ART4RICE
Empowering Art for Gaza – Support, Share, and Make a Difference
About us
“Art for Rice” draws inspiration from Ito-Jakuchu, an Edo-era painter who once traded his art for rice to survive. Similarly, for the past 15 months, Hoai Phuong has sold nearly all her artworks to raise funds for Gaza, supporting three Palestinian orphans and sending water, rice, and vital supplies to refugee camps.
What began as a personal effort has grown into a collective movement. Dozens of artists joined art sales and auctions, transforming their art into rice, flour, medicine, tents, and emergency evacuations during relentless bombings. These paintings are no longer just art, they are lifelines.
This project is both a record of that journey and an invitation to witness how solidarity can take shape through creativity. When you collect a painting, you’re not just supporting art, you’re sending hope and relief across borders.
Benvenuti,
Hoai Phuong (b.1991) is a painter specialized in Oriental art. Currently living in Italy, Phương is an organizer advocating for a free Palestine. She is currently sponsoring the family of Mohammed Al-Shaer consisting of three orphaned siblings in Gaza. Together with Mohammed, Phương co-founded the “Water for Mawasi” fund, which provides potable water to the displaced Palestinian on a weekly basis and other community charity. Phuong also runs a blog “Tho Palestine” where she translates works of Palestinian poets and writers, as well as news from Palestine with the aim to shift the narrative in the Vietnamese community.
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Frequently asked questions
Mutual aid for Palestine, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, refers to a grassroots, community-driven movement that provides direct support to Palestinians on the ground, often bypassing traditional humanitarian aid systems. It is rooted in solidarity, collective care, and immediate response, with a focus on helping families and communities facing displacement, siege, and devastation.
Your donation goes directly into the hands of people in need in Gaza.
Hoài-Phương is currently sponsoring the family of Mohammed al-Shaer, which includes three orphaned siblings, and also supports other grassroots mutual aid efforts helping displaced families. In addition, she runs a water fund that delivers clean drinking water weekly to refugee camps across Gaza.
Funds are transferred via relatives of the beneficiaries who currently live outside Gaza, and the money is then wired into Gaza through the Bank of Palestine.
Other fundraisers also use fundraising platforms like GoFundMe and Chuffed, although these take longer to process.
There are many ways to stand with us:
– Make regular donations — the genocide is ongoing, famine is worsening, and families still need help to survive, to flee, to live.
– Become a mini-fundraiser — use your talent, hobbies, or host a small event to raise funds.
– Join our recurring donor circle.
– Submit your work to our art initiatives — held every few months to raise both funds and awareness.
We prioritize direct donations, as this is the fastest and most efficient way to get money into Gaza, including:
– Venmo (for US-based donors)
– PayPal (for EUR or international donations)
– Vietnamese bank transfer
A direct transfer typically takes 1 day to reach Mohammed. In contrast, platforms like GoFundMe or Chuffed can take up to 10 days to release the funds.
There are many ways to stand with us:
– Make regular donations — the genocide is ongoing, famine is worsening, and families still need help to survive, to flee, to live.
– Become a mini-fundraiser — use your talent, hobbies, or host a small event to raise funds.
– Join our recurring donor circle.
– Submit your work to our art initiatives — held every few months to raise both funds and awareness.
The sponsored family is that of Mohammed al-Shaer, a 21-year-old orphan who was once a nursing student. Mohammed is a survivor of two bombings — the first took the lives of his parents, the second claimed his two older brothers and left him with a permanent limp from a foot injury.
At just 21, Mohammed became the sole provider for his two younger sisters: Dima (18) and Eileen (11).
Despite his losses, Mohammed co-founded the Water for Mawasi project alongside Hoài-Phương, bringing clean water to refugee camps. He has also worked with her on other grassroots initiatives — including cooking meals, delivering blankets, and distributing suhoor packages during Ramadan to families living under siege.
The Water Fund was born out of a birthday campaign for Mohammed and his sister Dima. When Mohammed chose to use part of his gift to buy a water truck for his camp, we realized it wasn’t enough. Under Gaza’s scorching August sun, one truck simply couldn’t meet the needs of a thirsty camp.
So we built something more sustainable.
On August 31st, 2024 we launched the Water for Mawasi project with the help of friends who became monthly donors. Since then, we’ve delivered over 220,000 liters of clean water.
– The water is sourced from a well in Al-Mawasi, which also has a water treatment facility.
Before the genocide, a 4,500-liter truck cost $50.
– During the blockade, prices rose to $200, then $300 after the ceasefire was sabotaged.
– As of now, prices fluctuate between $250–$300 per truck, due to limited supply and rising costs.
We currently run two donor tiers:
– A main group, with donors contributing €100/month
– A support group, with donors contributing €25/month, helping to offset commission fees and cover emergencies