In Gaza, as screeching bombs tore the region, our grantee partner The Cultural and Free Thought Association (CFTA) office was reduced to rubble. Amidst the debris, the CFTA team mourned the destruction of their space and comforted colleagues who’d lost loved ones in the strike. At this devastating moment, another blow came: key donors had cut their funding, threatening to halt CFTA’s vital services for women, children, and marginalized communities. It would have been easy to lose hope, but the team knew that giving up wasn’t an option; CFTA was founded over three decades ago by five Palestinian women activists to create a safe, nurturing environment for children—and that mission would persist. With extraordinary courage and resilience, the team rallied, establishing camps to shelter 600 displaced families who had nowhere else to turn. These families needed more than just a roof over their heads—they needed hope for the future. CFTA ensured that educational activities continued for ...