Together We Can Do So Much

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~Helen Keller

How ya doing out there, in quarantine, in so much crazy, in a pandemic?

Me? Most days I think I got this and have adjusted appropriately. Some days I descend into my own personal hell. And a lot of days, I am just so overwhelmed with sadness. 

The sadness of so much life lost, of so much misinformation, and of so much loss. So much loss. I think of Palestinian refugees and I worry. I worry about them eating and about if or when they will receive adequate care. I worry if they will survive this. I think a lot of being stuck in Denver and how I wish with all my being I was back in Beirut. I think about whether I will be back there at some point, sitting barefoot on the floor of a refugee’s home experiencing their world-famous hospitality. If I will have the chance, once again, to listen, see, and feel with all my senses what life is like for them. 

But mostly, I think about what I can do now, even in sadness, even when I feel paralyzed, even when I feel inadequate, and when I feel like I have no resources. 

“So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain.” ~Helen Keller

As a child, I was obsessed with Helen Keller, it may have been after I saw The Miracle Worker. I read books by her and about her. Her words have haunted or motivated me by being in my subconscious all these years. Main themes; we can do so much TOGETHER and my life matters most when I lift another’s burden. 

My life has meaning and purpose when I use my energies for others and not just myself, when I step outside of my own needs. 

One life I can make a difference in is Hiba’s. I’ve thought long and hard about the best use of resources in Jordan right now. I’ve had conversations with the founder of Hopes For Women on what the needs are and I feel this would be the best possible use of resources. 

Hiba is a Palestinian refugee. She was born in Gaza Palestinian refugee camp in Jerash, Jordan. She has spent her whole life there. Several years ago, she received a scholarship from Hopes For Women for college. She graduated with a degree in Computer Science. Over the past few years, she has been managing a program at Hope For Women’s Center called Banaat Connect – a culture and language exchange between women in America and women in the camp. 

She also is jack of all trades at Hopes For Women Center in Gaza Camp. I have watched her grow in her skills and her confidence over the years. This has been a privilege for me to be involved in her life. She is someone I deeply respect, trust, and believe in. 

Hopes’ founder is raising funds for her salary for the next two years. I immediately said I was fully committed to help. Why? Because I know the impact. This isn’t just about employing Hiba, this is about impacting her community. What I know is that any opportunity given to Hiba, she will use it for others. I know her motivation is to give back as she has been given to. 

This is who I want to lead their community during a pandemic. This is a trusted leader. This is a return investment. That’s how strongly I believe in her, to raise money in a pandemic for her salary. This is something I can do, that we can do together. 

Here is her story in her own words. Join us. Give. Share. Help.

We can make a difference in someone’s life and that can make an impact half-way around the world. 

Believe that together we can do so much. 

Hope that we can be together again. 

Go to www.beirutandbeyond.org and GIVE a tax-deductible donation. In the memo put HOPE and we will allocate the money for her salary.