Insan - which means ‘Human’ - is a non-profit organisation that offers psychosocial support to Syrian refugees, plus training to those working in refugee camps. It was set up by a group of psychologists back in 2012, as a response to the atrocities of the first rape cases in Homs, Syria.
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Funds raised successfully
Great news! The campaign reached its target and plans are now being made to put the donations to good use.
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Project in progress
The local humanitarian organisation is now using the funds it has raised to provide crucial on-the-ground support to local communities.
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Another successful project
Thanks! Your kind support has helped this local humanitarian organisation to reduce suffering and save lives in a war-torn community.
Status of Campaign: Project in Progress
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Raising Funds
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Success Funded
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Project in Progress
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Project Successful
A Lifeline For Survival
Eastern Ghouta is in a state of emergency. Around 400,000 civilians are trapped, suffering starvation and intensive bombing, with schools and medical facilities being deliberately targeted. Aid can't yet reach these people – but our crucial psychosocial support can. We urgently need funding to continue to provide this vital lifeline.
"Since the siege began [in 2013] I’ve been asking myself, why am I here? Trying to find some meaning. One day I realised, I am here because my daughters and my husband need me, my siblings treat me like their mother because we have lost ours. So the reason I am surviving is my family."
A State Of Emergency
Imagine being imprisoned in your own home as bombs rain down day after day, destroying your community and killing your family and friends. That's the horrific reality faced by those in besieged Eastern Ghouta.
The situation is critical. The conflict in the area is reminiscent of Aleppo last November – but unlike Aleppo, there is very little coverage in the West of these shocking circumstances. The military campaign has intensified since November as armed groups fight to gain control of the area. Civilians trapped here are now experiencing the area's worst-ever shelling, with vicious new cluster bombs making it too dangerous to leave their homes.
The conflict is so extreme that aid can't yet get through. But technology can reach where people cannot tread, and our psychosocial support offers hope to those with nowhere else to turn.
Psychosocial Support: A Vital Resource
For most of us, the terror of living in a war zone is inconceivable. But we've all experienced times when we've needed emotional support - or have helped our friends and family through tough times.
INSAN has already begun a programme to provide this critical psychological care for the civilians in Eastern Ghouta. It's a vital resource, helping people to stay resilient as their lives are in constant danger, and to support their communities. For many, it's their only hope.
As the unrelenting conflict reaches emergency levels, we are seeking urgent funding to continue to provide this essential lifeline.
How We Can Help
In July 2017, 54 CanDoers assisted our project to deliver a 12-step training programme to 14 female school teachers in Eastern Ghouta. The programme provided them with strategies to endure living in a war zone. They became the INSAN psychosocial field team, learning how to support themselves and others in these horrific circumstances.
INSAN's expert team are now in almost constant contact with these 14 women via WhatsApp, especially while they are sheltering during the bombing. We provide intensive psychosocial care and techniques that help them deal with their fear and distress.
The message exchanges provide reassurance and encouragement, allowing them to emotionally offload and stay strong. The WhatsApp group chat has become a virtual safe-haven for the women. The programme has transformed their lives and those of their communities, giving them the tools to keep going until the day that aid can reach them.
Stepping Up Our Support
As conditions become increasingly dangerous, the women need this lifeline more urgently than ever. They also need access to assistance that can be provided even when we are offline or if the internet is down. We have been working on a prototype self-help mobile app, which will provide the basic techniques of psychosocial support.
The app – which will be a small file and one-time download – will also provide advice and guidance, plus access to the content of the 12-step programme. We will include an optional feature to communicate directly with a psychologist, who can give individual counselling when needed.
The successfully funded campaign will provide:
Continued psychosocial support to our 14 women field team via a WhatsApp group facilitated by INSAN psychologists
Psychosocial support to our 14 women’s personal network via WhatsApp facilitated by INSAN psychologists, supported by the field team
A self-help mobile app to provide basic psychosocial techniques, advice and guidance.
This work is a critical lifeline for the people of Eastern Ghouta. Please support and contribute whatever you can to our campaign.
“When we learnt about CanDo and its partner Insan’s work, we knew immediately we wanted to help this important psychosocial project with the women of East Ghouta” said Brian Cross, trustee.
“Being a small, responsive organisation we were able to provide the necessary funds to complete the app development. We look forward to hearing about the considerable benefits it will bring, we’re sure this is precisely what our generous donors would want to hear about.”
About the Syrian Refugee Relief Fund
The Syrian Refugee Relief Fund is a small charity co-founded by Will Wintercross, a Daily Telegraph journalist who has covered the Syrian war. Will saw first-hand the death, destruction and displacement of the Syrian people and was deeply moved by his experience. On returning home to the UK he was determined to give something back on a humanitarian level. The Syrian Refugee Relief Fund has been partnered with Syria Relief, another UK registered charity that works on the ground, for the past 3 years. They have been financially supporting Syria Relief’s Orphans Programme and their Prosthetic Limbs clinics.
Did you know?
By donating
£ 15 it would cover psychosocial support for 1 woman for 1 month
£ 50 it would cover psychosocial support for 1 woman for 3 months
£ 100 it would cover the app for 15 people*
£ 150 it would cover the app for 20 people*
£ 200 it would cover psychosocial support for our 14 women field team for 1 month
£ 500 it would cover the app for 70 people*
*estimated on the total number of downloads = 600
Why crowdfunding?
As an organisation we do not have any other access to direct funding. Crowdfunding is incredibly important for us in order to raise money quickly for essential health projects. Because of this lack of direct funding, if we do not reach our fundraising target the project cannot go ahead – we simply do not have any other method to ‘top-up’ the budget required.
Your support will help ease the suffering of many women in besieged Ghouta.
Sincere thanks to everyone donated towards this project - every donation warmed our heart.
Special gratitude to SYRIAN REFUGEE RELIEF FUND supported our campaign to allow us to reach our funding goal.
We will keep you informed of our progress.
Thank you again, the INSAN team
Your support will help ease the suffering of many women in besieged Ghouta.
Sincere thanks to everyone donated towards this project - every donation warmed our heart.
Special gratitude to SYRIAN REFUGEE RELIEF FUND supported our campaign to allow us to reach our funding goal.
We will keep you informed of our progress.
Your contribution has not only saved the campaign, but it will save dozens of women in Al-Gauta and make them effective again in their society.
Thanks a lot to The Syrian Refugee Relief Fund!
How can you reach people who need psychological support when they are under attack? Through their phones - by connecting them directly with psychologists, and teaching them coping mechanisms for self healing. If you’re even more innovative, you might create an app that helps reach more people and even works offline. That’s what Insan’s project did.
How can you reach people who need psychological support when they are under attack? Through their phones - by connecting them directly with psychologists, and teaching them coping mechanisms for self healing. If you’re even more innovative, you might create an app that helps reach more people and even works offline. That’s what Insan’s project did.
Campaign Aims
Develop and test an app to provide basic psychosocial techniques, advice and user access to a psychologist.
Lead women suffering from psychological trauma through the ‘12 Steps to Deal with Crisis program’, providing psychological assessment and support and coping mechanisms.
Create online support groups accessible 24/7 to people living through trauma and war, led by both psychologists and psychosocial supporters.
Train women to be able to use these tools to also teach and support others around them.
The Impact By Numbers
1 New App Launched
The Impact By Numbers
1 New App Launched
1 app created and developed to provide people with basic psychosocial techniques, advice and guidance wherever they are
65 Women Trained
65 women provided with psychotherapy for their severe needs, as well as trained in coping tools in order to support others around them
533 People Supported
533 people supported through people power as the initial group passed on the training they received
65 Women Trained
533 People Supported
The project's impact in just one story...
Insan received so many heartfelt messages from all involved that one story is hard to select above others. We’ve chosen this one because it speaks of the community that Insan created, and of hope. ‘My mind stopped working while the planes were hovering over our heads. When my brother died I felt I lost all hope; I thought of suicide. What kept me strong was the 12 steps... I managed to get out of the sadness I was in with the group support and through communicating with Insan during our hardest times. You gave me strength and hope to go on. I really needed what you gave me.’
The project's impact in just one story...
Insan received so many heartfelt messages from all involved that one story is hard to select above others. We’ve chosen this one because it speaks of the community that Insan created, and of hope. ‘My mind stopped working while the planes were hovering over our heads. When my brother died I felt I lost all hope; I thought of suicide. What kept me strong was the 12 steps... I managed to get out of the sadness I was in with the group support and through communicating with Insan during our hardest times. You gave me strength and hope to go on. I really needed what you gave me.’
Some Key Wins
During bombardment, the members of the Insan team kept in contact with each other to ensure that everyone was safe. Despite some women losing cell phones, they insisted on maintaining access to the groups, using relatives phones.
In bomb shelters, women felt like they were now more able to cope and even to take the lead as they educated and supported others around them.
Campaign Outcome: Success!
Success! 100% of the £7,146 needed to implement this project was raised thanks to 44 CanDoers from 4 countries. Their amazing app is now available for download, with Insan testing and improving it so its impact continues to grow and improve.
Campaign Outcome: Success!
Success! 100% of the £7,146 needed to implement this project was raised thanks to 44 CanDoers from 4 countries. Their amazing app is now available for download, with Insan testing and improving it so its impact continues to grow and improve.
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Comments
Your support will help ease the suffering of many women in besieged Ghouta.
Sincere thanks to everyone donated towards this project - every donation warmed our heart.
Special gratitude to SYRIAN REFUGEE RELIEF FUND supported our campaign to allow us to reach our funding goal.
We will keep you informed of our progress.
Thank you again, the INSAN team
The Syrian Refugee Relief Fund are delighted to support this campaign.
Your contribution has not only saved the campaign, but it will save dozens of women in Al-Gauta and make them effective again in their society.
Thanks a lot to The Syrian Refugee Relief Fund!
The siege of Eastern Ghouta is a crime against humanity.
Thanks for your contribution against this crime.
Because I am safe but others are not.
We strive for the safety of souls and humanity
Well done on your remarkable work.
Thank you for your nice words and support.
We just want to contribute to something that will so clearly help and must be so desperately needed.
This project will use technology to help people under siege remotely. Thanks for supporting us.
Insan, your work is fantastic. Your energy, commitment, creativity, team work and faithful are so inspiring. Simply love you and love your work
We are doing just a little job. The need is enormous and we rely on your support and assistance.
Thank you very much.
Admiration for a lady named Rola known to my step daughter.
Admiration from us also to you and to Mrs. Rola and all her team.
I admire the great work you're doing x
Your support is a major reason to succeed in this project.
I am only sorry this is so small. You are doing wonderful work
We appreciate this great help. Thank you for supporting this project.
Thank you for your important work
Your support is a great help to us in this project. Thanks.
As humanity we can do better. Thank you for taking steps towards that.
Thank you and appreciating your support.
Because it is something little I can do.
It is not how much but it is your feeling towards the humanity. Thanks.
I know its not much but I hope that if everyone does what they can, then maybe a real difference can be made.
Yes, hand by hand we can achieve all our goals. This is the crowd funding.
Thank you for your donation.
To help care for the carers
Supporting the helpers is a great and appreciated help.
Stay strong. You guys are amazing
We play a small role in this great task. But your support is the most important part of it.
Thank you for doing this vital work in such difficult conditions - in awe of your strength and humanity
We must challenge the difficulties in order to help humanity. Appreciating your support.
Good luck with your campaign.
Thanks for your nice words and support.
wishing to support the people of Eastern Ghouta
Thanks for your support. It is a great help towards this goal.
Mental health support to deal with trauma is so important, as is the support for the people looking after others. Keep up the fantastic work.
Doing our best to fill the gap in mental health support in areas under siege. Your support to this project is a great step towards success.
Women need our help, they are our bearers and blessings
That's right! Women are the most important part of any society. Your support is very appreciated.
I hope this goes a little way in helping you and the good work you do
Actually, it is a great help from you. Thank you for your donation.
All my love at Christmas
Thank you for your feelings and support.
Well done for all the work you do to make a difference!
Our mission is to reform the souls for the reform of life.
We appreciate your support to this project.
Insan team, you are an inspiration to us all. Keep up the amazing work.
It is our obligation and we strive to achieve it by all means. Your support is the basis of our success.
I love your work and your humanity
Humanity is what we believe in. Thanks for your support.
Insan you are an inspiration. My heart bleeds for E Ghouta and Syria
Donors like you are the ones who make the way for us to help affected people. Thank you.
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