LISTEN: The toy smuggler of Aleppo

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LISTEN: Toy smuggler risks life to bring hope to Syrian kids - ( 19.31 min.)

[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the- ... -1.3786019 ]

Toy smuggler risks life to bring hope to Syrian kids

October 3, 2016 full episode transcript

With a bag full of Barbies, Rami Adham walks over 12 hours into war-torn Syria across the Turkish border.

The 44-year-old father of six, who has lived in Finland since 1989, is originally from Aleppo. For the past four years, he has been making this perilous journey in order to distribute medicine, money and, most importantly, toys to the children of war-torn Syria.

"I started going to Syria in early 2012 to deliver aid. I wanted to see my people face to face, to see exactly what they need."

It was while preparing for that trip when Adham's three-year-old daughter suggested he bring the children some toys.

"She said if you are going to meet kids in Syria you can't go empty-handed."

Adham tried to explain to her that he couldn't buy every child a toy.

"She went into her bedroom and collected all her toys. She put them in an Ikea bag and said, 'Here you go.'"

"​Kids, it's their job to play their job to have fun," Adham tells Tremonti. "So when they were deprived from security, playgrounds, schools... and often times their own parents, they were left with no hope."

Initially, Rami Adham planned to carry food and aid supplies but his three-year-old daughter had the idea to bring toys.
His name is Rami Adham but to people in Syria he's known as 'the toy smuggler.'
As a Syrian, Adham felt he had to help people so he decided to go to bring aid and toys.
Adham says it's like everyone has forgotten Syria's kids - they've lost their childhood.
Often children have nothing left - no family or home - and a toy may be their only possession, says Adham.
Rami Adham's first trip to Aleppo was in March of 2012. He has been back 28 times.
Since 2012, Adham has given 20,000 toys to Syrian children. He comes in from the Turkey border.

Initially, Rami Adham planned to carry food and aid supplies but his three-year-old daughter had the idea to bring toys. (Courtesy of Rami Adham)

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RELATED LINKS

◾Syria war: The toy smuggler bringing bags of joy to children - September 28, 2016
[ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37481761 ]

◾The toy smuggler of Aleppo: The man who brings gifts to children in Syrian war zones - September 27, 2016
[ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 33231.html ]

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The toy smuggler of Aleppo: The man who brings gifts to children in Syrian war zones

[ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 33231.html ]

Rami Adham has been on 28 trips to bring toys, food and medicine to children in Syria
Harry Cockburn | Tuesday 27 September 2016|

Rami Adham has been bringing toys to Syrian children since the civil war began and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to build schools in the country Rami Adham

After five years of civil war, Syrian children living in war zones have little to look forward to. But one man is attempting to bring gifts to Syrian children, along with essential food and medicines.

Rami Adham, a 44-year-old father of six, is a Finnish-Syrian originally from Aleppo, but who has lived in Finland since 1989.

For the past five years he has dedicated his life to helping children in Syria and has now visited the war-torn country on 28 occasions, bringing over 80 kg of donated toys across the border from Turkey on each trip.

Speaking to the Telegraph earlier this year, Mr Adham said: “Right now, Syrian kids are just facing death and insecurity and constant threats. Toys are important.”

And last month, he launched a Go Fund Me fundraising campaign [ https://www.gofundme.com/2pv7hjss ] to encourage people to donate money to build schools in Syria, close to the Turkish border and away from Syrian and Russian airstrikes in the remaining rebel-held areas of the country.

A month later, he has raised over €30,000 (£25,880). Writing on his fundraising page, Mr Adham said: “I have obtained the title of the Toy smuggler of Aleppo after all borders of Syria have been closed officially for the past 2 years by now.

“Since I can't stop this work, I had no other way of going home but through special routes.”

He added: “Toys were all I had on me in addition to the money I managed to collect and raise from Finland to help buy necessary food, medicine etc. inside Syria.

MORE:

[ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 33231.html ]