A Heart Shaped Like Syria

Abstract

A small private university in rural Indiana has connected itself irrevocably to the protracted Syrian conflict. Through the efforts of committed students, faculty, and community members – stupefied by the endless violence – this cohort of kindred souls has committed itself to creating solace and support for Syrian students, their families, and their countrymen everywhere. Inspired by a story of torture and displacement, a professor, along with her Syrian students and their American allies, have implemented outreach education programs, campus and community initiatives, local business partnerships, and social media support, creating agency for displaced Syrians, not as passive beneficiaries but as co-partners for change and solidarity.

Citation

Vignola, G. (2019), "A Heart Shaped Like Syria", Conflict and Forced Migration (Studies in Symbolic Interaction, Vol. 51), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 227-241. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0163-239620190000051012