UoS students host fundraiser for Gaza and Sudan
Written by Hannah Rooney on 11th December 2025
The Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) logo.
Two societies at the University of Sunderland came together yesterday (December 10) to host a fundraising event for Gaza and Sudan.
Friends of Medecins Sans Frontieres Sunderland (FoMSF) and the Sunderland Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Society (SPARSoc) organised the fundraiser, which took place yesterday afternoon at City Space, on UoS’s City Campus.
The event raised money for MSF (Doctors Without Borders), an organisation working to supply medical aid internationally.
Rawan Aly, the president of FoMSF Sunderland, said: “We aim to raise awareness for what is going on in both Sudan and Gaza, as well as celebrate several wonderful aspects of their cultures.”
When asked about the role students play in activism, Rawan said: “Young people and students are often unafraid to voice their opinions, which is a major strength in regards to activism.
“We are the world’s future leaders and decision-makers, so it’s important we involve ourselves in causes we care about from the start.”
The fundraiser contained stalls with Sudanese and Palestinian foods, baked goods, tatreez (a form of Palestinian embroidery) and a spin-the-wheel contest.
Prizes for the spin-to-win competition.
Students also performed a dabke, a traditional Levantine folk dance.
At the event, two guest speakers spoke about their time volunteering in Gaza and Sudan.
Terri Morris, who volunteered in rural Sudan from 2004-2006 and also has experience in MSF, told the audience of her time in El Fasher, which she said was once a place of safety.
“To see it subject to massacres now, it’s just unthinkable,” Terri said.
Since 2023, Sudan has faced a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, which has led to a humanitarian crisis and what MSF has called “a war on people”.
Terri discussed the importance of MSF’s work, ranging from mental health care to dealing with malnutrition, water and sanitation.
She also emphasised that a lot of people working in organisations like MSF are often locals from the area.
“People are doing the work. People are helping their neighbours,” she said.
Terri – who studied history and has an MA in International Peace and Security – stressed that MSF isn’t just for medics. People can also get involved in areas such as admin, logistics, engineering and finance.
Terri told Spark: “Everybody’s got the skills that it takes to help with fundraising. Don’t feel helpless. You see it on the news and you feel helpless, like it’s very, very far away. Solidarity matters. Fundraising matters. Advocacy matters.”
Speaking from Teams, Alice TC Worsley discussed her experience in Gaza as a nurse for MSF, and the poor conditions in Gaza during the winter.
Since October 7 2023, the conflict between Hamas and Israel has led to over 70,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The university fundraising event concluded with an auction, where people bid on tatreez, keffiyehs and Palestinian ceramics.
Rawan described the work of MSF as “invaluable”, referencing their presence in eight states in Sudan and work across several healthcare facilities in Gaza.
Rawan said: “It is never too late to start learning and to get involved. Gaza and Sudan are full of wonderful people that deserve to be humanised as much as anyone else. The process can be just as fulfilling as it is heartwarming.”
You can donate to Médecins Sans Frontières here: Urgent Medical Response | MSF UK
