Sherin Bodekji relocated to the UAE four years ago. It was before the start of the civil war that has devastated her beloved Syria. The 28-year-old moved here with a university education and dreams for a brighter future. She is one of the lucky ones, but the public relations senior account executive has not forgotten those less fortunate.
Today is World Refugee Day. Organised each year by the United Nations’ Refugee Agency (UNHCR), it raises awareness of the plight of refugees around the world. This year, however, is almost unprecedented for UNHCR, says its public information officer Mohammed Abu Asaker. “Conflicts in Syria, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, among others, have pushed UNHCR and its partners to their limits,” he says. “Each day, global headlines talk about the harrowing effect of war on millions of families. Sometimes people forget refugees’ issues, suffering and challenges, as well as their successes and resilience. Through this day, we increase public awareness, empathy, mobilisation and advocacy for the cause.”
More than nine million Syrians have been displaced, including 6.5m who are in need of humanitarian assistance. About 2.8m Syrians have fled the country and many are now living in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report, released today, shows 51.2 million people globally were forcibly displaced at the end of 2013. An increase of six million people in the past year was attributed primarily to the civil war in Syria.
These statistics have spurred Bodekji into action. Over the past two years, she has run a half-marathon, sold pre-owned goods at a flea market and held morning teas to raise money and awareness for the people whose lives have been torn apart by the conflict. But she has not finished yet.
“If I am here in Dubai and I have my family around me, it does not mean that what’s happening in Syria is not any of my business. I will always owe my country and my people. I believe I can do a lot, so whenever I have time, whenever I have money, I try my best. God gave us what we have so we can share it with others,” she explains.
The increase in refugee numbers has aid agencies scrambling for funds and the UNHCR reports a funding shortfall of US$3.1 billion (Dh11.39bn) this year. Bodekji says that people do not need to dedicate a lot of time or money, but if everyone allowed just an hour a month, or a few dirhams, collectively it would make a big difference. “Living in Dubai and doing charity work can be challenging. We work hard all week and we want a relaxing weekend without having to worry about the world, but we can do all of this and still help others,” Bodekji says.
“You don’t have to dedicate a lot of time or even money. All you need to do is find someone else who is already doing something and ask them how you can help. Maybe it’s by donating, attending an event or spreading awareness.”
This weekend, the UNHCR has a stand at Mirdif City Centre in Dubai, which aims to spread awareness of the plight of refugees through photography. It will centre on this year's theme: "One family torn apart by war is too many". The agency's Abu Asaker also encourages UAE residents to help by using social media to build an advocacy network to support refugees. Donations to the agency can be made through UNHCR websites in Arabic (www.unhcr-arabic.org) and English (www.unhcr.org).
Large organisations are also doing their part. The Al Habtoor Group funds the UAE-based Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation, which last week launched a Ramadan campaign to distribute humanitarian aid and support to thousands of refugees in Lebanon. Working with the Arab Lebanese Crescent, the first phase included the distribution of food rations, hygiene packs and medical supply kits for more than 1,500 people. Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, the chairman of Al Habtoor Group, says that Ramadan is a time of benevolence and blessing. “We hope, through assistance, to give some joy to Syrian refugees who are suffering poor health and living conditions.”
Dr Ibrahim El Ziq, the area representative of Unicef’s Gulf area office, stresses that it’s important not to lose sight of Syria’s refugee children and what they are going through. “As conflicts become protracted, children can become just numbers in the public’s mind, but every number represents a child who has a story,” El Ziq says.
"Unicef and other aid agencies are providing as much information as possible to ensure these children are not forgotten. Check out our Syria website to get the most updated information. The website also has a donation portal and our team here in the UAE is available to answer any questions about how to support [Syria's children]."
Donations to Unicef allow the organisation to work with partners in Syria and neighbouring countries to provide children with the means not just to survive, but to survive with dignity, El Ziq explains. “We help provide them with safe drinking water. We vaccinate children to make sure they are protected against deadly disease [and] we help affected children continue their education,” he says.
Bodekji knows well the work being done by Unicef. In a previous job, she helped the Gulf area office with its public relations campaigns to spread the word about its work. This got her thinking about other ways to help.
“My friend, Razan Abdel Hadi, was starting a small organisation to help women who had lost their families to be productive and feel valuable by teaching them to crochet,” Bodekji says. “She needed money to buy materials, so I started to collect money from my close friends and colleagues. I brought some cookies into the office and asked people to donate money for a cookie. I collected about Dh1,500, which at the time was about 30,000 Syrian pounds. With this, my friend was able to teach 10 women to crochet, and they now sell their handmade products. These women can earn around 15,000 Syrian pounds a month to help their families.”
Another of Bodekji’s fund-raising projects involved helping a friend collect second-hand goods to sell at a flea market. “I used my social-media platforms to spread the word and get people to visit us. I took all of my old things and everything I had collected from others, and joined three friends one Friday for a full day at Safa Park. It was tiring, but we collected Dh2,500 for an organisation in Syria to buy blankets and basic supplies.”
Bodekji’s most recent campaign was also one of the most successful. A friend of the keen runner wanted to raise money for Syrian children. “I helped by arranging some publicity for him and later, I decided to do my own thing as well. I logged on to Save the Children’s website and started my own cause, United4Them. My friend Mazen Mroueh, who is Lebanese and also a runner, helped me because he knows a lot of people. Two other friends in Spain also joined in raising money. We were four people from different nationalities working together to collect money and raise awareness.”
The friends ran different distances in the Madrid Marathon in late April and raised $4,400. “It’s a great feeling to run for a cause,” Bodekji says. “I had never run 22 kilometres before, but raising money was a big motivation for me. Everyone supported us. For example, when I suggested to my colleagues at Dabo&Co, they all donated and supported me on social media. We achieved great results and we spread awareness. Even now, two months later, people still ask how they can help.”
This Ramadan, Bodekji will join forces with the Jordanian NGO Chance 4 Children to raise money for Project Bookrah (email bookrah@c4c.cz). The initiative will help 20 high-achieving Syrian student refugees at Amman’s Zaatari camp improve their English skills and increase their chances of securing a university scholarship. Money raised will pay for educational resources, including international-proficiency exams, and classes will be taught by volunteer teachers who are native speakers of English.
Raising money and awareness is no easy task, but with the start of Ramadan imminent, many residents will be thinking about charitable causes. “It’s hard to ask people to donate. So you need to give them easy options. Some people can donate time, others money and others their skills. There are many people who are collecting for different causes and people need to know that their money will be used in the right way,” Bodekji says.
“I am amazed by the people who have such good hearts. They are ready to share what little they have and it makes them happy. Sometimes I cry because I believe that I am not doing enough. I wish I could convince people that if everyone just gave one dirham, it would help so much.
“The things you do today can save the life of another person. You can give hope and smiles to other people. Do it for yourself; do it because you are human. Give what you are good at, share stories, share causes on your social media platform, spread the word. If you can help, others will too. Volunteer when it’s possible, give a small amount when you can and, most importantly, do it from the heart.”
To find out more about World Refugee Day, visit UNHCR's stand at Mirdif City Centre this weekend or visit www.unhcr.org
