Aya Shaqalean

Aya Shaqalean is a 23-year-old artist who was studying nursing at the Islamic University in Gaza, with only one year left to finish her degree. However, the genocide delayed that process.

“I’ve always believed in healing and helping, and I’ve also found comfort in creating art. Since the war began, I’ve used my artwork to tell our story and the stories of my people not with anger, but with truth and love.

Jamal, my husband, is a talented graphic designer. He was studying at the University College while also working professionally in the field. He spent four years building his skills and working at a company that gave him a sense of independence and pride. But when the war started, that company was bombed and destroyed and with it, the stability we had been building disappeared in a flash.

Then came the unthinkable. Our home our only shelter, our only safety, was destroyed. We barely escaped with our lives. Since then, we have been displaced, living in a school alongside hundreds of other families. The conditions are heartbreaking. There is no privacy. No electricity. No proper sanitation. Food is scarce and extremely expensive. Even water and basic hygiene have become a luxury. And yet, we are still holding on to our faith and our dreams. “

Aya married Jamal during the genocide and is now pregnant with their child.

They are hoping to evacuate and rebuild their lives abroad, with a chance to continue their education and careers “without fear of bombs, hunger, and displacement.”