dootdootfloop
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TL:DR Syrian dude thats sold pens had $200,000 donated opens bakery, kebab house, and small resturant . helps other Syrians by giving the jobs also helps Syrians still in his home country
The photo above, showing Abdul with his daughter, was taken by a stranger earlier this summer. It shows the heartbreaking reality that millions of others just like him are facing. After being shared on social media, it quickly became viral and touched people around the world.
Among the people affected by the photo was a Norwegian web developer named Gissur Simonarso. He was so moved by Abdul's situation that he launched a crowdfunding campaign online to raise money for Abdul and his family. The support came pouring in an astonishing rate and the campaign closed out with nearly $200,000 in donations.
When he found out about the money he was about to receive, Abdul knew exactly what he wanted to do. He invested the money into buying a bakery and eventually also opened up a kebab shop and a small restaurant. Knowing first-hand just how difficult it is for the nearly 1.2 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon to find meaningful employment, he now employs 16 refugees in his shops. Additionally, he sent some money back to Syria to friends and family who are still struggling there.
Perhaps most importantly, Abdul also used the money to rent out a 2-bedroom apartment where his 4-year-old daughter, Reem, and 9-year-old son, Abdullelah, can finally feel safe. "Not only did my life change, but also the lives of my children and the lives of people in Syria whom I helped," he says.
At a time when so much of the conversation around the Syrian refugee crisis is dominated by fear and hate, it's so important to remember stories like Abdul's. Every loving father deserves the opportunity to keep his family safe, warm and well-fed, and there are millions more out there just like him. It just goes to show that a little kindness can go a long, long way. Next time you have a chance to do something nice - even if it's as seemingly insignificant as taking a picture and hitting the "share" button - do it. You may just be changing someone's life.
FP edit : Be excellent to each other if you can do that at least me nice. if anyone would like to chat id love to :) ive got the internets for boobies.
minneapple
I still can't look at that first picture without tearing up. It broke my heart, and I'm so glad there was a happy ending.
DentAurthurDent
And now he's become famous enough to be a sweet target for terrorists. (Daesh, or Racist types)
teufelhundenz
*an update
bachterman
yeah, but pens?
OnlyPostsGetRekt
Now I really want a kebab. I wish I could have my own kebab place. Mhhh.... I'm hungry.
funkjacket
Be Excellent To Each Other
PersonalityFire
http://benjaminstudebaker.com/2015/11/20/4-arguments-against-accepting-syrian-refugees-and-why-they-all-fail/
l1ldreamstar
This makes me smile, thank you for the update.
CruelCoppinger
Thanks for the update.
dootdootfloop
thanks for the comment home slice
ZachPutland
Feels good man
comeonartax
I love this
Kelloggs9
+1 for TL;DR at the top of the post. +a lot for content.
dootdootfloop
thanks
daddytouchedmeinthewifi
I'm not crying. Ninjas are cutting invisible onions around me
dootdootfloop
hi ya
docweird
I wonder if in the end donating $200.000 per family would be cheaper than getting everyone settled in other countries.
TH3S33KER
Not only imgur but Internet, go to the Internet to get your voice heard
Saxamaphooone
Whats the name of the restaurant in Lebanon, i want to visit it
dootdootfloop
i dunno you will hae to have a look yourself iim sorry
rainygem
This is just wonderful
dootdootfloop
you are fucking wonderful 1
imnotinprisonhidingaphoneinmybutt
This is what I like to see here.
Dipityseren
It's easier to connect with one known person than a million vague victims. It's a pity we can't connect with the rest somehow.
dootdootfloop
positive thoughts are a wonderful start tho
Dipityseren
Yes, absolutely,I do not deny this man one iota of his joy and achievements and his creating opportunities for others. He's wonderful.
dootdootfloop
yes many would have fucked off bbught land and been selfish this man knows what love and family are all about. money cant buy you love
PseudoKirby
that doesnt seem to be the right toy for a 4 year old.
dootdootfloop
i know
AceofHearts10
This is the kind of heartwarming stuff I like to see on imgur
IpostMyDogALot
Brought tears to my eyes.
Averagesize
I wish news networks would show stuff like this
zorock
Crowdfunding is nice and all when it works, but so many people in real need are ignored, while others get money for a laptop :/
Grannyc
This, ass, and corgis.
dootdootfloop
exactly not cynical circle jerkers more concernned wth policng the imgur that only exists in their head. ths post is for people like you :)
dootdootfloop
i really need to learn to fcking spell. fuck you brain
StartedFromTheBottomNowImHere
Those are some quality pens
finnxshakh
https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/3/005/07a/1ae/1f61667.jpg hehe
StartedFromTheBottomNowImHere
Ha ha ha ha ha rilliant oops forgot the b. "b" here ya go
RuledByNeptune
Yesh he has a Website for pens too. It's www.penISLAND.COM
jonnyh1uk
Where is Penis Land?
dootdootfloop
well i cant wriite a letter to my mother with one of those
pobody
Did we already give it the imgur hug o death?
jonnyh1uk
Where is PenisLand?
RuledByNeptune
Contact NAMBLA
ZachPutland
No that's penisland.NET, very important distinction
Germurican
It must have been intentional, this is their logo: http://imgur.com/FkDsWXR
IndecisiveSlacker
there IS a penisland.net OAO.. they didn't chose a better name?
JudahWright
My immediate family says all refugees are terrorists in disguise
LisaMumm
Well that's a lot of terrorist.
Fenriswaffles
Is there a country that isn't made of refugees in some capacity? At least in America and I think Britain
dootdootfloop
get a new family
JudahWright
If only it were so simple
andergriff
not current anymore
atlienk
You sure? http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/04/middleeast/syria-refugee-pen-seller-beirut/
dootdootfloop
ah well
questionableanswers
because the first story happened a few months ago it's not current anymore? everyone lives ever happily after?
andergriff
yes
Thechoochooman
Sorry that this man's struggle against incredible odds has inconvenienced your imgur searching by not being current enough for you.
dootdootfloop
heh
andergriff
we already saw it
Yavin1v
we? i didnt know imgur had moved to a hive mind already
andergriff
you have not been plugged in yet?
elefriend
Couldn't have put it better myself.
Rogahar
"All they want to do is take our jobs and our benefits!" *starts own company, employs others, gives back* "wait what"
napoleonsghost
I also don't like that he didn't give back anything to his new home community. Give me 200k amd i can open shit too amd send money to my fam
sprockett
To the wildlife refuge!
IamtheGreatQueenSnugglewombs
There are those who want to make a new life! And then there are those who only came, cause they heard they get free money
Rogahar
I'm pretty sure the near-constant chance of sudden, explosive death was a playing factor too.
aucuneideedidentifiant
or just didn't want to be killed by their own army and isis and russia and...
Fplo
Okay, one guy came and made a living yet there are thousands of cases of the opposite and 1000s of rape cases.. so?
Rogahar
Because there aren't 1000s of white caucasian benefits scroungers, rapists, murderers etc. already. Yeah it must be 'cos they're for'n.
RileyBanned
Yeah unfortunately this guy doesn't represent even 0.001% of the Syrian refuges
Lenthas
While you're wrong, I find it amusing that you're getting downvoted for remembering that most of those "refugees" are asylum shopping.
RileyBanned
Well my grandfather who lives in Germany says otherwise. This website always shows the "touching" story's which are fine but not realistic.
ghostie808
Whenever I hear this I want to say "Im sorry... i didnt know you wanted to work as a cleaner, rubbish collector, petrol station clerk etc"
Rogahar
Which is why I am 100% in support of those on benefits being made to work civil jobs if they want to keep getting paid benefits. I get that>
Rogahar
some people, due to health, cannot work, and their are schemes for them, but if you're able, pick up a fucking shovel and get to it.
Rogahar
I've been on benefits myself, and I spent every hour I had looking for work. Then I went to the jobcentre each week to 'check in', and >
Rogahar
guaranteed I'd see the same people giving the same half-arsed attitude, claiming they'd applied for jobs and walking off with their cheque.
ghostie808
In Italy apparently they find you a job. and you have to stay there for atleast two years. If you dont show up/leave your benefit stops
Rogahar
I think people should have -some- choice of their potential permanent job, but after a point, it should change to "Take it or fuck off"
OSCgal
IKR? Immigrants need things, too, meaning they're buying stuff, spending money... Not seeing the downside here!
Fplo
Cultural cohesion mean anything?
OSCgal
I say this as a member of a culture that is quickly vanishing, btw. Russian Mennonites had a much stronger identity 50 years ago.
OSCgal
Cohesion, or stasis? Culture is always changing. Maybe we're in a state of flux right now, but that's not necessarily bad.
Fplo
When it changes it stays relatively the same, it evolves and adapts. This isn't evolving, this is replacing.
Tillwefindootwutcontdidit
Was there ever a zoomed out photo that showed a street full of people just like him who didn't get crowdfunded?
GiantRobotsRule
This is why we have national refugee and aid programs. Charity can help some people, but isn't nearly large enough for the volume of need.
ZachPutland
A world where we don't help strangers because we can't help literally everyone sounds like a much shittier world to be honest. Help whenever
FrostWight
That's a pretty pessimistic thing to say, guy. I hope you have a plan to help them too
MrJimmyC
Better than helping no one at all.
ThelisDrogo
so if there are others in need we should help none of them? what a cunty way to look at this story you salty bastard
paxromana96
Even if you can't make a difference for all, you can make a difference for some. To them, that means the world.
JurassicParksAndRekt
This comment is honestly aggravating. You're the exact opposite of faith in humanity restored.
dootdootfloop
your username in relevant
TylerDunkleberger
Are you salty you didn't get handed 200k?
dootdootfloop
so salty he's brine
StillNotYouTube
I am, I would really like a ferrari.
CapnWahle
If the question is: "why help him when so many more need the help just as much?" The answer is simply: someone made his plight personal, 1/?
CapnWahle
And people can see the real life human and want to help. But if the question is "Why help one person, I'd rather help them all or none". 2/?
CapnWahle
Then I feel like that just makes the problem too big and people will lose that personal connection and rather than help, they do nothing. 3/
dootdootfloop
dont you think t ho if he has 6 people working for them they all have families. hes helping 100s which wll butterfly effect
dootdootfloop
16* sorry
CapnWahle
I'm not arguing with that at all. I think that anyone helped is a victory for the good guys.
dootdootfloop
yeah im juust supportng your statement wiith my 2 p )
dootdootfloop
does it matter? you move a mountain by startng to move one rock. helping his family and the others hes helped will go on to help many more
flosser
The live you touched, touched others, and others. You've done a lot of good, Sam Beckett. And you can do more.
hadtochangeitcosdavefoundme
Although this is a decent step, that 200k could have done way more (I.e. Helped more people) donated to a more effective cause
caboops
Nah just blindly throw money at it and get your feels for the week like a good liberal.
Yavin1v
you could start your own crowdfunding with those ideas i am sure many people would be interested in donating if you had a good plan
dootdootfloop
thats up to the people tho
hadtochangeitcosdavefoundme
I realise that, people can do w/ever they want with their money. I was just replying to your "does it matter?" question
Thechoochooman
Nicely put, you ever hear of the story about the kid throwing starfish that were washed up on a beach back into the ocean?
paxromana96
My favorite. Always used to teach kids about helping others with that story when they came to camp.
dootdootfloop
no but he sounds llike a kid would like to have one day
Thechoochooman
The beach is full, thousands of dying starfish. This kid is chucking them back in one at a time and a man shouts down from the pier... (1/2)
Tillwefindootwutcontdidit
This article agrees with both of us. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/charity/against_1.shtml
Thechoochooman
"why bother? You can't save them all. It doesn't matter." The kid throws another one back in the water and says, "It matters to that one."
ColdfreezeZero
And of course as we all guessed already that one starfish was Albert Einstein
dootdootfloop
thank you its so true. he have to all start somewhere
dootdootfloop
we* fuck iim tired
frankbarista
Agree.
dootdootfloop
im sat here with a very sick puppy and m very emotional atm i havent got time foor heartless bastards today
frankbarista
I hope your pup got better soon
dootdootfloop
hes a lot better today thank you . iim waiting for number 3 nnow as i just dropped my phone in a fucking river
Tillwefindootwutcontdidit
I can be heartless. The guy is an inspiration. I genuinely always wondered if there was a guy selling red pens next to him.
dootdootfloop
so why spread your poison like a fucking ass hat ? hope you never hhave too feel the shame that mans felt, you not strong enough to cope