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Kickstarter pairs with UNHCR to help Syrian refugees after White House call Kickstarter pairs with UNHCR to help Syrian refugees after White House call
(35 minutes later)
A White House initiative on behalf of Syrian refugees has brought together the crowdfunding website Kickstarter and the United Nations refugee agency for a weeklong fundraising push that all sides hope could represent a breakthrough in charitable giving for Syria.A White House initiative on behalf of Syrian refugees has brought together the crowdfunding website Kickstarter and the United Nations refugee agency for a weeklong fundraising push that all sides hope could represent a breakthrough in charitable giving for Syria.
Related: Syrian refugee crisis: why has it become so bad?Related: Syrian refugee crisis: why has it become so bad?
A specially dedicated Kickstarter page launched on Tuesday morning invites donors to make tax-deductible contributions to help Syrian refugees, with all proceeds going to the US Association of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).A specially dedicated Kickstarter page launched on Tuesday morning invites donors to make tax-deductible contributions to help Syrian refugees, with all proceeds going to the US Association of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).
The fundraising site will feature video reportage by the Guardian on the refugees’ plight.The fundraising site will feature video reportage by the Guardian on the refugees’ plight.
The project took off after the White House contacted Kickstarter, known for crowdfunding creative projects, two weeks ago to talk about new ways to get the US public involved in the Syrian relief effort, said Kickstarter’s CEO, Yancey Strickler.The project took off after the White House contacted Kickstarter, known for crowdfunding creative projects, two weeks ago to talk about new ways to get the US public involved in the Syrian relief effort, said Kickstarter’s CEO, Yancey Strickler.
“I immediately said yes,” Strickler said. “This is not something that we have ever done before. We have always kept the platform focused strictly on creative projects.“I immediately said yes,” Strickler said. “This is not something that we have ever done before. We have always kept the platform focused strictly on creative projects.
“But in this instance, it’s a call from the White House. And feeling, like a lot of people, overwhelmed by the immensity of this situation, we felt compelled to act, and felt like if our product could provide any path forward for the people, we should do that.”“But in this instance, it’s a call from the White House. And feeling, like a lot of people, overwhelmed by the immensity of this situation, we felt compelled to act, and felt like if our product could provide any path forward for the people, we should do that.”
The UN refugee agency welcomed the partnership as a potentially powerful new tool in providing relief to hundreds of thousands of refugees making their way into Europe from Syria and in intermediary refugee camps. The Syrian conflict has displaced an estimated 11.6 million people in under five years.The UN refugee agency welcomed the partnership as a potentially powerful new tool in providing relief to hundreds of thousands of refugees making their way into Europe from Syria and in intermediary refugee camps. The Syrian conflict has displaced an estimated 11.6 million people in under five years.
“This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to partner with a group like Kickstarter,” said Anne-Marie Grey, executive director of USA for UNHCR. “This is a terrific opportunity, and it’s a very different group of people than would normally raise their hands to support refugee causes, so it’s really quite exciting.”“This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to partner with a group like Kickstarter,” said Anne-Marie Grey, executive director of USA for UNHCR. “This is a terrific opportunity, and it’s a very different group of people than would normally raise their hands to support refugee causes, so it’s really quite exciting.”
Donations will go toward the purchase and distribution of life-saving equipment including tents; emergency rescue kits including water, food, and warm clothing; sleeping bags, thermal mattresses, sleeping mats, and other lifesaving essentials; and foster care and counselling. Donations will go toward the purchase and distribution of life-saving equipment including tents; emergency rescue kits including water, food and warm clothing; sleeping bags, thermal mattresses, sleeping mats and other lifesaving essentials; and foster care and counselling.
The material will be delivered to refugee camps and communities around Syria, and to refugees traveling from various points into Europe. An estimated half a million refugees from the Syrian conflict have arrived in Europe this year, and 800,000 or more are expected by year’s end.The material will be delivered to refugee camps and communities around Syria, and to refugees traveling from various points into Europe. An estimated half a million refugees from the Syrian conflict have arrived in Europe this year, and 800,000 or more are expected by year’s end.
About 51% of the refugees are women and children, Grey said. “These are people like you and me,” she said. “The statistics are huge, but we’ve got to remember that these are individual human beings, and this is about humanity.”About 51% of the refugees are women and children, Grey said. “These are people like you and me,” she said. “The statistics are huge, but we’ve got to remember that these are individual human beings, and this is about humanity.”
Unlike other Kickstarter projects, the project to help Syrian refugees does not have an all-or-nothing funding goal. All donations in any amount will be accepted. Backers will be charged as soon as they donate. Kickstarter plans to donate its usual 5% fee to the refugee agency.Unlike other Kickstarter projects, the project to help Syrian refugees does not have an all-or-nothing funding goal. All donations in any amount will be accepted. Backers will be charged as soon as they donate. Kickstarter plans to donate its usual 5% fee to the refugee agency.
In its six-plus years in business, Kickstarter has raised nearly $2bn for creative projects from some 10 million unique backers. About a third of those are repeat donors.In its six-plus years in business, Kickstarter has raised nearly $2bn for creative projects from some 10 million unique backers. About a third of those are repeat donors.
Related: 'My body is in America but my soul is in Syria': a refugee family's journey to USRelated: 'My body is in America but my soul is in Syria': a refugee family's journey to US
Last month, President Obama directed his administration to prepare to accept 10,000 new refugees from Syria in the next fiscal year. The effort faces significant logistical barriers, including delays from mandatory background checks and from a backlog of cases.Last month, President Obama directed his administration to prepare to accept 10,000 new refugees from Syria in the next fiscal year. The effort faces significant logistical barriers, including delays from mandatory background checks and from a backlog of cases.
By the end of September, the United States was expected to have admitted 1,800 Syrian refugees total, in almost five years of fighting, out of about 70,000 refugees the United States accepts for resettlement each year. The United States had spent $4bn on security and fresh water and food for Syrian refugees living in camps outside the country.By the end of September, the United States was expected to have admitted 1,800 Syrian refugees total, in almost five years of fighting, out of about 70,000 refugees the United States accepts for resettlement each year. The United States had spent $4bn on security and fresh water and food for Syrian refugees living in camps outside the country.