Give Odday a chance

Odday Alatiki is a 19-year-old boy from Daraa in the south of Syria. He was one of the best students the school in Daraa ever had, and he wanted to go to a university to study informatics. He had to go to a refugee camp instead - the civil war forced his family to flee to Zaatari, a camp for 100.000 refugees in Jordan, close to the Syrian border.

Odday still wants to study informatics - in Germany. The Technische Universitaet Clausthal has issued a conditional admission for him. The German language course in Clausthal-Zellerfeld is scheduled to begin by the end of January. And on 21st of January he will have an appointment at the German embassy in Beirut to get a student visa. All he needs is a proof of sound finances: In German immigration law that means a blocked bank account with an amount of at least 8040 Euro. I want to help him to get this "seed money" for his start in Germany. And I want you to help Odday, too.

The story so far

(and as far as I can tell it):

In Summer 2013 a colleague of mine, the freelance journalist Rico Grimm from Berlin, visited the refugee camp Zaatari to do a report on the camp, its mayor (a German) and the people living there. Rico met Odday, who was selling shoes at one of the (black) market stands in the camp. They talked about Germany; and about Odday's dream to get there. 

When I came to Zaatari at the end of November (for a research study on improving livelihood in the camp) I could only meet his father: Odday was in Damascus to complete the documents he needed for the visa application. I talked to his father, and in the following days I skyped and whatsapped with Odday. To find out if I can trust him and his story. He sent me his school certificate, he sent me his conditional admission, (both are attached) he told me his story. He convinced me. That's where we are now.

Some questions you might have

And the answers I can give:

• Why doesn't Odday himself do this campaign? Two answers: Most people don't dare to seek funding for themselves - that's true for Odday as well. And: As a Syrian citizen he might get in trouble with Indiegogo as this site does not allow "campaigns from countries on the U.S. OFAC sanctions list".  
• Can I trust Odday? As much as you can trust any 19-year old student from your country. One thing is for sure: Your donation can in no way be used to finance any party of the Syrian civil war. All the money raised will go to a blocked account at a German bank and can only be used for Odday to make a living in Germany.
• What if Odday doesn't go to Germany? If we get enough funding, that's highly improbable - as Odday really wants to study in Germany. However, in the unlikely case that life goes a different way, you'll get your money back. If we don't get enough funding via Indiegogo, we'll nevertheless try to find a way to get Odday to Germany. If we succeed, your donation will serve for this purpose; if not, I'll return the money to you.
• Can I be sure that 100% of my donation will go to Odday? Yes, you can. All the fees that are charged by Indiegogo, banks or whoever else will be paid by me. 
• Why a "blocked account"? That's how the German administration wants it. You are (erm, Odday is) only allowed to withdraw a maximum amount of 670 Euros/month (the so called "Bafoeg Hoechstsatz"). Thus Germany can be sure that the applicant can make a living for one year.
• And after the first year? Similar conditions apply for the second year. Though the funding will surely be different. Odday surely will apply for a scholarship, and the chances are good to get one - if he's inside the universitary system. 
• Any more questions? Just ask them. I'll do my very best to answer, and Odday will do as well.  

Yes, it's a lot of money…

… but there are a lot of people out there.

• Please spread the word.
• Please spread the link.

To make a dream come true.