“With events like this we want to push people to care about those in need and spread awareness”, says Sara Aljic, an alumni of the organisation who helped with the initiative. The sale started at noon in the main building.
Rotting aid
As the association is “slowly crawling back to life after the pandemic”, its members were encouraged to host a bake sale by the recent opening of border crossings in Gaza. “We know the money will actually get there”, says Aljic, adding that “aid was rotting at the borders” before the restrictions were lifted.
The organisers have stated on Instagram that the proceeds will reach those in need “through recognized and reliable organisations.” These include Islamic Relief, Muslims Around the World, and IHH Nederland. ISA is also eager to support relief efforts in Sudan, as, according to Aljic, media coverage of the crisis is limited and the association wants to “shed light” onto the issue.
Sold out
Three bakeries, Şerifoğlu, Halil Patisserie, and Beyza Specialiteitenbakkerij donated baklava to the sale, allowing all donations to go directly to the cause. In the end, over one thousand euros was raised during the sale, with all baklavas being sold out. The organisers say that a lot of people donated more than the price of the baklavas in order to support their cause.
“We love that people were interested in what was going on and why we are doing this. There was also a lot of multicultural people at the stand, both muslim and non-muslim,” says ISA member Yassira Amal. Mannar Issa, the president of ISA, was glad VU Amsterdam agreed for the sale to be hosted. “We will definitely be hosting more of these in the future,” she says.