Micros (and Raffle) for Madleen
Raising funds for a mother of 4, in Gaza.
Together let’s help Madleen, a mother of 4 (under age 5) trapped in Gaza.
Read on to hear more about this incredible woman,
my why, and how to partake if you wish.
A Raffle for $500 credit
For every $25 donation, you get an entry to win $500 from my photo company. You can use it for a session, or if you’re already a client you can use it for a print purchase, or if you don’t live in Victoria area you can gift it to anyone or save it for the future. It will not expire as long as I am a business. You can also opt to gift your win to a local mom who cannot afford one. (If you are a local mom who cannot afford a session please tick that box when you enter the raffle. If you cannot enter the raffle due to the $25 amount, you can email me).
Micro Sessions for Madleen
If you live in Victoria or can get here, I will offer micro (10 minute) sessions among the kwetlal (purple camas). I am offering Monday May 20th (stat holiday!) in Esquimalt - if it sells out I will add another date for June. This is a sliding scale (choose price at check out) and 100% of your payment will go to Madleen.
10 minutes, 3 edited images (you choose from 10-15), High Rock (Cairnes) Park.
Some Backstory
Before covid, before really nose-diving in weddings, portraits, and other local work, I was a travel photographer. I did lots of different work but I spent many, many years working with NGOs in dozens of countries.
I have seen a lot. I have seen things that will stay with me the rest of my life. They altered me at my core but to some degree or another I could cope because that was before children. Since having two kids of my own, my heart became precariously tender towards any issues involving children. It’s good to have a tender heart, it’s good to stay soft towards the world and not apathetic - but it hurts. It is an ache that keeps me awake at night, and a heavy pit when I wake that I carry with me all day long. Many of us feel this. We read a headline or see a photo and crumble into our own children to cope. We can’t fathom. We weep into our children’s hair. We feel helpless. It hurts to think about it. If you feel the same, then you know what I am talking about.
My friend Madleen doesn’t have the privilege to not think about it. She is in Gaza. In a tent. With four children under the age of 5. The youngest was born in October just after everything began to unfold. She birthed her daughter with a doula from Victoria via Zoom, while she could hear bombs falling in the (not far) distance. Last week she was in Rafah but they were ordered to leave due to immenant attacks. She packed up what little they have and their 4 children and crossed the tiny region back to Gaza City.
In the years before October 7th, Madleen was arguably Palestine’s first and only fisher-woman. In a culture and state where it was exclusively fishermen, but faced with a choice after her father (who taught her to fish) passed away, Madleen has fought adversity to achieve amazing things. If you search her name you will find articles from the last ten years about her, including this recent one.
Now, since October 7th, they are in survival mode, especially after welcoming their 4th child during this war. Her updates are heartbreaking. The children are scared, hungry, and sick. I won’t elaborate because I know first hand how hard it is to read as a parent. My friends, it’s very bad.
(more below)
In her most recent update, they had to flee Rafah (where they had fled to just months ago). What they found back in Gaza city (where they were ordered to go) was a lack of food, hygiene, and water. They are sleeping a tent, and foresaking buying food in the name of fresh water. The infant needs diapers and formula, the children need bread and water, they all need blankets and shoes and other supplies.
Can I share the most amazing thing about Madleen? She shares all her donations. We have images of her handing out supplies to those less fortunate than herself. She cares for her family, takes the rest and barters. She buys diapers, food, shoes, formula and more for the families around her who are struggling - orphans, the very sick, the very old, those with even younger babies, and more. It’s incredible she could look around her and still think of others given everything they have endured. She bags it up with a sign that saying “In solidarity from Canadian friends” and even dates the images so people believe she is sharing the donations. It’s downright amazing. By helping Madleen you also help the people around her.
Two things I have to offer to raise funds for Madleen are a raffle for a credit with my business, and micro mini sessions if local to Victoria B.C. If you’re not local, you can still enter the raffle and gift the prize (to someone you know here or to a family in need) if you win it - or you can donate directly to Madleen here. It’s secure by Paypal and she gets the funds instantly and yes she can access easily.
Raffle
Raffle
Each $25 Raffle “Purchase” is one entry. Enter as much as you like knowing that Madleen uses her donations not only for her family to help others. Note the Canadian flags on the bags!
Micro Minis
Micro Minis
I’ll open up 8 spots for Minis on Monday May 20th in the morning. If you want to donate more than the cost of the micro mini session, just enter the raffle!