On Sunday 20th January the College Chapel launched a new Hilary Term charity fundraising initiative with St Hugh’s alumna Louisa Barnett (Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, 2005), alongside her colleague Marina Carnwath, and featuring special music from the Chapel Choir.
The ‘Singing for Syrians’ campaign is a special effort of the Hands Up Foundation to send aid to needy people including children, women, and men who are experiencing unthinkable suffering due to the current Syrian conflict. Singing for Syrians encourages individuals, bands, choirs, schools, chapels, and churches across the UK to raise the roof—and as much money as possible—by holding singing events as part of the wider initiative. St Hugh’s alumna Louisa Barnett established the Hands Up Foundation with a few friends in 2014.
Louisa described in her address at the chapel the “unimaginable suffering” experienced by so many Syrians during this time, and how our gifts, however small they may seem, can make an enormous difference. Approximately £500, for example, will pay for a prosthetic leg – which many children need as a direct result of the war; there are an estimated 50,000 amputees in Syria. Our goal, therefore, is to raise at least this amount, £500. All at St Hugh’s are welcome to join in the Chapel’s efforts to support the Singing for Syrians campaign financially throughout Hilary Term. Every penny collected at our Chapel’s services will go to the charity.
If you would like to know more visit the website noted above, or contact Dr Shaun Henson about donations at: shaun.henson@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk. Thank you.
