Methodology:

 Populations: 

Iraqi refugees:

After Haider Hamza (an Iraqi photojournalist and political asylee) presented as the keynote speaker at the Hart Global Awareness Conference in November, 2008, the students of Hart Hall decided to work together to aid the Iraqi refugees that now live in Syria.

The students of Hart Hall raised money to help the refugees. Iraqi refugees in Syria are not citizens and are subject to huge tax surcharges on goods and services. We also conducted clothing drives, soliciting members of the campus and community to donate child and adult clothing for the refugees.  In December of 2008, we collected 8 large bags of clothes that were then shipped to the Iraqi refugees in Syria through Mr. Hamza. The refugees expressed their thanks and asked for more clothing for their children. In May of 2009, we increased our efforts, this time collecting 83 bags of clothing. The fall 2009 semester yielded another 20 bags and several boxes of supplies. These bags are still being sorted, cleaned, and shipped to Mr. Hamza and then on to Syria. We have shipped donations to Baghdad, Basra, Damascus, and other cities.

Beninese schoolchildren

Students from Project Smart returned from Benin, Africa, with stories of children who did not have the basic school supplies, like chalk and pencils. One student noticed children using their fingertips to write with specks of chalk because that was all the chalk they had left.  OHH is collecting school supplies including chalk, crayons, chalkboards, and notebooks for the children of Benin. These materials are transported to Benin through Project Smart during academic breaks.

In October of 2009, Becky Burch traveled to Syria to examine the plight of Iraqi refugees. During this trip, she visited “Little Angels Childcare” Syria’s first licensed daycare center. Little Angels educates and cares for Iraqi refugee children. The center is currently full of children, yet its rooms are empty of educational materials. The owners were very honest about how financially difficult it is to feed the children, let alone buy them educational toys and school supplies. The owners asked for simple learning materials, like pencils and crayons, as well as basic necessities, such as cups and plates for all the children at mealtimes.  These materials will be transported to Syria during academic breaks.

Saints Place, Pittsford, NY

Household items that are too big to ship overseas to refugees is distributed to refugees within the United States through the International Rescue Committee. Some of these donations go to New York City, others are given to Saints Place.

“Our main focus is helping refugees from war-torn countries get a new start in the United States.  We collect donated furniture, appliances, household goods, linens, and clothing.  We sort, clean, and store these items, and we set up a family's home prior to their arrival.  We make sure that families have all the basics that they need to live in their new home.  We also provide clothing to the family and toys and school supplies for the children.”

http://www.saintsplace.org/services.htm

Saints Place also has tutoring services for children and adults.

Hristo Botev School, Bulgaria

Gabriel bol Deng brought this school to our attention.  Here is an excerpt of a letter Gabriel forwarded to us: “In a small village in Northern Bulgaria, there is a house of about 40 children, ages 10-23, who have various levels of disabilities.  A Peace Corps Volunteer friend of mine, Dan, works in this home.  Recently, I visited Dan and the children he works with and since then, not a moment has gone by when I'm not haunted by the realities these children and staff face on a daily basis. In a country like Bulgaria, the system is so far out of touch that no one person or small group of people can make a change.  However, what can be done are tiny things -- tiny things that help make everyday life a bit easier.  Things like cloth pads for girls' menstrual cycles, cloth diapers, clothes, pillow cases, and underwear. This is what I'm asking for.  If you or any of your friends know of any individuals or organizations who are willing and able to provide these children with a few basic needs, I'd appreciate it more than you know... so would Dan, so would the nurses who work at this institution, and so would the children.”  Oswego has Heart is collecting these items to send to the school.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

Iraqi refugees in Iraq and Syria:

·         What they need:  Clothing- Particularly children’s clothing, Light coats (no winter coats, as the winters are mild), Shoes, Bags and other accessories, Money

·         What needs to be done: clothing needs to be collected, sorted for quality and suitability, washed, dried, sorted by gender and size, packaged, shipped to NYC.

·         What they need:  Baby bottles, Dishes, Blankets, Infant toys, Learning toys, Clay/play doh, Children’s learning tapes- VHS, Magnetic letters, Books, Coloring books, Pens, Pencils, Crayons, Colored pencils, Notebooks

·         What needs to be done: materials need to be collected, cleaned (if used), sorted for quality and suitability, packaged, shipped to NYC.