Ravensthorpe charity workers support Syrian refugees in Turkey

Four people from the Sacred Knowledge Trust in Ravensthorpe visited a refugee camp with two people from California.

The charity, based at the Addas Centre in Huddersfield Road, has been raising money for Syrian refugees since the uprising in the country started a year ago.

In that time they have raised around £100,000, which has been used to buy supplies for people who have escaped the violence and fled into Turkey.

To ensure that the money was being spend as effectively and efficiently as possible, a group from the charity visited a refugee camp that had around 400 tents full of families.

Qassin Abbasi said: “We wanted to deliver our support to the refugees, assess the situation, see how we can use our resources better and witness first hand what is going on to build a connection with the actual cause.

“We spoke to refugees and they were telling us that they were okay and they wanted us to concentrate our efforts on the people left inside Syria.”

Some members of the Sacred Knowledge Trust have spent up to 10 years in Syria, so they have strong links with the country which helps them get aid to where it is needed.

Mr Abbasi said: “The refugees consider themselves lucky. It’s not as if they are wallowing in self-pity because they know the situation is much worse over the border.

“Experiences like these improves you as a person because in a sense it motivates you to do more.”

To donate to the Sacred Knowledge Trust’s Syria appeal text SYRI99 to 70070 or visit www.sktwelfare.org.uk.