Mutual Aid Cairo #3: June Updates and How Your Support Was Used

A look at where your contributions went, and how they helped Palestinian families in Cairo this past month.

First of all, thank you — to all the new faces who’ve subscribed recently, and to those of you who sent comments and DMs about my latest piece on the March to Gaza. It means a lot to hear from you. Writing that post took time, emotion, and care — and I hoped it would open space for all of us to reflect on who we center, and how we choose to show up for Palestine. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it here:

Yesterday, I came across an Instagram post about several Egyptians who’ve been imprisoned — exactly the kind of consequence many of us were worried about. And it made me pause. Who will cover their legal fees? Who will check in on their families? Who will visit them?

These are the quiet, often invisible costs when performance takes the place of strategy. When the spotlight drifts away from those who bear the heaviest weight. If we truly want to be part of this struggle — in a way that’s grounded and lasting — we have to be willing to sit with these questions, and to act from a place of care, not just conviction.

What We Did With the Funds You Helped Raise

Each month, I’ll be sharing a simple breakdown of how the funds are used to support Palestinian families in Cairo. This isn’t an exhaustive financial report, and it’s not meant to burden you with numbers—but rather to offer a clear, honest window into where your support goes. Because behind every amount is a name, a family, a story. I’m only sharing the money that I’ve personally fundraised for our families—others are also contributing in different ways to help us reach our collective goals.

This month, I was able to raise more than ever before—and I’m deeply grateful. Fundraising has become increasingly difficult, especially when the work isn’t tied to breaking news or emergency headlines. Mutual aid often looks the same month after month: quiet, steady, essential. It may not grab attention, but it keeps families housed, fed, and cared for—and that matters.

In June, a total of 20,602 NOK (after fees) was raised.

• 2,761 NOK was surplus from last month

• 1,560 NOK came through Substack and paid subscriptions

• 12,581 NOK came from fundraising

• 3,700 NOK from private donations

I’m really grateful for all of you who’ve chosen to become paid subscribers on Substack — even if it’s just a few of you for now. It’s meaningful to have this space where I can write and share what’s happening. That said, the fees are frustratingly high on Substack, but no matter what platform you use a portion always gets taken out. Still, your support has gone a long way. Thank you all so much, none of this would have been possible without your support.

The raised money has been spent mostly on food packages to 45 Palestinian families (16,000 NOK). We were late, but alhamdulillah, we made it in time and the food was delivered before the end of the month. The remaining 4,602 NOK was used to help cover urgent rent needs, and we’re just about finished covering rent for this month. Once that’s fully settled, we’ll begin again with food support for July.

All of the funds have been transferred, except for 1 198 NOK, which will be carried over to next month.

A Glimpse into Daily Realities and Ongoing Needs in Cairo

I realize I haven’t shared an update in a little while, so I want to catch you up on something beautiful that happened during Eid.