Sophomore Ella Greher is using her craft prowess to support Iran in the wake of violence and protests.
American media focused mainly on the issue after Iran’s morality police killed women’s rights activist Mahsa Amini in September, but conflict in the nation has continued to rise since. Greher said it is imperative now more than ever to help.
“Around the time I was thinking of making stickers, my mom sent me a really sobering article,” she said.
The article was about a woman who asked a doctor about suicide options because police violence against the protestors was so severe.
“That just kind of spoke to me, and I just felt like I had to do something,” Greher said.
She decided to make stickers and give the profits to United for Iran, which is unique for how they use the money they receive.
“They use it for technology because the government is so strict and harsh that they shut down the internet and applications, so [United for Iran] wants to make sure that people can still communicate,” Greher said. “I think that’s really important.”
She said she raised $41 in January Her aim is to not only support those in Iran, but also connect to her own heritage.
“I always identified as white and didn’t talk much about my Middle Eastern heritage,” she said. “Seeing my friends explore their heritage inspired me to do that [too].”
She sells the stickers to students through word of mouth and also to Middle Eastern people in public places like grocery stores.
These stickers have helped her build relationships with her community and her family.
“When I’m making them, there’s a part of me that [hopes] my grandpa would be proud of me even though I never met him,” she said.
Greher said the results of the protests are yet to be seen, and that analysis of their progress is mixed.
“Right now, I’ve been hearing two separate things, which is there’s hope for overthrowing the government, but also that protests are fizzling out because the government crackdown is so hard and harsh,” Greher said. “It’s more important now than ever to support them.”