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Scholarship and shelter

Two Syrian scholars discuss their studies at Birkbeck, after joining the university through support from the Council for At-Risk Academics.

The Great Colonnade at Apamea, Syria - the country where Two PhD students have joined Birkbeck on Fellowships from the Council for At-Risk Academics.
The Great Colonnade at Apamea, Syria

Two PhD students, both from Syria, have joined Birkbeck on Fellowships from the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara). Cara was founded in 1933 in response to the expulsion of leading scholars from Nazi Germany and has been providing support to academics fleeing from oppressive regimes ever since. Birkbeck too has a long history of supporting refugees, beginning in 1914 when the College welcomed Belgian refugees fleeing the German advance in World War I. Welcoming at-risk academics to our community through Cara today is a continuation of this century-old tradition.

Ibrahim Haidar, a PhD candidate in Birkbeck’s Department of Management and Cara Fellow said: “If somebody gives you a hand to better your living circumstances from a dangerous and stagnant environment to a safe and productive state, she, he or it means family to you. Cara's personnel have been very faithful in doing their best to help us move from dark to light, from desperation to hope and from fear to peace.”

Another of Birkbeck’s Cara Fellows, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said: “To me, Cara is the guardian of Syria’s future. So, while other humanitarian organisations are helping Syrians survive the everyday life (providing food, for example), Cara’s work is different: it helps to build the future by providing a safe place for the academics to work on issues related, in most cases, to how to assist in rebuilding Syria.

“Cara’s Syria Programme keeps Syrian academics in touch with each other and supports our participation in international academia. My own research focuses on academic literacies development and academic publishing processes of exiled Syrian academics.”

Cara has recently launched the 10 x 20 fundraising campaign, which aims to persuade 10% of people working in UK higher education to give £20 to Cara every year. This would enable them to make more awards to persecuted academics and their families, and bring them to safety.

Stephen Wordsworth, Executive Director of Cara said:  “Over the last few years, as a result of crises across the Middle East in particular, Cara has faced a dramatic increase in the number of cases it is handling – each one a desperate individual, often with a family, trying to get to a place where they can continue their work in safety.  Universities like Birkbeck have stepped up their support, and we have been able to rescue more people – currently, we have over 280 Cara Fellows, with 350 family members – over 200 more than just three years ago.

“The initial response [to the 10 x 20 appeal] has been very positive.  People from more than 30 universities and 10 other organisations have already signed up to make regular donations.  It’s starting to make a real difference.  But there is still a long way to go.”

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