San Jose State launches fundraiser for Syrian refugees

A unique fundraising effort launched on a university campus in the South Bay today to sell bags made half way around the world.

During a study trip abroad last summer, San Jose State Journalism professor Halima Kazem noticed a handmade bag being made in a Syrian refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece.
 
"And the people there showed it to us and said, 'Would you like to buy a bag?' " said Kazem. "I think [my colleague] and I looked at each other and said, 'Whoa--what a great fundraiser."
 
Behind these brightly colored bags, a dark chapter. Because each is made from different life vests refugees wore while making the dangerous trek by boat from Turkey to Greece.

San Jose State University Associate Journalism professor and former KTVU Reporter Diane Guerazzi was also on the trip.
 
"Life jackets, you see them all over. They're on benches, they're on the beaches, they're on the fences just being hung out to dry," said Guerrazzi.

Now with the help of Kazem's Public Relations class and campus clubs, they're selling the bags between $14 and $40 and sending the money back to the refugee camp.

San Jose State student Jana Kadah is head of the SJSU Syrian Refugee Committee and helping with the effort.
 
"A bigger response than we expected. I shared it on Facebook and people all over the U.S. are interested in these bags so I think this project could be bigger than San Jose State," said Kadah.
 
"This is a piece of their journey and to have that here and tell people their story, that inspires me the most," said student Isabelle Tham, who was part of the summer study abroad trip.
 
Organizers hope to sell all 130 bags by Christmas and raise about $3,000 and say 100% of the money is headed back to the refugee camp where they were made.

For more information about the bags, contact Professor Kazem at: halima.kazem@sjsu.edu.