Advocate Like a Mother: Interview with Lourdes, Mama and Volunteer Raising Awareness & Support for Palestinian Families
Photo Credit: Al Jazeera
One of our core values at When Motherhood Looks Different, LLC is advocating not just for our kids, but all kids, particularly those who are neurodivergent and living with other disabilities. We do not believe in “other people’s children,” we see all children as our children - community, love, empathy and inclusion matter, not the individualism that is upheld in much of Western culture. We belong to each other.
For months now, children in Palestine along with those in Congo, Sudan and Tigray have lived with unimaginable violence. According to the Slow Factory and Humanti Project in the first 10 days of August, Israel has bombed nine schools, and the UNICEF has called Gaza “the most dangerous place to be a child. Even in the midst of this heartbreak, we can help where we are.
I caught up with Lourdes (@pajarito_reyna), a fellow Mama and volunteer who amplifies the stories of families raising funds to evacuate Gaza and get out to safety. Join us in advocating like a mother by reading about these families circumstances (donating if able) and sharing their stories to raise awareness and reach others who are able to contribute. As one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Bishop Desmond Tutu once said: All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.”
We believe in advocating like a mother not just for our kids, but all kids. How did you come to this work of advocating for Palestinian families and children? Have you always taken part in human rights / social justice activism?
I felt like I had to do something. I would see on social media that we needed to amplify by sharing the news that was coming out of Gaza. I wanted to help amplify the news. Then, sometime later, I started sharing on my stories the families IG page’s that were asking for donations. I still felt like I was not doing enough, so then I decided to Volunteer on my own, to highlight a family’s story. I asked permission to the first family and got the OK.
I always felt hurt when I saw suffering and felt empathy and I continue to. I would never want this feeling to go away. To feel empathy and have an action behind it. It is important to have empathy and to help each other whenever we are able to.
Your IG page, @pajarito_reyna, says you focus on families you’ve been in touch with for the last 3 months. This is quite a commitment! Thank you for all you are doing to raise awareness and help.
Can you highlight some families we can support now - either by contributing financially or helping to raise awareness through sharing their stories? Are you part of a volunteer network?
The families I would like to highlight (which are vetted) can be found in my LinkTree, or at the individual families Instagram pages and GoFund Me links in their bios:
My new friend Nesma (@nesmah_s), and her family recently lost their Grandfather (May he Rest in Peace) had 3 amputations during this genocide. Nesma’s little brother Yousef has developmental delays, has speech problems. Doctors have told the family he does not have autism (this information was written by Nesma in a post from her IG page, in response to a volunteer’s question). Little Yousef needs treatment out of Gaza and would evacuate with his mother with GFM funds. And funds after their evacuation would be for the rest of the family and surgery for their father. He is not able to carry heavy things or walk for a long distance.
Parents, Mohammed and Reem have gone through a parent’s worst nightmare. Their 3Y daughter, Little Iman was martyred (May she rest in peace) last November. They miss her dearly. They also have another daughter, Little Habiba who is 1yr. She has been ill off and on, with diarrhea and dehydration. The family's current dream is to live in safety and peace with their daughter Little Habiba. The family needs funds for food, water, basic necessities, diapers and evacuation. Both parents have their Gofundme link in their bio.
Mohammed IG -> @k.abo_hade
Reem IG -> @rim_akram98
Paypal -> @savebabiesofgaza LinkTree, Habiba
Dr. Mohammed Alqedra works in the Emergency Department at Nasser Hospital. Doctors are our heroes and have experienced the unimaginable. He needs $1,450 to obtain university certificates from Sinnar University Republic of Sudan. He lost certificates when the house was destroyed. Dr. Alqedra also needs funds for food, health supplies and evacuation.
IG -> @mohammed_qadra, and you can support through his GoFundMe.
Mustafa Elbanna’s family consists of his wife, 4 children (including baby boy, Little Taha) and Mustafa’s parents. Currently Little Taha has dermatitis, “from the extreme heat and the spread of infectious skin diseases,” said Mustafa from a direct message. Mustafa also noted, “they need to survive.”Funds will be used to for food, milk, diapers, medicine, and other necessities. Mustafa had already paid for visas and then border closed.
IG -> @mustafa_banna2008, and you can support through his GoFundMe.
Are you part of a volunteer network?
I am not part of a collective. I volunteer when I'm able to support the families that I've been focused on for almost four months. Plus, I support fellow volunteers, from around the world who are also trying to amplify their families fundraisers by interacting with their family reels/posts.
In your opinion, why is the genocide unfolding in Palestine a disability rights issue?
People and children who were already disabled no longer have access to the supports they need. For example, if they have a wheelchair, now they have difficulty wheeling themselves through roads andpaths because of the destruction. Another example is not having a battery for hearing aid and not being able to hear bombings. Adults and children are being disabled due to the weapons being used in Gaza.
I read on @codepinkalert, “Gaza has the most child amputees in history.” During this genocide, all the events unfolding make it difficult to care for an adult or a child with a disability. Everyone should be able to get the supports they need like healthcare (health facilities besieged, medical professionals targeted), medicine, food, water, fidgets, headphones, etc. Clean water should always be accessible. Medical evacuations should not be blocked or limited.
I would like to add, please follow a fellow Volunteer on Instagram who amplifies families who have disabilities. Her name is @opalseyez. She is focused on 8 vetted families.
What do you say to the mom who is overwhelmed, and feels that whatever she can do is not enough?
I feel this question because this is where I am at. I do feel like I’m not doing enough and that I still have so much to learn. I think it’s good to have someone to lean on, someone who can genuinely hear what you have to say and feel. I try to volunteer when I can, between taking care of my kids and returning to support families and fellow volunteers.
What keeps you going?
Seeing families how they are suffering every day and how they need so much help from all of us. Every branch that touches a community whether it be education, business, healthcare, journalism, disabled community, right to self-determination, the environment, safety-human rights, animal rights, food and water has been affected in this genocide. While I write this there may be tragedy unfolding. There should be a permanent immediate ceasefire, families are TIRED, they have suffered immensely.
Photo via UnSplash
