CROWD FUNDING CAMPAIGN TO HELP SYRIAN REFUGEE, KARIM, RAISES MORE THAN £9,000
18 January 2017
Elmbridge CAN’s first ever crowd funding campaign – to help Syrian refugee, Karim, resettle his family in the UK – has raised more than £9,000 in just over a week.
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Karim was the lead neurosurgeon at a large hospital in northern Syria. Like many others, he and his family were forced to flee when ISIS took control of the area.
Karim left his wife and three children living in cramped conditions at a relative’s house on the war-torn Turkey/Syria border while he travelled overland to the UK. He was granted asylum here in June 2016. Now after a long application process, the Home Office has granted visas for his wife and 3 children (one of whom is disabled), to join him here in the UK. The immediate task of resettling an entire refugee family is significant. Karim’s family will arrive this week with little more than a suitcase. Elmbridge CAN Co-Chair, Vicki Felgate, said: “We asked the community for help to resettle Karim’s family, and they responded with incredible kindness and generosity. This money will make a real difference to Karim and his family as they start their new life here in the UK. But it also shows what a welcoming community we live in.” Refugees at Home host, Steve, who’s been hosting Karim for several months told us: “Karim has been bowled over by such generosity which will ensure that his family gets the best possible start to their new life in Britain.” The money from the appeal will be spent on:
Karim has agreed to accept the deposit and first 2 months rent in the form of a loan that he will repay to Elmbridge CAN’s Refugee Support Fund. This means the donations will stretch to help more refugee families, like Karim’s, in the future. You can donate directly to our Support Fund here. |
Karim (centre) with his Refugees at Home hosts, Steve and Linda
Image: Becky Hill / Elmbridge CAN
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