Help Refugee Kids!

A week doesn’t go by without news of a dropped bomb, a suicide bombing, a conflict, a civil war or sometimes just a scare or the anticipation of it. But it’s not just scare, it’s a question of life and death, a quest for survival and rebuilding for those who live there or are displaced because of it! Things that we take for granted living in the First World - a bubble of sorts. For people living in war ravaged countries and have been displaced by war or wars for years, decades even - THIS IS A WAY OF LIFE! And this fight for ideology, territory, natural resources or just asserting supremacy has consequences and collateral damage - Kids and their Future! Their only “fault” is to be born at the wrong place at a wrong time. And these kids need their lives to be rebuilt.



My heart aches when I see images of these beautiful and innocent kids in this state. Why? What for? How come their lives are not about playing, being naughty and going to school? How are they any less kids than kids here or anywhere else? 

I am setting up this donation page to help out refugee kids start a new life. The funds will be spent to provide school supplies, books, clothing, food, and any other essentials. I am going to visit a refugee camp in Turkey in May. I want to make sure these supplies will help families in need before Ramadan. I personally assure you that every penny of this donation will reach the affected families and kids in need. I will post frequent updates before, during and after my visit on this page:
Help Refugee Kids!

Please refer to the bottom for additional details.

Let's give them a ray of hope. Let them play, let them learn, let them live and flourish. Pay it Forward!



A little blurb about me:

My name is Hamida Hussaini. I live in Walnut Creek, California. I am of Afghan origin, but most importantly I’m a human being who puts humanity before anything else. I grew up in Afghanistan that was and still is deeply impacted by war. I also have partial roots in other countries that have been ravaged by war. I came to the United States as a refugee and had the opportunity to rebuild my life. I would love to help the refugee kids do the same.


My LinkedIn Profile 

Thanks in advance for your donation, know that everyone can make a difference somehow, and this is the easiest way to help providing school supplies, food and clothing to these heartbreaking families!

Please donate and also share this GoFundMe page!
 
Here is a picture that has stayed in my memory. The photo was taken by Turkish photographer Osman Sağırlı in 2014. The 4 year girl surrendered to the camera (telephoto lens) thinking it was a gun. Her lips pursed, fear in her eyes and losing her innocence for a generation. 


Here's the incident in his own words: "I was using a telephoto lens, and she thought it was a weapon," says Sağırlı. "I realized she was terrified after I took it, and looked at the picture, because she bit her lips and raised her hands. Normally kids run away, hide their faces or smile when they see a camera." He says he finds pictures of children in the camps particularly revealing. "You know there are displaced people in the camps. It makes more sense to see what they have suffered not through adults, but through children. It is the children who reflect the feelings with their innocence."
-From BBC Network website


More details on how the funds will be utilized:

Specifically the funds will be used to buy -
1. School supplies - Books, Pens, Pencils, Erasers, School Bags,
2. Clothes - Uniforms, Sweaters, Hats
3. Food - Snacks, Cereal Bars, Dry fruits, Packaged lunches
4. Essentials - thermals, shoes and socks, special needs, glasses, medical supplies, bandages, etc

The money will be withdrawn here in the US and will be used to buy these supplies and get them shipped to the refugee camps for them to arrive in time during my visit to refugee camps in May. I will document all the purchases and update all the donors accordingly.

More details about myself:

I came to Atlanta when I was 17 years old as a refugee and then became a US citizen. I completed my Bachelor's in Business Administration in Marketing from California State University, East Bay in 2005. I have worked for 8 years in Finance at JP Morgan Chase and then for 3 years at Pandora Media. I have participated in various volunteer events that involves refugees and immigrants. Since I came here as a refugee myself, I feel very near and dear to this cause and want to give them the same opportunity I got so they can rebuild their lives.
 
Here is my LI profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamida-hussaini-90b7724/