(UPDATE: for clothing purchases go to MesoRefugee.spreadshirt.ca)
ACSSU of Canada and its university branches at McMaster, York, Brock, Ryerson, and University of Toronto will be dedicating one week to the refugees in Iraq and Syria.
On November 10 to the 14, multiple individuals from ACSSU will be camping in front of McMaster University with the attempt to fulfill two goals. The first is to raise awareness about the plight of the internally displaced refugees in former Mesopotamia (Iraq and Syria) who have been affected by the ongoing crisis caused by the Islamic State. The second is to fundraise money to send to these refugees who are currently in need of necessities such as food and water to survive.
The individuals who will be camping will not be allowed the use of electronics, will only eat food brought to them by others, and will have to sleep outside in an effort to emulate the life of the refugees. Volunteers will be speaking to students in classrooms, spectators, and anyone who has time to spread the message of the plight of these refugees and displaced persons. ACSSU's other university branches will be tabling at their respective campuses throughout the week.
The goal of this campaign will be to raise a minimum of $15,000, which will be sent to the Assyrian Aid Society, who will provide direct aid to the refugees in the form of shelter, clothing, food, and medication. Assyrian Aid Society provides aid to the refugee crisis by supporting individuals who flee the war-torn country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Our other beneficiary will be Doctors without Borders. This organization will specifically help refugees from Syria.
One way in which donations will be collected will be through donation pick-ups. This process will include going door-to-door and handing out flyers to different neighbourhoods, and returning in a few days later in order to collect donations for the cause.
Connect with us through #MesoRefugee
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