Simple Steps my Family is Taking in the Face of the Refugee Crisis and Terrorist Attacks

My heart and mind is heavy with the tragic Brussels attack, bombings in Turkey, and the subsequent calls by some aspiring US leaders for expanded torture options. Cap that off with the 5th anniversary of the Syrian conflict and the mind-numbing numbers of adults and children impacted by that crisis. I am called to act but I feel the paralysis of the overwhelming nature of the problems. So much to do in my regular day-to-day life — how can I impact global terrorism, the refugee crisis and scary US domestic political rhetoric?

For me, it starts by taking one small step.

**Nour, 18, Future Lawyer (Source: Meredith Hutchison/IRC**)

In thinking of what that step would be, I was reminded of the answer the CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF gave me when I asked what we could do to help Syrian refugees — besides give money. She said to keep talking about the crisis with everyone and don’t forget the kids. The kids who are among the most vulnerable, most innocent, and most in need of assistance.

So I’m sharing a few extremely simple steps I’m taking with my family to push back the hate and the feelings of futility and paralysis. By talking, connecting and supporting kids, I am responding to my call to act. This is how we are reaffirming our core values and rejecting xenophobes and demagogues.

All of these can be done in a few minutes — easily fit in while making Easter decorations or Purim cookies. If one strikes your fancy — go for it!

1. Talk with your kids/family/friends. I don’t know how to end the conflict or fix all the problems, but I — together with my family — can more deeply embrace our core values of love, kindness, compassion, hope and our common humanity as we discuss and respond to this crisis. This doesn’t have to be long or profound.

On a 6-minute drive to an after-school activity, my sixth-grader and I had a thoughtful conversation of how challenging it must be to be living in a refugee camp. I said my heart goes out to the kids. He asked why my heart doesn’t go out to everyone in that camp? Together we remembered to more widely embrace love and compassion. We are trying to be the change we want in this world.

Share how you are embracing love, kindness, and compassion.

2. Use technology to connect with our common humanity. My 9-year old (and I) found these photographs of girls stepping in to their future dream jobs inspiring.

“Walking down the street as a young girl in Syria or Jordan, I encountered many people suffering — sick or injured — and I always wanted to have the power and skills to help them. Now, as a great physician in my community, I have that ability. Easing someone’s pain is the most rewarding aspect of my job. To be able to give them relief and make them smile — this is what I love most.” **Future Doctor: Rama, 13 (Photo source:** **Meredith Hutchison/IRC**)

This virtual reality film especially caught the attention of my sixth-grader. This 8-minute kid appropriate film by Vrse is told from the perspective of a 12-year old girl in a Jordanian refugee camp.

Clouds Over Sidra
The Zaatari Refugee Camp is home to 130,000 Syrians fleeing violence and war. Children make up half the camp's…vrse.com

3. Express Gratitude. As I research my writing topics I spend hours looking at pretty grim stuff. (Most recently the refugee crisis in South Sudan.) Instead of allowing the pervasive greed and violence overwhelm me — I mentally embrace gratitude and hope. I also express gratitude out loud with my kids in our new-to-us bedtime meditations.

Right now my gratitude goes to the many people and organizations doing essential work to help the most vulnerable. There are the big organizations, but also all the people all over the world who in addition to their regular day jobs extend themselves to collect funds and baby carriers, reunite lost refugee pets, open their homes to displaced families, pass out blankets, build a better refugee camp, and so much more.

4. Support an organization that resonates with you. Thankfully there are many effective organizations doing good work to alleviate the immediate problems facing refugees as well as working toward lasting solutions and self-sufficiency. Here are a few ideas: International Rescue Committee (IRC) — an organization that seems to be among the first there wherever there is an emergency, Mercy Corps — supporting innovative programs for Syrian youth and UNICEF — dedicated to helping our world’s most vulnerable kids.

At a Mercy Corps youth center in Gaziantep, Sami is able to keep his eye toward the future while being part of a community again. More than anything, he wants to return to Syria so he can go to medical school and achieve his goal of becoming a doctor. (source)

5. Have 30 seconds or less? You can sign a petition and tell your Representatives and Senators to support funding for programs that empower Syrian youth and young people throughout the Middle East to work towards a stronger tomorrow.

And finally, a reflection on why our time calls for hope (and action.)

“Hope is an embrace of the unknown and the unknowable, an alternative to the certainty of both optimists and pessimists. Optimists think it will all be fine without our involvement; pessimists take the opposite position; both excuse themselves from acting. It’s the belief that what we do matters even though how and when it may matter, who and what it may impact, are not things we can know beforehand. We may not, in fact, know them afterward either, but they matter all the same…” — Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark (via Maria Popova Brainpickings.org)