Syracuse University students hosted a fundraiser in People’s Place and the second floor of the College of Law on Tuesday to provide humanitarian relief for Syrians.

The I Am Syria fundraiser will donate money to the Foundation to Restore Equality and Education in Syria, or “FREE-Syria,” said Uzma Gulamali, a student representative for I Am Syria, a non-profit media-based campaign that focuses on educating people on the Syrian conflict.

Students can purchase bracelets for $1 each and a bracelet with a water bottle or a soda for $2. The fundraiser will also be held in People’s Place on Friday.

Gulamali said the organization decided to have the fundraiser to commemorate the third anniversary of the start of the Syrian Civil War, which was March 15. Around that time, she said they had fliers around the campus highlighting facts about the civil war. That led them to host a fundraiser.

“We decided to do a fundraiser so we can do a little bit more than just raising awareness and taking more of an active role,” she said.

The Syrian Civil War began to unfold in March 2011 when protestors demanded the release of political prisoners, according to BBC News.  Security forces opened fire on, and later killed, some civilians, leading to violence that soon spread across the country for months. It also spawned the movement known as the Arab Spring.

Gulamali wants to raise at least $500, she said. They did not reach the goal on Tuesday, but she said she hopes they will on Friday.

Still, Gulamali wants students to gain an understanding of the conflict. She said being aware of the situation is the first step, but students should strive to understand what’s happening and take a stand.

Gulamali said she feels that most people have forgotten about the issue, especially since it hasn’t received as much news coverage as it has in the past. People end up forgetting unless they take the time to know or to understand what’s happening, she said.

“It can happen anywhere,” she said. “Another civil war such as this can also arise at a later time. I feel that right now it’s about the Syrian conflict. But as humans, we have the responsibility to make sure other humans are treated right, that they’re given quality rights.”

Published on April 16, 2014 at 1:02 am

Contact Ellen: ekmeyers@syr.edu | @ellenkmeyers