While the world turned its back on Syria for years, a quarter of a million people, including tens of thousands of children, died in the fighting. More than 13.5 million people, about 60 percent of the Syrian population, have been displaced and need humanitarian help now. Katherine Davies tells how ordinary people around the world can help through www.message4peace.com.

Many Syrians despite being forced from their homes amid terrible violence and great fear and insecurity do not in fact leave the country. Those that do flee Syria typically don't have a choice and then stay within the region. Many Syrian refugees are educated professionals who want to return home, despite the devastation, not resettle in other nations. iguacu's Syrian researcher Sinan al-Hawat has closely followed the crisis from the start and can shed much light on the refugee crisis.

The 5-year-old Syrian war has “toxic consequences for the rest of the world,” Katherine says. In addition to causing massive misery for the Syrian people, the war has created a safe haven in Syria that allows Islamic State militants to spread terrorism globally. With President Obama’s warning of the grave danger of nuclear arms falling into their hands, every person has an interest in helping to end the war. Katherine explains what we can each do.

Securing peace in Syria removes a potent breeding ground for terrorism and will help to restore international stability. Katherine shares research from the expert-led global philanthropic advisory service iguacu (pronounced igwah-soo, www.weareiguacu.com) on what people worldwide can do to help in Syria and other countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. iguacu focuses on countries where there is large scale humanitarian need.

Syrian refugees were not part of the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Brussels and Paris, yet fear of terrorism has led to a backlash against providing a safe haven for the refugees in the United States and the European Union. Katherine discusses why the global terrorism threat is not from refugees, but from extremists who have a safe haven in Syria due to chaos created by war.

Frustrated by news reports that nothing could bring an end to the Syrian war, Katherine decided to walk more than 600 miles across Europe from London to Geneva. She shares the positive responses she has gotten from people along the way plus a few unexpected adventures.

Katherine explains the seven ways people can post their messages for peace, including sharing them at www.message4peace.com, tweeting it or posting it publicly on Facebook or Instagram with their #message4peace, sending it via snail mail and even a “Facebook nomination” with three friends and a selfie.

Katherine shares some of the heartfelt messages from people across Europe and around the world and why they are important for the Syrian people who have often felt abandoned by the world.

Iguacu has produced a new short video that highlights how ordinary people around the world have come together to change history, both during the digital age and before the Internet. Katherine explains how we can all make a difference now to help end the bloodshed in Syria and provide hope for refugees and other victims.