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[frontovik]

A Syrian refugee living in Berlin has taken to cooking big pots of food every Saturday and sharing them with the homeless.

Alex Assali has been serving up dishes to the city's needy since August, building stands in different spots around Berlin once a week, often near train stations.

The 38-year-old told CBC News in a phone call that his plan had been to, "show the German people what Syrians are really like," and to "get more involved in the German community.

Assali started his food initiative as part of a Christian Syrian project and began reaching out to Berlin's needy thanks to help from his pastor. The sign on his stand explains some of this in German. Part of it reads "We want to be a positive part in the German community," according to the Independent.

He told CBC News that he first arrived in Germany in Sept. 2014 after escaping an ISIS prison in Libya.

He says he left his home in Damascus, Syria in 2007 for "political reasons" and that he had wanted to study in Germany, but never had the opportunity.

The original Facebook post by Bü says Assali uses his own money to buy the food, which amounts to about 100 to 120 euros or roughly $141 per week.

He hasn't been able to find a job yet, but the German government supplies 359 euros ($506) to refugees a month, 143 of which is for personal use, explains the Wall Street Journal.

Assali said he only spends about 200 euros on himself, and saves the rest to help the homeless.

Each Saturday costs him about 25 euros, or approximately $35. He saves money by making mostly vegetarian dishes, though he said his meals vary from Syrian to Italian.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/refugee-cook-berlin-homeless-1.3336892

More information in the article.

A heartwarming story! I commend Mr. Assali for his generosity and altruism in wanting to give back to his community despite his circumstances.

 

[Regiruler]

A fantastic effort.

 

[Wilsongt]

This is becoming more common. I recently heard on NPR of a community of refugees in the US that did the same thing to try to invite people into their community.

 

[Square2015]

This is heartwarming. Start a trend please!
Can someone zoom in on what he wrote?

 

[Premium Quality]

I really wish more stories like this made their way to the US media.

 

[Wyndstryker]

The world needs more people like this.

 

[ajim]

Beautiful man.

 

[Oersted]

This is heartwarming. Start a trend please!
Can someone zoom in on what he wrote?

Its an explanation of the project

 

[hugocésar]

Beautiful.

 

[DarthWoo]

I have the feeling that here, and possibly there in Germany too, there would be those who would complain about him using his support funds to do this, and would then advocate to have such funds decreased if refugees can get along with as little as he uses for himself.

 

[Buzzati]

I have the feeling that here, and possibly there in Germany too, there would be those who would complain about him using his support funds to do this, and would then advocate to have such funds decreased if refugees can get along with as little as he uses for himself.

And it would be a non-story because on the whole, the German people have been the most accepting and proffessedly human people on Earth in regard to the crisis. The real story lies in asking why Israel and Asia have done nothing for these people, and indeed actively profess against helping instead of the lasting headlines about European xenophobia.

 

[FrsDvl]

This is heartwarming. Start a trend please!
Can someone zoom in on what he wrote?

I'll try

It's Christian Syrian? German project to help the homeless or every body needing help in Germany. Our _____ is to help give something back to the people that helped us. We are not consumer people but we are people who love ____. We want to be a positive swirl in the German community. Want to be one hand? Syrian and German. ____ to help the others that help each others.


That's the most I could make out of it.

 

[WalkMan]

Chances of this being a calculated gesture? Seems like something obvious that was meant to be picked up by the media.

 

[Condom]

Chances of this being a calculated gesture? Seems like something obvious that was meant to be picked up by the media.

What? It's normal for refugees to do this kind of stuff, most isn't even picked up by the media.

 

[ElTorro]

The most constructive and practically implementable way forward is to see refugees as an opportunity for European countries with retrogressive populations. Obviously, anecdotal examples like this one don't represent the potential problems of cultural integration adequately, which we need to address. But they are a necessary and hopeful counter-narrative to the simplistic and xenophobic assumption that we are importing vast numbers of people with irredeemable cultural backgrounds. To add to the anecdotes, I've yet to meet a single Syrian who wasn't a nice person.

 

[Vibranium]

Chances of this being a calculated gesture? Seems like something obvious that was meant to be picked up by the media.

Or maybe he wanted to highlight giving back to the needy, and for other people to follow his lead?

 

[ElTorro]

Chances of this being a calculated gesture? Seems like something obvious that was meant to be picked up by the media.

Or he is just a decent person who, living in Germany's capital city, has easily been noted by many other people. Which is how such stories actually come to media attention.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Chances of this being a calculated gesture? Seems like something obvious that was meant to be picked up by the media.

It's not that I don't understand why would you think this way, but regardless, such a sad way of thinking.

 

[Deleted member 80556]

Chances of this being a calculated gesture? Seems like something obvious that was meant to be picked up by the media.

I'm sorry the world has made you cynical.

 

[Premium Quality]

I REALLY hope graveyardGAF keeps this thread bumped.
With all the negative threads involving the stupidity of the GOP debates, domestic terrorism, and Syrian refugee fear mongering, it's great to hear that there are good people out there looking out for their fellow man.
Articles like these should not be ignored.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

There is always someone who does this every time someone does anything positive.

"Oh it must have been for attention"

I mean, he does have his contact information in front of his table....a real robin hood would've worn a mask and not brought attention to himself </s>

 

[Winnie the Pimp]

Nice! Positive stories like this are a welcome change in these times... Would be even better if he was a muslim syrian though (since the VAST majority of the refugees are not christians and some people are apprenhensive towards them), that would send a greater signal even...

 

[Doctor West]

That's a really awesome story. The fact that he uses what little money he has to buy the food is pretty damn touching.

 

[Frankfurter]

Awesome man! Stories like this really should get much more attention.

 

[ajim]

Awesome man! Stories like this really should get much more attention.

They dont generate traffic. Even on gaf, anyrhing negative and there are pages upon pages of discussion, and this is barely reaching a page.

It's a shame.

 

[Messofanego]

Flipping awesome! Great job Alex Assali!

 

[The Mule]

 

[GunslingerVit]

So he contributes to global warming by cooking outside?

Spoiler

jk
Very nice move, indeed.

 

[0OoO0]

Sorry OP but I like to point out this was posted on Reddit about a week ago.

 

[Square2015]

Someone needs to bump this each time GAF gets overloaded with clickbait negative/cynical threads.