Message from Donna — Project Founder

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

Dear Donors and Community Partners,

Mass displacement is underway in Gaza City. Some 500,000 people have moved to the center area where our team reports there is no space at all— and no infrastructure. No tents, no food, no extra water.

A painful message from one of our teachers in Gaza: “We were forced to close all of our Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs), which had been serving more than 400 children. Most of these children are now displaced to the south with their families.”

She described how relentless airstrikes continue without pause, with two or three homes on her street warned 10 minutes before being bombed. She told me she never imagined that her neighborhood would lose so many families and homes all at once. Fearing that her own family might be next, she packed their most essential belongings and sent them to the south, prepared to flee at any moment as the Israeli army advances toward southern Gaza City.

In her words, this time feels different—harder, more frightening than ever before. Yet despite everything, she ended her letter with an apology, assuring me that she remains ready to help however she can. Her resilience, even in the face of terror, reflects the unshakable spirit of our teachers and their unwavering commitment to their students and community.

I share her words with you because Gaza must be seen through the eyes of those who endure its reality each day. Our children, teachers, and families need us not to look away.

Sincerely,

Donna Baranski-Walker
Founder and Exec. Director, Rebuilding Alliance