Mohawk and South Asian Women Partner to Fundraise for Gaza
Proceeds from the auction support The Sameer Project, which provides aid to displaced families in Gaza, and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Aicha Smith-Belghaba’s Personal Journey
Aicha Smith-Belghaba, who is Mohawk and Algerian and lives in Six Nations of the Grand River, is grieving as her grandmother enters palliative care. Despite her heartbreak, she feels grateful and focused on supporting her family while organizing an auction for Gaza.
“That’s a privilege people in Gaza often don’t have. Too many can’t hold funerals, can’t bury loved ones in peace. I keep thinking, ‘even in our pain here, we still have each other.’”
Collaboration with Brantford4Palestine
Smith-Belghaba connected with Natasha Kurd, organizer of Brantford4Palestine, earlier this year. They quickly joined forces to create a fundraiser benefiting people in Gaza.
Smith-Belghaba said, “This is simply the moment my capacity, our relationships, and the need [in Gaza] lined up.”
Auction Details and Context
- The auction began on Friday and runs through the weekend, featuring different items daily.
- In early October, Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire allowing aid trucks into Gaza after famine conditions were reported by the UN.
- Despite the ceasefire, agencies report that very little aid is actually reaching Gaza.
Author’s summary: Mohawk and South Asian women in Ontario collaborate to raise funds for Gaza amid ongoing humanitarian challenges and limited aid access.