The Kurdi Foundation was established by Tima Kurdi and her brother, Abdullah Kurdi. When civil war erupted across Syria, Abdullah and his family were forced to flee their homeland. When their struggle for everyday survival as refugees became too difficult, Abdullah and his family made the impossible choice to risk the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. Sadly, tragedy struck. Their boat capsized, and Abdullah’s wife, Rehanna, and two young boys, Ghalib and Alan, drowned.

The photograph of Abdullah’s youngest son, Alan, dead on a Turkish beach, went viral. The picture of Alan became the wake-up call to the world, signaling that a refugee crisis of epic proportions was affecting everyone.

Abdullah and Tima were inspired to provide aid for children living in the refugee camps, in the hopes that other families need not suffer the same tragedy. They created The Kurdi Foundation in honour of Abdullah’s two sons, Alan and Ghalib, and his wife, Rehanna.