November Fundraiser – Educate to Heal

On 8 November 2025, The Hanoon Foundation (THF) organised its November Fundraiser at St John’s Hyde Park Crescent, London. Below are photos and highlights from the event.

Thanks to your incredible generosity, the event raised over £35,000 net, after covering all expenses (excluding Gift Aid). These funds will be used directly to support displaced Palestinian medical students in the UK at a time when this support is needed most. They will help students continue their medical education, regain stability, and work towards rebuilding their futures.

We are deeply grateful to all who contributed to making the evening such a success — our attendees, speakers, musicians, volunteers, donors, partners, supporters, and students. We were truly moved by the warmth and encouragement shown throughout the evening and warmly welcome any feedback you would like to share.

The event opened with a warm welcome from our MC, Ms Amy Abdelnoor, THF Trustee, who introduced the programme for the evening.

Dr Ahmed Massoud, Chairman of THF, then presented the organisation’s work, highlighting its ongoing projects and programmes, and outlining the urgent challenges facing Palestinian medical students.

This was followed by a heartfelt address from H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, who spoke about the broader challenges facing Palestinian healthcare workers and the education sector, as well as the resilience of the Palestinian people.

We were also grateful to our guest speaker, Mr Peter Oborne, for his thoughtful and compelling contribution, sharing reflections on Palestine and broader questions of justice and conscience.

Ali, a sponsored medical student from Al-Azhar University who was displaced from Gaza and is currently hosted at Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS), shared his personal experiences, offering insight into the challenges and aspirations of medical students.

The silent auction ran throughout the evening, raising additional funds alongside the sales table and raffle. The artworks were generously donated by curator Rose Issa, with additional items kindly contributed by our supporters, including jewellery, textiles, handmade jam, dining and cultural experiences, signed books, and vouchers. Congratulations to the successful bidders, whose generosity made a valuable contribution to the evening’s success.

The sales table offered a range of items including food products, books, ceramics, embroidery, Christmas cards, and handmade crafts. Among the items were handmade keyrings and bracelets created by displaced women from Gaza currently living in Egypt. Through their social enterprise, they produce traditional Palestinian cross-stitch pieces, generating an income while preserving their cultural heritage. The evening also included a raffle, with prizes generously donated by our supporters.  We extend our sincere thanks to Ms Rima Abboushi for her invaluable support before and throughout the event.

The evening opened with a beautiful piano performance by Mrs Marina Chan and concluded with musical performances by Saied Silbak and his band, all of which were warmly received by the audience.

Food and catering were provided by Grilandia, a group of Lebanese restaurants across London known for their Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. We are truly grateful for their generosity and full support.

🌟 Thank You 🌟

We also extend our thanks to the venue and staff for their hospitality, and to all our guests, donors, supporters, and volunteers who helped make the evening such a success.

Special thanks also to the businesses and individuals who generously donated items for our silent auction, sales table, and raffle, including: Yaffa LTD, Fil, Chachoulie, Eastern Adornment, The Dorchester Hotel, Grilandia Restaurant, Orjowan Restaurant, ShakeShuka Restaurant, Maramia Cafe, Mooca Café, Akub Restaurant, 1 Lombard Street Restaurant, George G Hair & Beauty, Ms Agni Koutsoudis, Ms Rose Issa, Mr Peter Oborne, Mr Jeremy Corbyn, Dr Salman Haider, Ms Rabia Abboushi, Ms Sarah El‑Guindi, Ms Huda Coumine, Dr Meera Kirby, Ms Betty Christoforou, and Ms Rachel Le Mesurier.