Watch this short video of pictures taken in Karbala, Iraq of Orphans…

A bit about La’Onf: Established in April 2006, La’Onf (“nonviolence” in Arabic) is a national network of civil society organizations consisting of more than 120 organizations from every region of Iraq. Human rights groups, women’s organizations, unions, student groups, humanitarian organizations and cultural associations all work together to carry out campaigns promoting human rights and civic activism among Iraqis from all communities. Their combined efforts to end the war and political violence, ease sectarian tensions and put an end to corruption are motivated by the common goal of enabling Iraqis to create for themselves a prosperous, peaceful and stable future.

This year’s tour will bring Mr. Ibrahim Ismaeel, Chair of the Board of Directors of La’Onf and Ms. Saba Jabbar, Programmes Coordinator, to public events in Edmonton (November 25), Vancouver (November 27), Toronto (December 2), Montréal (December 7) and official Ceremony in Ottawa on December 8.

On behalf of Rights & Democracy, CSIY encourages its members to join these events and show your support for this great organization. You can register to attend the events by visiting the following website: Event Invitation Form

Events in Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal are open to all. However, the Ottawa event is by invitation only. CSIY president will be attending the Ottawa event on behalf of the organization. If you have any questions please contact us so that we make sure your questions are heard and answered.

“In a country where war has been raging since 2003, the La’Onf network offers a peaceful and non-violent alternative to Iraqis who wish to participate in the reconstruction of Iraqi civil society institutions and promote democratic change,” said Aurel Braun, Chair of Rights & Democracy’s Board of Directors. “The involvement of Iraqi civil society actors from all sectors is necessary for the democratic development of the country, and for the defence of human rights, especially those of women.”

The Rights & Democracy’s John Humphrey Award was established in 1992 to honour an organization or individual for exceptional contributions to the promotion of human rights and democratic development. La’Onf was nominated by the United States-based organization September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. An international jury presided by Mr. Braun selected the organization unanimously from 102 eligible nominations. Named in honour of John Peters Humphrey, the McGill University law professor who prepared the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the annual award includes a speaking tour of Canadian cities to help increase awareness of the recipient’s human rights work.

Please let your contacts know about these events and come out and support this amazing organization!

Also be sure to check back on our site for a full brief of this event!

Learn more about Rights & Democracy by visiting their website: http://www.dd-rd.ca

CSIY has started a collaborative project with an orphanage in Iraq, to help

sponsor 100 orphans this year. Now for only a mere dollar you can help make a change in an orphans life. Your contribution will help ensure that an orphan child will have food, clothing, and shelter for the month.

This Ramadan 1430, we ask you  to contribute generously, and become a sponsor of one the children shown below. We are looking for sponsors who are able and willing to make the full year upfront payment ($360 US) before the end of Ramadan (September 18, 2009).

Our Mission:
To help deprived orphans in Iraq (through as many means as possible - be it monetary means, advocacy and support)

Who Benefits: Everyone!

• Orphans benefit: They have food and shelter and Hope!!
• Iraq Benefits: Future citizens have a chance to be educated, happy and grow up with a more stable life.
• You Benefit: You have a chance to make a change in an orphans life! Feel better about yourself and show your appreciation to yourself and God that your making a difference..
• The World Benefits: Ceteris paribus, the world becomes a better place..

Who are the Orphans:

Each orphan is registered, we have their names, ages and family situation. Each sponsor can go through the list of orphans and choose the orphan they would like to help.

Here are photo clips of the orphan registration forms.

Find more photos like this on Canadian Society of Iraqi Youth

How to become a Sponsor: CONTACT US TODAY! We’ll set up an information session with you to give you all the details about your sponsorship,  help you choose your orphan(s), work out your payment plans. All it takes is $1 day a day, but with a 1 year commitment.

More Information about the program:

The orphans are registered and looked after by an organization called The Najaf Campaign. The Najaf Campaign has dedicated much efforts to help Orphans and Iraqis in Need in Iraq. View the following video to see the work that the Najaf Campaign has been doing and advoacating for in Iraq:

Najaf Campaign Work in Iraq

CSIY would like to help out this worthwhile organization, whilst keeping with our mandate to sponsor and support orphans in need in Iraq. The reasons we chose to work with Najef Campaign, is that they are a trusted organization in Canada and in Iraq, they have many years of experience, and are overlooked by a prominent marja (Isalmic high authority) in Iraq. Moreover for all contributions made in Canada, Tax Receipts can be arranged through a partnering organization.

Some of the tasks that the Najef Campaign does in Iraq include but are not limited to:

• Orphan Sponsorship (1400 orphans annually)
• Food Distribution
• Medical Clinic
• Dentist Clinic (established in April 2009)
• Dar Al-Zahra Orphan School (Establishment of a primary school, uniforms and meals provided)
• Computer Institute (teaching computer skills)
• Job Placement Programs
• Annual distribution of fans and blankets
• Sewing classes

Video showcasing these achievements:
Najaf Campaign Work in Iraq

BE PART OF MAKING A CHANGE IN AN ORPHANS LIFE, WE HAVE 100 ORPHANS, CONTACT US TODAY REGISTER ONE OF THESE ORPHANS…

JAZAKUM ALLAH KHAIR, THANK YOU DEARLY..

CSIY

Follow us at http://twitter.com/CSIY_Iraq

During the months of Muharam and Safar (January and February 2009), CSIY ran a fundraising campaign to help support deprived and displaced Iraqi families living in and out of slums in Iraq. The fundraiser was in honor and commemoration of the Arba`een of Imam Hussein (AS). With the blessings of Allah (SWT) and the generosity of our outstanding community CSIY is happy to announce that we raised $4,500 in less than 40 days of campaigning! This is an amazing achievement for CSIY and our community. The money raised has now been sent to Iraq and will be used to purchase items of basic necessities (food, shelter, clothing etc.) and dispersed among Iraqis in need.

Also, each family being helped, will be receiving a letter from CSIY, explaining our intent with this fundraiser, our well wishes, and our encouragement for their survival during these harsh times. We hope to be receiving responses (pictures/videos) from these families and posting them on our website soon.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored and supported this cause. May you all be blessed with the shafa3a of Imam Hussein youm al warood!

Note: The following letter (In English and Arabic) - was sent to the displaced Iraqis who were helped through the Araba`een Fundraiser. This letter exhibits one of CSIY’s main priorities and that is to harbor and maintain a deeper connection with Iraqis in need in Iraq.

• Read the letter in Arabic

• Read the letter in English

Our friends came across a particular community in a Baghdad Slum. This community of Iraqis have been displaced from their homes and now taking up shelter in deserted slums.  As depicted in the pictures below, their living conditions are atrocious.

In psychology classes one of the first things we learn about is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. We are shown that before any person can reach the stages of self actualization, esteem, and love/belonging they need to satisfy their physiological and safety needs. Both the physiological needs of basic human survival (food, water, breathing, sleeping etc) and then the safety needs of security and shelter, need to be satisfied in order for anyone to have a chance at reaching the higher levels of need. Looking at these Iraqis, one must wonder, how they are surviving.

Our friends have now asked us to call upon our members and supporters for charity and funding to this community. CSIY has committed to starting a funding campaign in the memory of Imam Hussein (AS). Our hope is we can work with our community to raise funds by the 40th day ‘Arabaeen’ commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) to send to these people. With the love and dignity that is taught from the story of Karbala, we hope to implore our members to open their hearts and wallets and donate whatever little they can. Every penny counts!

The pictures you see below are of some of the people of this displaced community as they gather to receive donations. You can see the happiness that this little gesture has brought to these people! This is your chance to help be part of the reason that one of these Iraqis smiles.

Find more photos like this on Canadian Society of Iraqi Youth

Please donate by February 14th, 2009. We hope to send out donations to these people for receipt by February 16th, 2009 (Arbaeen of Imam Hussein’s Shahada)

If you have any questions, ideas or would like to help, please contact us.

Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,255,000

Iraqi Refugees in Syria & Jordan - 2.1 million to 2.25 million

Iraqi Unemployment Rate - 27 to 60%, where curfew not in effect

Consumer Price Inflation in 2006 - 50%

Iraqi Children Suffering from Chronic Malnutrition - 28% in June 2007 (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007)

Percent of professionals who have left Iraq since 2003 - 40%

Iraqi Physicians Before 2003 Invasion - 34,000

Iraqi Physicians Who Have Left Iraq Since 2005 Invasion - 12,000

Iraqi Physicians Murdered Since 2003 Invasion - 2,000

Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 1 to 2 hours, per Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (Per Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2007)

Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 10.9 in May 2007

Average Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 5.6 in May 2007

Pre-War Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 16 to 24

Number of Iraqi Homes Connected to Sewer Systems - 37%

Iraqis without access to adequate water supplies - 70% (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007)

Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitated - 22%
Source: http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm

This was the first event where CSIY joined together with ICC. Together a strong team of committed members were able to put together this banquet in a few short weeks. With help from the community by means of donations and support, the banquet was a great success. All donations raised were spilt between CSIY and ICC. CSIY donations are sent to Orphans in Iraq. ICC donations go to fund the Refugee Halal Meat project for new Iraqi Refugees that have recently come to Montreal and are in need.

The following picture album showcases some of the memorable moments of the night.

Find more photos like this on Canadian Society for Iraqi Youth

Watch a few clips of the Speech given by CSIY exec to the attendees of the Eid Banquet:

Iraq, a war torn country, that has been going through political and economical turmoil for the past 30 years, has rendered much of its population in a terrible state. Among the many effected in Iraq, much has to be said about the poor state of orphans, and the fact that the number of orphans in Iraq has increased exponentially in the past 4 years.

A recent report from the Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs released in January 2008 declared that there are 4.5 million orphans in Iraq, with about 500 000 orphans living in the streets without any shelter or family to care for them.

This number is outstanding! These youth in Iraq need help, need protection, need to feel that there are people out there who care and who want to help them.

A story:

In a Baghdadi popular market, Mustafa Fadhil, a ten year old child, sits waiting to carry the items purchased by individuals who are out doing their shopping, for some trivial income that he needs to help his family following his father’s death who was a victim of the violence in Iraq.

From time to time, Mustafa imagines himself back again in classroom; a dream that disappears when a customer, looking for a carrier, calls him “I left school and started working when my father was killed in a mortar attack that targeted our house around two years ago, and I have been responsible for my family since then,” Mustafa said to Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

In an attempt to depend on himself in order for himself and his family to survive under such severe circumstances, Mustafa limits his plans to the requirements of daily life. “I stopped thinking about my future, and what I would be when I get older.”

——

Now think about this, Mustafa’s story is one of 4.5 million orphans!! This is why, all the help that we can generate for these orphans is needed. Every little bit counts! Even if we just end up helping a few of those 4.5 million orphans, we end up making a direct change in the outcome of their future lives!

Help for these youth can come in many ways. Monetary help, educational help, and the simple, “I care for you” help. By being in contact with these youth, through a simple pen-pal system (writing letters, emails etc.) you can help a child/youth feel some hope and some love from the world out there..

That is truly the goal of CSIY. Not only do we want create a community of well wishers, care givers, and advocators on behalf of youth in Iraq, but also to reach out there and touch the hearts of those youth struggling to keep faith in the disastrous society they live in.

Canadian Society of Iraqi Youth is a not-for-profit organization that operates independently of any partisan, corporate, national or regional government, or institution. We are funded, supported and encouraged solely by our members, sponsors and well wishers. We graciously accept donations to help grow and maintain our foundations, projects, events and efforts to promote youth collaboration both in Canada and Iraq. If you would like to take a more active role in our mission, please consider making a donation or contacting us to see how you may be of assistance. All of our staff is un-paid and dedicate their time and effort only because we sincerely care.