As I look to at the wristband I have worn throughout the revolution, the red stars symbolically fade into the white background… It is easy to feel helpless when reading about the suffering of the Syrian people – how much can donating really do to ease the suffering of these people? In truth, there is little we can do politically to shift the stubbornness of the international community to act. There are too many agendas involved for people to be ‘righteous’ enough to ease the suffering of the Syrian people ahead of their political motives.

The Syrian crisis is first and foremost a human crisis, one in which people have been massacred, houses destroyed and children starved by their own government. Whether you agree with the revolution or believe in an armed resistance is irrelevant to the need of those who have suffered as a result of this conflict. Do not let the world’s silence deter you from helping Syrian people. I have personally seen the impact your donations have made in helping ease the suffering of the Syrian people.

So, for the third time, I wish to rally you all again to donate generously. Many of you have donated generously with your money in the past as you helped me raise over £20,000. This time, you can continue to donate financially either by sending money to me, donating through our justgiving page (http://www.justgiving.com/packagesofhope) or wiring the money directly to Hand in Hand. However….

… this appeal comes with a twist. Donating money in the modern world can feel quite intangible, a click of the button and we’re done! On the 28th October, Hand in Hand for Syria (Charity No. 1145862) and Human Concern (Charity No. 1147322) are offering you a more tangible and direct way to donate. After the success of the last aide convoy (where we got 6 ambulances and 10 vehicles INSIDE Syria), we have decided to hold a national appeal to send our second convoy out, and we need your help to fill it up!

As part of the envoys, we hope to send humanitarian aid, medical aid and vehicles through Turkey and into Syria and we want you to donate what goes there. Donating money is nice and will allow us to buy the equipment on your behalf… but personally I feel there is something special about buying the goods yourself to give it to person as charity. The struggle you make to obtain the goods knowing it will benefit someone in need makes you feel like you have done something. It feels more tangible, rewarding, satisfying. Moreover, you can write an accompanying letter to the Syrian people as part of your donation, sending them your well wishes and telling them to hold strong. This can give both them a morale boost knowing that people are still thinking about them, but it will also help you to remember their suffering and continue to supplicate for them in your prayers!

Now, our most valuable asset at in these convoys is space, so we need to fill it up with good quality stuff! Yes, old stuff is good, but let our donations be be of Ihsaan [excellence] by giving new things to give to people. Remember, these gifts are intended to boost the morale of those people there as well as helping them through their difficulties, and what better way is there to do that than to buy something new, writing a message on it and sending it to the people there!

Jazakallah Khair for reading this far, and thank you for supporting our efforts! 🙂

Remember us in your prayers