Organization Seeks to Promote Understanding Between Western and Arab World

BALTIMORE, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding begins with just one word. That's the premise of the Understanding Campaign, whose website (http://www.UnderstandingCampaign.org) and Kickstarter.com fundraising page officially launched last week.

The Understanding Campaign is a cultural outreach organization that strives to teach everyone in the world the Arabic word for understanding, Fhm (pronounced fuh-hem'). By joining the campaign, people are taking an active stance to promote empathy over conflict.

"All conversations really begin with one word. We are giving people the opportunity, the tools to begin a meaningful conversation," noted Haneen Alshujairy, an Iraqi refugee now living in Egypt who cofounded the Campaign with American writer Justin Sirois. The two began working together on a novel about displaced Iraqis in 2007. The Campaign is their way of engaging an even wider audience.

Hundreds of people from all over the world, including artists, educators, journalists, and writers, are already spreading the word and interpreting their own version of Fhm. Draplin Design Co., Egyptian calligrapher Ahmed Kandil, and illustrator and children's book author Kevin Sherry (I'm The Biggest Thing in the Ocean) are some of the artists who have contributed.

"I'm always surprised at the power this one word has -- it sparks an instant curiosity in people," said Sirois. "The conversations and consequent friendships the word Fhm creates, when I'm traveling or emailing, bring meaning to my life that never would have been there otherwise."

The Kickstarter.com campaign (an all-or-nothing fundraising platform) runs from September 20 - November 3, and aims to raise $10,000 in start-up capital that will fund cultural collaboration between the Arab and Western worlds.

Visit http://www.UnderstandingCampaign.org for more information.

About the Understanding Campaign

American writer Justin Sirois and Iraqi refugee Haneen Alshujairy cofounded the Understanding Campaign in 2010 after collaborating on a collection of short stories about displaced Iraqis. Based in Baltimore, MD, the Campaign is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization that wants everyone in the world to read just one word of Arabic: Fhm (fuh-hem'), which literally means understanding. The Campaign works to break down stereotypes and taboos by supporting projects that promote cross-cultural exchange.

Understanding Campaign logo:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/Understanding-Campaign.jpg

Photo of Justin Sirois and Haneen Alshujairy:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/Justin-and-Haneen.png

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Understanding Campaign