Thousands of people tragically lost their lives in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit cities and villages across northern and western Syria and southern and central Turkey on 6th February. As well as extensive loss of life, the earthquake and its aftershocks caused widespread damage to roads, communications infrastructure, and buildings, leaving over 1 million people homeless.
Dawoodi Bohras communities across the UK came together over the last month to raise much-needed funds for the international earthquake relief effort. Community members in London, Leicester and Nottingham hosted local fundraisers to gather donations for the charity White Helmets, a volunteer organisation that provides support with medical evacuation, urban search and rescue, and essential service delivery.
Shortly after the natural disaster occurred, 3,000 White Helmets volunteers arrived on the scene to recover victims so that their families could bury them with dignity. Experts surveyed the safety of homes and public buildings, securing sites, removing rubble, and reopening roads. Healthcare professionals continue to tour shelters to provide medical and psychological care to survivors left without homes. White Helmets volunteers are now beginning the next phase of their emergency response — recovery and rehabilitation — which continues to require funding.
Bohra communities around the country wanted to play their part. Donations from two bake sales and an artistic expression event contributed to over £3.5k being donated to the White Helmets, enabling the charity to purchase first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and other much-needed material for the search and rescue efforts.
London
Within days of this devastating disaster, the Dawoodi Bohras of London organised a bake sale selling sweet and savoury baked goods and chai at Husainy Masjid in Ealing. Generous contributions were made on the day and continued to trickle in for days after.
Leicester
Dawoodi Bohra community members in Leicester held an earthquake appeal bake sale the following weekend. Leicester’s talented bakers graciously prepared baked goods, which were purchased by many, including several local councillors who attended the event.
Nottingham
The Dawoodi Bohras of Nottingham arranged a “craft and conversations” event to bring the community together and get creative. Visitors were able to purchase fabric gift bags and personalise them either using tie dye, fabric paints, appliqué or cricut technology. All proceeds from the bag purchase were donated to The White Helmets.
All events were organised as part of the Dawoodi Bohras’ global Project Rise initiative, which seeks to provide support to vulnerable people in communities throughout the world.