3 Ways to Help Syrian Refugees Today

Syria – a place that is far from most of our minds. This March, however, marks the fifth anniversary of the conflict in Syria.  With each anniversary of this war, there’s a call to remember and to reach out. How can we help Syrian refugees from so far away – not only in distance but in experience.

There are 7 million people displaced within Syria and 4 million refugees displaced who are scattered in the region.  How do we humanize these unimaginable numbers?

One way is by sharing the stories of a few of these children and families.  I want to share with you 3 ways that you can help our fellow brothers and sisters in Syria today – and all 3 take less than 5 minutes each. 

Photos Courtesy of CARE

CARE: An Organization, an invitation

CARE is a global humanitarian organization that fights poverty by empowering girls and women. I spent a good part of an evening getting familiar with all of the wonderful ways they are working around the world.

CARE has already provided over 1 million refugees with humanitarian relief in the form of food baskets, grocery debit cards, emergency shelter and hygiene kits. On this 5th anniversary, however, CARE wanted to deliver something else to the 1.5 million displaced Syrian children. They wanted to deliver HOPE in the form of letters sent from people like you and me.

CARE started this letter writing campaign by inviting several WWII refugees who had been the first recipients of CARE packages to write letters and care packages to Syrian children who are currently refugees. The results are so moving.

All of the stories and letters are moving, but Helga and Sajeda’s connection is particularly powerful. 16 year old Sajeda is so moved by the simple act of Helga’s sharing her story and her hopeful outcome. It let Sajeda know “you are not alone.”  You can read the full letter and hear Helga reading it aloud here.

Helga and Sajeda are in the top left corner

What can I say?

When I thought about writing a note, I was hesitant. What do I, a middle aged Korean woman in Philadelphia, have to share with a young child refugee who has most likely experienced far more trauma in their short lives than I will most likely face in my entire life?

Unlike the WWII survivors that wrote letters, I do not have the experience of fleeing my home and being displaced. As I thought about it though, I decided to share my heart and the source of my hope. Here’s what I wrote in the 255 characters allowed:

Dear Child of God,
I want you to know that you are not forgotten – by me, others all around the world, and most importantly, by God. You are special and loved. Your future is not determined by your past. Praying for your peace, health and safety. Angela 

Although I don’t share the same experience as these young refugee children, I do know there is a human need to feel recognized and to have hope, no matter what our current circumstance.

Would you be willing to take a minute and write an encouraging note to a young Syrian refugee who needs to know they are not alone? It’s through an online portal which you can access from your smartphone or your computer.

Photo courtesy of CARE

3 Ways to Help Syrian Refugees Today

1. Take a minute to write an encouraging word online to a Syrian child in need of hope. You can write your note here.
2. Make a donation of any size. What if everyone who read this post gave $5 in light of the 5th anniversary of the war? If you’re able to give more, $35 will pay for a hygiene kit, and $70 will pay for a month’s worth of food.
3. The third way you can help is by signing a petition urging the President and Congress to keep the issue in the forefront.

The last way? Please share this post so that we can get the message of hope to more people.

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