Pembroke College Cambridge

Laugh 4 Change

Laugh 4 Change

Raising funds to support refugees, tackling mental health at home and abroad, and having fun while doing it.

logoThat may seem like a big ask but Cansu Karabiyik (2016), a second year PhD candidate in medical science, seems to have managed it. Cansu spent time volunteering on Chios Island, Greece, witnessing the refugee crisis for herself. On her return she founded Laugh 4 Change, a comedy fundraising initiative that raises funds for both basic products like clothes, and long-term needs like mental health support.

“When I came back I thought of how I could best help, because witnessing the conditions yourself makes you think about it much more. I was there during winter so it was really bad. So when I came back I decided I was going to raise money to send down shoes because it was one of the things that there was no more access to.”

Cansu began with an existing network – Cambridge comedy. And it worked:

“I organised a comedy show because I do comedy myself. I got a group of friends here at Cambridge, all comedians, all PhD students, to organise a show with me. We raised a lot of money so we did it again in April and then again recently. After the recent show, which was a huge success, all here at Pembroke, I thought this could be something national. We could do this at every University. Especially when students really care about this issue we can make it really successful.”

Cansu’s determination to expand Laugh 4 Change has led her to develop an online presence, reach out to other universities, and continue to consolidate contacts in Cambridge. While she sees potential to expand outside universities, there’s a bonus to involving students.

“I’m focusing on universities because I think it adds a lot to student welfare as well. Comedy combats anxiety and depression so it seems like a good place to start.”

So where does the money go?

"The money that we raise will be spent on three different projects. One is basic needs like food and hygiene products. The second thing is to invest help organisations who are involved with giving refugees long-term tools, like teaching them how to write a CV, English lessons, in order for them to be able to settle down. And then the third project we want to support is giving financial aid to mental health specialists who want to go and do work for a few months. One of the things that is really needed is psychiatrists. On Chios on the entire island there’s one psychologist. Greek people can leave the island and go to Athens for treatment, but refuges can’t leave the island. A lot of them have PTSD, they’ve been through a lot."

By focusing on the refugee crisis, and specifically on Greece, Cansu hopes to capitalise on existing contacts and experience. With her existing contacts distributing products purchased with the funds from shows they’re able to cut out unnecessary costs like shipping fees. She also ensures they work with NGOs who are already working to support refugees. And Cansu is making it as easy as possible for supporters to donate to causes they care about:

“We’re developing a website now. It will be possible to make direct donations and at any given time there will be three different things that people can donate to. If you come to the show we spread it evenly between the projects, but people often have one thing they care most about. That is one way to support us, and another way is to become a volunteer. We need contacts at different universities. I have sent out a call for volunteers last week.  We’re still in the innovation phase, I have a meeting with Cambridge Hub and I’m sure they’ll help me develop ways to push this. I’m trying to get Cambridge RAG involved too. I’d very much like for this to become a Cambridge-based, student-led initiative.”

Laugh 4 Change’s next show will be in Stockwell, London on the 20th May.  Follow their Facebook page for details.

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