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Spirit
Stories about people overcoming impossible circumstances and obstacles.
Those who go the distance and keep a positive outlook when they have every reason not to.
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Ibrahim’s Sacrifice for His Family
Ibrahim, 22 Palestine
Many times, we have to make tough decisions for those we love. The people of Palestine have been sacrificing for years. We want to bring you the story of Ibrahim, who had to make tough decisions from a young age.
Ibrahim lives with his two sisters and mother in Palestine. From the very beginning, he watched his father trying hard to make ends meet. His father had struggled many years through school to become a qualified accountant. But the lack of employment opportunities meant he could only find work as a taxi driver.
Steady employment remains an issue across the West Bank and Gaza, where recently the unemployment rates were respectively 15% and 43%. These conditions make it hard for the people of Palestine to find steady sources of income. The situation is even worse for students and fresh graduates.
So Ibrahim only knew a life of struggle from the very beginning. He watched his father do anything possible to provide for his family. When his father passed away from a heart attack, Ibrahim knew he had to step up. He was just 9 years old.
Much too young, Ibrahim became the head of the household. With incredible strength of spirit, he sacrificed his educational priorities to fulfill the healthcare needs of his mother, who suffers from heart problems. When he should have been going to school just like any other 4th grader, he started working long hours at a gas station. He wanted his sister to continue her studies and become a doctor. He was determined to give her the opportunities he never had.
would never get better, support came at the right time. At the age of 22, Ibrahim is now able to afford his own education as well as his sisters’. At the same time his mother’s health care needs are taken care of and cannot be more grateful. His hard work and sacrifice has helped his family step out of the cycle of poverty.
