MONROE — A new GoFundMe account has been set up for Anastasia Yacoub and her family, Palestinian refugees that are currently staying with family in nearby Jordan. Anastasia was a sophomore last year at Monroe High School through a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) scholarship. She was the first student to come to Monroe from Palestine.

“The Israelis have stopped paying my dad’s salary and there’s no branch of the Bank of Palestine outside so we can’t even take out any money,” Anastasia told the Times Dec. 20.

Her family’s Gaza City home was first hit by an Israeli rocket back in May 2023, and then destroyed again while being rebuilt in the first days of the latest Hamas-Israel War in October.

“Our beloved house in Gaza, where most of my childhood was spent, was tragically destroyed in a bombing. Thankfully, my parents and younger brother survived,” Anastasia wrote on the GoFundMe page, http://tinyurl.com/2hdszy3y. 

The family spent two months dodging rocket and gunfire before being allowed to enter Egypt en route to Jordan in order to shelter with extended family.

“We had to go through several evacuations since even our temporary shelters were being targeted. We lost everything including our three beloved pets,” Anastasia said.

While she and her family were fortunate enough to escape the war zone, some of her close friends in Gaza City haven’t been so lucky.

“Probably about five or less of my friends made it out of Gaza, but I’ve also lost some due to the bombing and lost contact with others but hopefully they get to leave soon,” she told the Times on Dec. 24. 

The Yacoubs are currently living off of the small amount of money they were able to take from their house before leaving.

“Due to the conflict in Gaza, the monthly salary flow have been sabotaged as all operations in Gaza have been stopped. Our little savings are not accessible from outside of Palestine because the Bank of Palestine is a Palestinian institution that only conducts business there and no branches are available outside of the Palestinian territory,” Anastasia said. 

Not only is her family in need of funds to pay for food, clothes and other necessities, but Anastasia is still hoping to be able to continue her education as soon as possible. When fighting broke out, the Palestinian education system closed schools indefinitely. Currently the equivalent of a high school junior in America, she doesn’t want to wait an extra year to earn a diploma. 

She has sought various options, including traveling back to America or going to school in Jordan. Due to Wisconsin transfer rules, she would not be able to return to Monroe this school year.

“For the visa, the only one that works is F1 but it requires a designation that is not available in Wisconsin district,” Anastasia said, “but we’ve been looking for schools.”

Anastasia was on the Honor Roll all three trimesters at Monroe High School. In the Fall 2022 trimester, she earned Distinguished honors with a 4.0 GPA, then earned High Honors (3.75-3.99 GPA) during the winter and spring trimesters. She also was a member of the volleyball, basketball and soccer programs.

In her GoFundMe story, Anastasia wrote: “A significant challenge I’m dealing with is the need to find a school in Jordan that offers American Diplomas, which is very expensive. It’s crucial for me not to miss out on my educational opportunities, so your help, big or small, or even just sharing our story, it would add a lot towards restoring our lives. Thank you so much for your kindness.”