Twelve Days Of Syria Giving

Every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas I'm making a donation to an organization providing humanitarian relief for Syrians. Here are twelve of them.

1. Syrian Expatriates Organization

app.etapestry.com / Via syrian-expatriates.org

Day One: Syrian Expatriates Organization

Don't be fooled. Syria may be in the Middle East, but it gets cold there - and it snows. Even in refugee camps, we are losing kids to hypothermia. That's why the Syrian Expatriates Organization's winter campaign is bringing warm clothing, heating oil and other winterization equipment deep into Syria.

Donate to SEO here.

2. Syrian American Medical Society

sams-usa.net / Via sams-usa.net

Day Two: Syrian American Medical Society

Headed by the tireless Dr. Zaher Sahloul. SAMS has many worthy programs. With the current conflict, many are unable to get regular care and medications for chronic conditions. SAMS responds to those needs, as well as to sudden emergencies - like the reappearance of polio inside Syria.

Donate to SAMS here.

3. Watan America

3b4efb995be6c5c64252-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.r12.cf1.rackcdn.com / Via watansyria.org

Day Three: Watan America

Watan is bringing baby formula to infants in Syria this winter. Who doesn't love feeding babies, I ask you??

Donate to Watan here.

4. Project Amal ou Salam

images.indiegogo.com / Via Facebook: ProjectAmalouSalam

Day Four: Project Amal ou Salam (hope and peace)

Project Amal ou Salam provides a safe space for the psychosocial support and care for Syria’s children.

When PTSD and depression are not treated in children they result in flashbacks, emotional instability, violent and aggressive behavior, bedwetting, nightmares, isolation and poor academic achievement. Helping the next generation cope with the trauma and tragedy of war will aid them in becoming strong, capable, and productive members of society ready to rebuild their country.

Donate to Project Amal ou Salam here.

5. Center for Victims of Torture

cvt.org / Via cvt.org

Day Five: Center for Victims of Torture.

When I was in Turkey I met several people who had suffered horrible fates at the hands of their own government. Even children are not immune from detention and abuse in this conflict. The Center for Victims of Torture provides mental health care, physical therapy and other professional clinical care for Syrian refugees who have suffered.

Donate to CVT here.

6. Institute of International Education's Syria Consortium

iie.org / Via iie.org

Day Six: The Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis

After an amazing meeting with the Institute for International Education, I'm making a gift today for their Syria program, a consortium which helps scholars in danger and provides language training, scholarships and Kaplan classes to students trying to go to college.

So many Syrian students have lost the opportunity to study and without an education, the world will lose the chance to benefit from the gifts they have to share. Be sure to designate your gift for Syria.

Donate to IIE here.

7. Relief International

ri.org / Via ri.org

Day Seven: Relief International

This is a great organization providing emergency assistance to Syrians in the form of water purification supplies, hygiene kits that include soap, toothbrushes, sanitary pads (for women), and other basic supplies, as well as a great educational program for kids in Jordan's refugee camps.

They provide remedial education and tutoring services for over 5,000 school children Grades 1 -11 residing in the Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan. They also have a a center in Qasabat Al-Karak, central Jordan, to assist Syrian refugee youth with school enrollment, educational support and “catch up” classes to help Syrian children catch up to their Jordanian peers.

Donate to Relief International here.

8. Syria: What Will Be

wordpress.com / Via syriawhatwillbe.com

Day Eight: Syria: What Will Be.

Formed by Dutch photographer and Ruben Elsinga and Syrian painter Soulaf Abas, this project will provide education and art therapy to Syrian children. They are raising funds through donations and raising awareness with a traveling art exhibit, coming to DC in January!

Donate to Syria What Will Be here.

9. NuDay Syria

nebula.wsimg.com / Via nudaysyria.net

Day Nine: NuDay Syria

NuDay provides clean drinking water for people inside Syria. Clean water is essential for life and health, and in formerly water-rich Syria, access is in serious jeopardy for many people.

Donate to NuDay Syria here.

10. Hand in Hand 4 Syria

handinhandforsyria.org.uk / Via handinhandforsyria.org.uk

Day Ten: Hand in Hand 4 Syria

This UK-based group is providing emergency aid, medical relief and purchasing ambulances in Syria.

Donate to Hand in Hand 4 Syria here.

11. Syria Relief and Development

syriareliefanddevelopment.org / Via syriareliefanddevelopment.org

Day Eleven: Syria Relief and Development

With winter rapidly approaching and the hunger crisis increasing daily inside Syria as more and more people continue to flee their homes and lose their sources of livelihood, Syria Relief and Development has launched a campaign to distribute winter care packages–filled with winter clothing, warm blankets, and food–to families in cities throughout Syria.

Donate to Syria Relief and Development here.

12. Al Seeraj

alseeraj.org / Via alseeraj.org

Day Twelve: Al Seeraj

Like the Grey's Anatomy of Syria - well, nothing like it, except for having doctors - Al Seeraj provides training and support for Syrian medical personnel. Doctors, nurses and even medical students are not immune from the danger of the current conflict. Al Seeraj provides fuel for generators to ensure clinics have power, and even salaries to help these caregivers support themselves.

Donate to Al Seeraj here.

Full Disclosure.

This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other organizations

undertaking charitable work for Syrians. I'm not affiliated or associated with any of these charities and I don't benefit from donations to them. I'm no lawyer, but the ones I know tell me I can't make any guarantees about or on behalf of these or any other charitable programs or organizations.