Why Iraqi Children Need Help
Written on September 15, 2008 by Nada
The Canadian Society for Iraqi Youth came together in March 2008 by four Iraqi-Canadian youth who decided they wanted to make a difference in their communities and back home in their country of origin.
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.”
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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.
