In April, 2019, when my stories for Syria Welcomes A Stranger were completed, I began a storytelling campaign presenting selected stories and photographs, intended to fundraise for the UK charity Help Refugees. Ninety percent of funds raised would be “spent” in Help Refugees’ pop up shops in London, New York and Los Angeles. Ten percent would be used to produce the electronic book Syria Welcomes A Stranger.
On November, 29th, 2019, friends and family of the project “spent” the campaign’s funds. In the Help Refugees pop-up shops, the most practical items, desperately needed on the ground by displaced Syrians in camps, served by Help Refugees network were purchased: firewood, diapers, meals, medical care and assorted survival kits, assembled to help families. Amazingly, that same day, all funds raised to spend in Help Refugees pop up shops were doubled by a grant.
In December, 2019 the not for profit ebook of Syria Welcomes A Stranger was published and distributed as a gift of gratitude to donors of the campaign. This updated, printed edition of Syria Welcomes A Stranger will support the advocacy campaign for Action for Sama.
