Beneficiary: Ibrahim Diab
Fund Date: 10/2019
Age: 33 years old
Family members: 5
Ibrahim Diab’s life can be described with anything but ordinary.
The 29-years-old young man lives with his mother and father and his brother Michael, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. Michael is not the only handicapped in the family, Lena his aunt, who has a similar condition moved in with them after her parents (who used to take care of her) passed away.
From an early age, since 2008, Ebrahim worked in a company for elevators’ installment; the business which was affected dramatically due to the lack of electricity in the city.
During the years of war, the mortar shells and missiles were falling in Ibrahim’s neighborhood, many neighbors lost their houses and cars, some of them even lost their lives. With every explosion sound, they were frightened, Ibrahim didn’t have to worry only about himself, but also about Michael who can’t walk on his own. Whenever shells would fall, Ibrahim would carry his brother on his back and takes him somewhere safe (like the building entrance downstairs). It was exhausting for the young man to carry the burden of the whole family on his own…His father works in house cleaning, which doesn’t pay him a lot. Of course, having two disabled members in the family doubles the livelihood costs, thankfully the church helps them with the medicines and other supplies needed for them.
Ibrahim tries his best to support his family, when the business was having a hard time, his job was not constant nor his salary, he had to find another job besides the elevator installment job, hence for two years he worked in the JRS kitchen (2016-2018), but eventually he needs a better future plan. But because his brother heavily depends on him, he needs a flexible schedule to be able to be around in times of need. The flexible schedule also makes it possible to keep his on-call job in the elevator installment company, consequently, he will have 2 sources of income instead of one.
For Ibrahim, owning a taxi would solve many issues, It’s both profitable and flexible. Maybe it’s time for caregivers like Ibrahim to be taken care of for once, this extra push is all they need to continue the unconditional care and love they offer to their community.