We Can Do Hard Things

Episode: Let’s Help Care for Gaza’s Orphans w/ Our Friend Akram Ibrahim

Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle (Treat Media)
Guest: Akram Ibrahim, Palestinian American; Volunteer, PCRF

Episode Overview

This special episode focuses on the humanitarian crisis facing children in Gaza, particularly those newly classified by Doctors Without Borders as "Wounded Child, No Surviving Parent" (WCNSP). Glennon, Amanda, and Akram (joined by Abby occasionally) discuss the ongoing work of the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), share Akram’s personal and family history, and invite their dedicated Pod Squad to take collective action by financially supporting Gaza’s orphaned and wounded children—emphasizing the community’s core value: “There is no such thing as other people’s children.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Community Action & Solidarity

• The Pod Squad’s history of material support: Over $56 million raised for global aid causes, driven by the conviction that “we belong to each other.”

  • [00:00] Glennon: “There is no such thing as other people’s children, which has led us… to show up for communities all over the planet.”

• Reaffirmation of collective agency—urging listeners that believing isn’t enough—acting is essential.

2. Introducing Akram & the Growing Crisis for Gaza’s Orphans

• Akram Ibrahim: Palestinian-American, LA-based, longtime PCRF volunteer and leader.

• PCRF Background: A US-based, highly regarded and transparent charity bringing medical care and humanitarian support to Palestinian children for over 30 years.

• New Category of Crisis:

  • WCNSP: "Wounded Child, No Surviving Parent"—children left utterly alone due to mass casualties and destruction of extended families.
  • PCRF’s focus: Funding and empowering local Palestinian community support (not removing children from Gaza).

[03:33] Glennon: “There is a new category of child in Palestine…wounded and have no parents or family left…they are not alone in the world, that we will together step into this gap, that we will provide funds…”

3. Personal Narratives: Akram’s Story & Palestinian Identity

• Akram shares growing up Palestinian-American, protesting injustices since childhood, and his family’s commitment to maintaining connection with their homeland.
  • Moving stories of his mother’s activism in the US, ensuring their identity and heritage are visible—fighting gaslighting and erasure.

[21:29] Akram: “I got to walk in with a little flag. And then more importantly…they let me represent the Palestinian people…Palestinians are everywhere…but Palestine is a place.”

• The strategic danger of separating “Palestinians” (as people) from “Palestine” (as place).

  • [32:34] Glennon: “It’s such gaslighting… Like, I’m a Virginian, but there’s no Virginia…”

• Deep connection to home, culture, and community—hospitality, resilience, and generational family bonds.

4. The Reality on the Ground: Occupation, Restrictions, and War

• Akram contextualizes the current disaster within decades of occupation and control, restricted movement, and systematic removal/displacement.

  • Personal anecdotes about travel difficulties, land loss, and family separation due to occupation.

• Describes how Palestinian families historically absorbed orphans informally, but now networks are so devastated by loss, there is often “no surviving family” at all.

[59:58] Akram: “That term…didn’t really exist before the last two years: Wounded Child, No Surviving Family.”

5. PCRF’s Mission & Work

• PCRF Initiatives:

  • Medical missions, infrastructure rebuilding, treatment abroad, and crucial psychological/trauma support for wounded/orphaned children.
  • Transparency and impact: 12 straight years of Charity Navigator’s top rating.

• Active in both West Bank and Gaza regardless of war or ceasefire; flexible, embedded, and creative under siege.

• Emphasis on keeping Palestinian children rooted in their homeland—never removing children except for temporary medical care.

[61:17] Akram: “PCRF does not relocate these kids, nor do we want to relocate these kids…we want Palestinians to stay in Palestine."

6. Statistics and Ongoing Humanitarian Needs

• Stark Numbers: (As of September 2025; likely higher by air date)
  • Over 40,000 children orphaned since recent escalations.
  • 7,000+ children currently being assisted by PCRF as orphans.
  • Gaza children have among the highest rates of amputation in the world.

[57:53] Amanda: “In the wake of the last two years, 32,132 children have lost their fathers… 1,918 children have lost both parents.”

[58:47] Akram: “The numbers are much higher now, and that’s just what we know…”

• Community and psychological support urgent due to accumulated trauma, mass destruction, malnutrition, and displacement.

• Ceasefire is a reprieve, not an end—needs and rebuilding continue regardless.

7. How Listeners Can Help: Tangible Action

• Main Ask: Financial donations to PCRF’s Gaza orphan/wounded child sponsorship program.
  • Directly supports medical care, nutrition, psychological aid, shelter, and ultimately helps local Palestinian communities support their children.
  • All donations (link provided in show notes/socials) go 100% to children’s needs. Abby and Glennon are personally matching the first $100,000 in donations.

[83:50] Akram: “We support these communities that have orphans there…with medical needs, nutrition, infant support, eyeglasses, mental health support…directly focused on the project for these orphaned kids in Gaza…”

• Additional support: Buy Palestinian-made products, especially olive oil; support Palestinian businesses and creators; elevate Palestinian voices.

[87:02] Akram: “We use the olive tree as a symbol of Palestinian people because they’re so rooted in the ground…”

8. Hope, Resilience, and Looking Forward

• Akram closes with a plea for listeners to take care of themselves while fighting despair; don’t let hopelessness or relentless tragedy make you numb or isolated.
  • Humor, family, food, music, and culture are essential to survival and resistance.
  • This is a generational, marathon struggle; every small act (giving, sharing, caring) matters.

[93:13] Akram: “Everything is tough right now. I know it seems really dark… If you’re feeling down, don’t let that swallow you up. Still go to brunch… Do your thing that you love… Because then you’ll just stay in this dark corner by yourself…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Glennon [00:00]: “There is no such thing as other people’s children.”
• Akram [12:41]: “Pay attention to when you started paying attention.”
• Akram [31:24]: “I want them to be able to say: ‘I’m from Palestine.’ Not my dad was Palestinian… I’m from Palestine.”
• Amanda [32:46]: “If your overall goal is to eliminate a place and to normalize the idea that these people can exist without their place… then you become someone like Netanyahu who can say, ‘What’s the problem? Why don’t they just go somewhere else?’”
• Akram [59:58]: “That term is from Doctors Without Borders… Wounded Child, No Surviving Family. That phrase didn’t really exist before…”
• Akram [70:56]: “Ceasefire is a point on the timeline. The timeline’s continuing… Before ceasefire, after ceasefire, PCRF was doing work and we just continue that work now.”
• Akram [78:14]: “Every little bit matters… I never want somebody to say whatever I do is not going to be enough. Because that one person might tell one person at dinner… and it becomes the domino effect…”
• Glennon [92:11]: “If you do believe there’s no such thing as other people’s children… please give at the link we will provide… Every penny of that will go to PCRF.”
• Akram [93:13]: “Don’t let [the heaviness] swallow you up… If your thing is to go to brunch, hang out with your dog, family, friends, do that. Because this is a marathon…”

Major Timestamps

• [00:00–05:57] Intro; explaining the crisis, introducing Akram & PCRF
• [07:06–25:39] Akram’s personal history, family activism, Palestinian identity
• [31:06–35:44] The importance of place and identity
• [42:17–50:49] PCRF’s history, family involvement, key projects
• [53:24–61:17] Orphans, medical work, and psychological needs
• [59:58–65:02] "Wounded Child, No Surviving Family:" Who, how, and why
• [70:00–76:05] Ceasefire discussion and long-term operations
• [83:50–91:11] Specifics about the Gaza orphan project and ways to help
• [93:13–End] Final reflections, motivation, and community call-to-action

Calls to Action

• Donate to the Gaza orphan sponsorship program via PCRF (link in show notes; all platforms).
• Support Palestinian businesses: Buy Palestinian olive oil and products, dine at Palestinian restaurants, review and promote creators.
• Share & Advocate: Talk about Palestine, unblock emotional paralysis, stay engaged.
• Self-care for activists: Don’t abandon joy and connection; “You help best when you are nourished.”

Links, Resources, and Further Engagement

• PCRF: pcrf.net | Instagram: @thepcrf
• Donation links: Show notes & social media for this episode.
• Palestinian products: Recommendations to follow via episode and future social posts.
• Community principle: “There is no such thing as other people’s children.”

Summary prepared for listeners who want a deep understanding, real voices, and practical ways to act, even if they haven’t heard the full episode.