My name is Zeina Abi Assy and I am Lebanese. I am often labeled as a graphic designer because of my degree, a copywriter because of my job, and a writer among family and friends because of my passion. I studied graphic design at the American University of Beirut and minored in creative writing non-fiction. I am a writer and I believe in the power of non-fiction work from this specific area of the world where realities are restrained.
I got accepted to study creative writing non-fiction at The New School, an incredible writing school in New York, and it is my every desire to go. I come from a part of the world where few are contemporary non-fiction writers, set aside women writers, where opportunity is rare, where stories remain unheard, they remain in the dark, tasteless, colorless and insignificant. But these stories are beautiful, they are distinct and they deserve a chance.
And we want to be remembered, we want our stories to have value, our time here, our lives, our culture, our fight, we need them to last, just a bit longer than ashes. And I want to take part in writing the untold story of Beirut, and of Lebanon.
Pieces of my heart still look the same as when they were born. Pieces like my love for my family and my homeland. Pieces that are still afraid of death. Pieces that will never understand war. Pieces that will always empower my words. I want these pieces in me to grow. Mahmoud Darwish once wrote “I was not born to live sunsets but sunrises”, although sunsets will forever move us, we need to see the sun rising, at least once, at least momentarily, at least for a change. Writing is my sunrise. The New School is my sunrise. New York will be my sunrise.
I got accepted but I don't have the money to go.
I'm making this campaign to raise the money for my tuition fees, which is around $ 50,000.
If we get to $ 25,000, I will be able to cover the fees for the first year (2 semesters).
EVEN IF WE REACH THE AMOUNT WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT, WE CAN CONTINUE.
If we get to $ 35,000, I will be able to cover the second year's first semester.
And if we get to $ 50,000, I will be able to cover the full tuition.
Help me go to New York!
Like, tweet, share, post it on Facebook or your blog or screen it on a projector.
If you can't donate, maybe you know someone who can.
Thank you all so very much!
In case the video doesnt open or load, here's a link to the video on Youtube:
ZEE TO NYC ON YOUTUBE
You can read my work here:
Zee in Beirut
Zee
Twitter:
@ZeeAbiAssy
Facebook:
Zeina Abi Assy
Campaign page on Facebook:
ZEE TO NYC
*A huge thank you to indiegogo's incredible CEO, Adam Chapnick, for being so supportive and helpful throughout the building process of the campaign.
