On March 1, Indian Student Alliance (ISA) and Muslim Student Alliance (MSA) will hold a joint fundraiser in Main Cafeteria from 5 to 8 p.m. The fundraiser is for a young Kenyan girl by the name of Salma. In 2012, she came to the United States for a 36-hour surgery to fix her scoliosis. The doctor who performed the surgery pro-bono has been providing for her family for the last three years but can no longer do so. According to Mehar Athar, junior and MSA member, the goal of the fundraiser is to raise $5000. Tickets are $10 for students, $20 for adults and can be bought online or at the door.

Nida Khan, club president and senior, said,  “I met her in 2012, when she was having her surgery and she was just so funny and so personable in a situation where she didn’t know anyone. She was obviously getting surgery so she wasn’t very comfortable, yet she tried to make other people feel comfortable and she was so happy and had this light about her and she’s funny and she’s shy when she meets new people but she’s still outgoing as well. She’s just this great little girl. ”

Salma’s family has been unable to provide help to her. Her mom died in 2012 before the surgery and her father is not in contact with her or her two younger brothers. She currently lives with her brothers and grandmother in Kenya.

“Her and her two younger brothers still need to go to school. Basically we are raising money for her rent and her school fees,” said Khan.

The event will have ethnic Indian food, a speech from the doctor who performed the surgery in 2012 and a video clip of Salma.

“One thing that I want to make clear is that it’s open to anyone,” Khan said. “Yeah we got it through the MSA community, but honestly, anyone human could relate to this story and they would want to help and she’s such a sweet little girl and deserves the help.”