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<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Lara El Mekkawi</span>
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 1, 2020 10:37 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> English Chair<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Call for Donations: Support Lebanon </font>
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<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper"><font size="3" color="black" style="font-family:"Calibri Light","Helvetica Light",sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont"><span id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt"><font color="black">
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<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Friends
of the Faculty of Arts and Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo:</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">On August 4</span></font><font style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:0.6em; background-color:transparent"><sup><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">th</span></sup></span></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">,
Lebanon’s capital Beirut was severely destroyed by a massive semi-nuclear explosion. Over 200 people were killed, 300,000 are displaced, and 7 individuals are still missing. There is also a staggering amount of property and infrastructure damage. </span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">The Government of Canada has announced
that it will match the $8 million in donations that will be part of the previously announced $30 million support package through key humanitarian partners.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">However, Lebanon still needs substantial
support, which is why this call for donations is being sent out post Lebanese Match Fund.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">We invite you to support ongoing fundraisers
that assist two of Lebanon’s most vulnerable communities, retired senior citizens and migrant works.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Please consider donating to one of the
following:</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">1-</span></font><font size="1" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"><a href="https://beitelbaraka.net/welcome/" class="OWAAutoLink">Beit
Al Barake</a> (House of Blessing)</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><a href="https://beitelbaraka.net/welcome/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="3" color="#002060" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="3" color="#002060" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://beitelbaraka.net/welcome/" class="OWAAutoLink">Beit
Al Barake</a></font><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> “</span></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">aims
to provide a tailor-made accurate and beneficial response to Lebanon’s economic and multi-dimensional challenges that are depriving many retired citizens of their most basic needs and rights.” This organization is </span></font><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">accepting
donations for food assistance, decent housing, medical support, bill payment and monthly contributions.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">You can donate here:</span></font><a href="https://beitelbaraka.net/welcome/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="3" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:Arial,serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">https://beitelbaraka.net/welcome/</span></font></a></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">2-</span></font><font size="1" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><a href="https://www.armlebanon.org/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="3" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="3" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://www.givingloop.org/mcc/#contribute" class="OWAAutoLink">Anti-Racism
Movement</a></font><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> (ARM)</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><a href="https://www.givingloop.org/mcc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://www.givingloop.org/mcc/#contribute" class="OWAAutoLink">ARM</a></font><font size="2" color="#222222" style="font-family:Arial,serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">’s
“mission </span></b></span></font><font size="2" color="#222222" style="font-family:Arial,serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">is to decrease racist discrimination and abuse in Lebanon on the social and institutional
levels by advocating for changes in the systems that perpetuate racist exploitative practices, through sensitization, awareness raising, advocacy, and community building for more just social and institutional frameworks in Lebanon.”</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" color="#373A3C" style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">The organization’s emergency relief funds are “responding
to the immediate needs of migrant workers, refugees, and marginalized groups affected by the August 4th explosion in Beirut, the Covid-19 pandemic and the ever-worsening economic situation. Hundreds of thousands are facing homelessness, loss of income, no
freedom or means to return to a country of origin and lack of access to basic necessities to survive. ARM is raising funds to secure and distribute temporary shelter; house repairs; food and water; hygiene products; first aid and medical items; fees for repatriation;
airline tickets; PCR tests and cash assistance for people with specific needs.“ </span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; margin-left:18pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">You can donate here:</span></font><a href="https://www.givingloop.org/mcc/#contribute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="2" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:Arial,serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">https://www.givingloop.org/mcc/#contribute</span></font></a></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">We thank you in advance for your contributions. </span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Lara El Mekkawi and Elianne El Amyouni</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">PhD English Students</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Department of English Language & Literature</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">P.S. Why us? Why this?</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">We (Lara and Elianne) are both Lebanese
graduate students in the English Department. Lara is an international student and Elianne is a Canadian citizen, but we both lived and studied in Lebanon before moving to Canada for our doctoral studies.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Lara lived in one of the destroyed neighborhoods
in Beirut and Elianne often visited the affected areas. In fact, we both met for the first time in a coffee shop in Gemmayze, a destroyed neighborhood, where we talked about the possiblility of studying in Waterloo in the future.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">As part of the English department and
the UW community, we ask for the support of our friends, colleagues, and faculty. </span></font><font size="3" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font></div>
<div style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Other ongoing fundraisers include:</span></font><a href="https://www.supportlrc.app/donate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="2" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://supportlrc.app/donate/" class="OWAAutoLink">Lebanese
Red Cross</a></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">,</span></font><a href="https://donate.lebanesefoodbank.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="2" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://donate.lebanesefoodbank.org/" class="OWAAutoLink">Lebanese
Food Bank</a></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">,</span></font><a href="https://lifelebanon.org/#bot" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="2" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://lifelebanon.org/#bot" class="OWAAutoLink">Beirut
Emergency Fund 2020</a></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">,</span></font><a href="https://embracelebanon.org/donate-to-embrace/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="https://embracelebanon.org/donate-to-embrace/
Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link"><font size="2" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://embracelebanon.org/donate-to-embrace/" class="OWAAutoLink">Embrace
Lebanon</a></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">, and</span></font><a href="https://www.arcenciel.org/donate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><font size="2" color="black" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"></span></font></a><font size="2" color="#1155CC" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><a href="https://www.arcenciel.org/donate/" class="OWAAutoLink">Arc
En Ciel</a></font><font size="2" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:11pt; background-color:transparent; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">.</span></font></div>
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