Humanitarian aid group Support for Life is helping Syrian refugees by making known the immense struggle and pain that can come with attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to safety.
The group put over 200 gravestones in the sea to bring awareness to those who died attempting to flee, helping Syrian refugees by bringing sympathy to their cause and fighting the widespread and unjust discrimination towards them. The gravestones are made of a waterproof Styrofoam that is printed in a marble pattern which floats on the water.
The 'Sea Cemetery' depicts the names of the deceased to pay tribute to their memory, one of which includes three year old Alan Kurdi, whose story shocked the world in 2015. With this political statement, Support for Life makes clear the saddening number of people lost to the sea, with the 200 headstones being just a small fraction of the real amount. The group includes a video which shows interviews with Syrian families who have lost loved ones to the sea, making viewers understand the project on a more personal level.
Refugee Aid Awareness Projects
Support of Life is Helping Syrian Refugees by Showing Their Loss
Trend Themes
1. Refugee Awareness Campaigns - Humanitarian aid groups and activists are using creative campaigns to raise awareness about the struggle of refugees and encourage support for their cause.
2. Innovative Memorials - Designers and engineers are using new materials and techniques to create meaningful memorials and monuments that serve as political statements and raise awareness about social issues.
3. Cinematic Humanitarianism - Filmmakers and media organizations are creating powerful documentaries and short films that depict the lives and struggles of refugees, inspiring empathy and understanding among audiences.
Industry Implications
1. Nonprofit Organizations - Nonprofits working in the humanitarian sector can leverage innovative awareness-raising campaigns to generate support for refugees and their cause.
2. Memorial Design and Fabrication - Companies that specialize in the design and fabrication of memorials can use new materials and techniques to create powerful and thought-provoking installations that raise awareness about social issues.
3. Social Justice Filmmaking - Media companies and filmmakers can use their skills and platforms to create compelling documentaries and short films that highlight the struggles and triumphs of marginalized communities, including refugees.