By Gabrielle Liu – Junior Copy Editor

A group of three Syrian community members organized two fundraisers in March for earthquake relief efforts in Syria. Muhi Tahhan, a third-year Bishop’s student, and graduates Mai Aljounde and Joy Korji continue to mobilize efforts following their success collecting physical and monetary donations in February. 

For their first event, they partnered with the Lennoxville Basketball Development Program for a March Madness bracket competition. Participants could donate a minimum of $20 to fill out a bracket for a chance to win cash prizes, with 50 per cent of the donations going to Lennoxville Prep, and 50 per cent toward earthquake relief. According to Tahhan, Matt McLean, the director of Lennoxville Prep, initiated the idea. Lennoxville Prep hosts this bracket competition annually, splitting the fundraising proceeds between their tournament costs and a charity or organization of choice. Lennoxville Prep’s ESPN group had 82 participants in the fundraiser. According to Tahhan, donations have continued to roll in after the bracket competition closed.

Tahhan, Aljounde, and Korji also partnered with the World University Service Canada (WUSC) and the Muslim Student Association to host a dodgeball tournament in Mitchell Gym on Feb. 24. The entry fee was $10. When asked whether it was intentional that they chose sports-related events, Tahhan said that they thought that students should receive something out of their donations. He noted that because finals were approaching, this could be a way for them to blow off some steam. Under their student refugee program, WUSC sponsored Tahhan to study at Champlain College and assists student refugees in becoming permanent residents.

Like their February fundraiser in the SUB, the donations from both events will go directly to the Syrian relief fund collected by the St. Ephrem Church in Sherbrooke. Tahhan clarified that Korji serves on the board of the church and helps transfer the money to a local organization in Aleppo that collects necessities like food and diapers for families.

Tahhan explained that their previous fundraiser on campus held in mid-February collected approximately $800 in cash donations. He mentions that the $800 does not include direct donations to the NGO White Helmets, e-transfers collected at their booth, and the value of the food, clothing, and essentials collected to be shipped to Syria. The cash donations are transferred rather than used to buy and ship Canadian goods overseas. Tahhan explains that they are “trying not to lose money with shipping and transactions.” Even one dollar can be impactful, since the Syrian pound is lower in value than the Canadian dollar, and goods can be more affordable in Syria. “We had great response from students, staff, and the community around,” he said. “We want to thank the students who have donated and shared [our fundraiser] on stories,” he added. 

When asked about his, Aljounde’s, and Korji’s ability to maintain fundraising momentum, Muhi mentioned that he is taking five classes this semester and that it can be difficult trying to keep up. “Some of us are disregarding school; Some of us are disregarding work,” he said. However, this is “something that needed to be done”. In the long run, Tahhan spoke of a long-term dream to form an NGO with Aljounde and Korji, focused on relief and charity work in Syria, reflecting on the conflict being 12 years in. We are “trying to pay back to the country that raised us,” he said.