Urgent Aid for Palestinian Students in the U.S.
Go Fund Me Organizers: Dr. Melissa Saul, Dr. Michael Hayes, Mea Moore, Malea Saul
Earlier this month, our friends Dr. Melissa Saul, Malea Saul, Mea Moore, and Dr. Michael Hayes organized a GoFundMe to support Palestinian international students in the U.S. who are being impacted by the unfolding crisis. In the past, Mea, who has served on RCF’s Board of Directors, joined Michael and Melissa in a delegation to occupied Palestine, and all three have been connected with and supported RCF for the past 15 years.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank has left many Palestinian students without financial support from their families, and with it the financial means to continue their studies or pay for food, housing, and other basic necessities. These students, many of whom are grappling with the profound loss of their loved ones, communities, and homes, cannot pause their academic careers without risking their visas, and subsequently, deportation. We are grateful for our colleagues’ work on this important issue, and we hope you can take a moment to read their GoFundMe page.
If you or someone you know would like to get involved, please reach out to the Rachel Corrie Foundation by email at [email protected] or by phone at (360) 754-3998. More information about the organizers can be found below.
About the Organizers:
In 2008, after receiving a federal grant from Fulbright-Hays. Dr. Saul and Dr. Hayes spearheaded a month-long delegation to occupied Palestine and Israel. During this period, their team of professionals and students worked closely with Palestinian and Israeli social justice educators to develop an educational curriculum.
In 2010, Dr. Hayes facilitated a study abroad experience to the West Bank where students helped the local community build a school for Palestinian youth living in the Jordan Valley. The following year, Dr. Hayes worked with Amnesty International and the U.S. State Department to help a Palestinian student navigate travel restrictions preventing the student from leaving Gaza. Hayes continued to mentor this student, who now holds a graduate degree and advocates for Palestinian human rights here in the U.S.
Mea Moore, M.A., is a former Board Member for the Rachel Corrie Foundation (RCF). As a delegate on the Palestine/Israel Fulbright-Hays project, Ms. Moore was instrumental in developing educational engagement activities focusing on justice for Palestine. In her 25-year career as an Educational Administrator, Director of Migrant and Bilingual Education, and interim College Dean, she has been a dedicated advocate for equity and social justice in education.
Malea Saul, M.S., has worked in the intersections of environmental conservation, education, and social justice for the past six years, with a primary focus on grant and funding development for nonprofits and community-based organizations.
Dr. Saul, Dr. Hayes and Ms. Moore have been connected with and have supported RCF for over 15 years.
