Amaya Rahman, a 10-year-old student in the UK, raised eight thousand pounds (€9,370) for the children of Gaza during a fundraiser at her local school.
Amaya attends “St Bartholomews CE” Primary School in the capital city of London.
The girl and her father Weybudur Rahman spoke to Anadolu Agency about the aid operation launched last November for children displaced from their homes in Gaza.
Amaya said that she was very sad and angry about what was happening in Gaza, but she wanted to turn that feeling into a good deed.
“The day I decided to start the action was the day I got fed up with everything. Then I sat down and thought to myself what I could do, and then I went and talked to the school principal,” said Amaya.
She especially thanked the school director for his enormous support.
“Actually, the school principal helped me organize this because without his help I wouldn’t even be here today,” Amaya said.
As she stated, her initial goal was to raise six thousand pounds.
“Last November, we spent the coldest night in the schoolyard to collect money for the children in Gaza and we managed to collect a little more than eight thousand pounds,” said the student.
She pointed out that she also spoke with representatives of the international non-governmental organization based in Great Britain “Save The Children”.
“They said that the money we raised is enough to provide a safe space for the children in Gaza. All the money will be transferred to the children in Gaza,” Amaya explained.
– Support from many friends –
Amaya told how many friends supported her, but also that some were pessimistic about her idea.
“Some came up to me and asked, ‘Whose side are you on?'” Amaya said, adding:
“Some people were rude to me about it but the best we could do was ignore them and a lot of my friends were very supportive.”
She emphasized that the action continues and that her goal is to organize more humanitarian events.
“I hope that I will organize more humanitarian actions and that this will become an annual event at my school and that children in Palestine will no longer live in war,” said Amaya.
– Message from Amaya –
She added that she wants to inspire other children who want to support their peers from Gaza.
“Just listen to your heart. If someone tells you not to do it, but you feel you can, then do it. If someone tells you ‘no,’ that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It means there’s another way to do it. you do,” said ten-year-old Amaya.
– His daughter’s determination –
Her father, Weybudur Rahman, said his daughter’s insistence and determination impressed the school principal and played an important role in initiating the drive to collect the donation.
He pointed out that a total of eight families in the school yard spent the night in sleeping bags despite the cold of two degrees below zero.
He then revealed the reasons why his daughter initiated the action.
“I think this is just a question of injustice, because obviously when something happens in Ukraine, people collected money for Ukraine, and why are people not talking about Palestine now? Why isn’t something being done for Palestine as well,” asked Weybudur Rahman.
He emphasized that he is most fascinated by Amaya’s energy and enthusiasm to do good deeds and help others, adding that as a father he is proud of that.
Photo: AA
