful again, and I want to be part of rebuilding it.”

Her resilience is nothing short of inspiring. “I’ve survived so many wars,” she writes. “I’ve seen so much destruction, so much pain. But I’m still here. And as long as I’m here, I’ll keep fighting for my dreams. I’ll keep creating. I’ll keep hoping.”

Aya’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. She is asking for a chance to rebuild her life and continue pursuing her dreams. “I don’t want to depend on anyone,” she says. “I want to stand on my own feet, to earn my own money, to create something beautiful. With your support, I know I can do it.”

To contribute to Aya’s campaign visit <https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-aya-rebuild-her-educational-life?modal=share&source=fundraiser+sidebar>

Authors note: Aya and I connected instantly — she reminded me so much of myself, and of so many young women our age. She’s ambitious, witty, and confident, radiating a spirit that is as vibrant as it is inspiring. Even amid the darkness in Gaza, her positivity shines through. I truly hope she’s given the chance to chase her dreams and live the life she so deeply deserves — just like any of us.

Until Palestine is Free,

Hammam Farah,

Director

Elham Fund