How do we navigate the tension between our values and the realities of operating during a genocide?

We do as much as we can to stay true to our values but it’s important to note that it’s not always possible when operating in a genocide. However, we strive to be open and reflective so we can continue to learn and hold ourselves accountable to our values.

We center Palestinians in Gaza and their liberation: we try to make this clear in our communications and make sure we only align with allies who share the same goal of liberation. We leverage our strong networks and staff of 150+ within Gaza to make sure we are always led by the needs of those we serve. Our aid is never a tick-box exercise. We ask our communities what they need and we do our best to respond. We also provide surveys in camps to collect feedback.

We promote resilience, dignity and agency: we’re conscious in our aid distributions and try to ensure they’re done in the most dignified ways possible – e.g. going to each tent and providing the package instead of lines, hiring extra workers during food distributions in the famine to prioritize safety, ensuring there are no conditions attached to our aid. We also try to ensure high-quality food and materials where possible. E.g. the food prepared in our kitchen is nutritious and flavorful. We also run initiatives to help foster the culture, joy and resilience in communities – strengthening the Palestinian identity is in itself resistance.

We offer only unconditional aid: we use assessments to determine which communities are in need and then we serve the whole community. We refuse to exacerbate inequalities and tensions by being selective and creating barriers to access.

We’re agile: The Sameer Project started out as providing tents and shelter but as the genocide evolved, we expanded to redistributing food, water and medical aid. We’re able to pivot quickly because of our strong networks and committed team.

We hold ourselves to a high level of accountability: our long-term supporters will know that we’re diligent about sharing updates of our work and how we spend donations. Our story has been captured in detail through our Chuffed updates and our social media. We also work closely with our fundraising partners, Chuffed, and our fiscal host, The Social Change Nest, to ensure checks and balances are in place.