The southern Iraqi province of Dhi Qar is rich in history and culture. It is the home of Abraham and the site of one of civilization’s oldest cities, Ur, where to this day the famous Ziggurat still stands. Just a short distance from the ancient site of Ur is an enormous dump yard for the city of Nasiriyah. These dump yards are present in every Iraqi city, and upon visiting, one will see many children sorting through the trash in search of food and recyclable materials to be sold by weight so that they may provide for their families.
Living Light International is developing a pilot project to aid these children who were never able to attend school because of their obligation at the dump yards to help maintain their families. Partnering with the Iraqi Red Crescent and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the project will take 15-20 girls ages eight to thirteen to build their self-esteem through programs in drama, basic reading and writing, vocational skills, and connection to the world through computer technology.
LLI will coordinate and direct the material and logistics for the projects while the Iraqi Red Crescent will provide transportation, a meal, and a day’s wage for the children. The Ministry of Labor and Social affairs will provide the instructors and the venues for the program.
The project will begin early next year. The work will be documented and presented by the television station Alhurra TV.
By LLI Team | Published: August 18, 2011
Introduction
LLI has gone through a number of projects most of which were successful, nevertheless one project took about six months worth of hard work but failed to go through.
Project Initiation
Driven by the increased cases of peadeatric cancer during the past decade accompanied by the deteriorated medical infrastructure, Nahrain Onchology and Haematology Hospital (NOAH) project was initiated by a group of Iraqi medical doctors in the UK in 2009. NOAH project was to build an all charity peadiatric enchology treatment centre in Baghdad to answer the needs of children within the category mentioned above. The project was to be funded by charitable funds and constructed on a donated piece of land. Early in 2011, LLI partnered with NOAH to take the responsibility of finding a land provider.
Two of LLI members travelled, one from the UK and one from the USA to Iraq to meet with a number of officials, VPIs and professionals. The outcome was obtaining a generous piece of land from the generous Philanthropic Ayatullah Hussein Ismael Al Sader in Al Kadhimiyah, Baghdad.
Reasons for Failure
The Iraqi medical team who initiated the NOAH project had to pull out for reasons related to their internal procedures and policies.
Lessons Learned
1- Make sure potential partners have complete and feasible business plans for the proposed projects.
2- To fully review projects’ documents before getting involved into a partnership.
Dr. Khalaf Abdul Samad: A Man with a Vision
Dr. Khalaf Abdul Samad, Governor of Basra, Iraq.
When Dr. Khalaf heard of the pediatric heart surgeries LLI was bringing to Iraq, he suggested right away to bring them to his native Basra. When he found out the hospital was not ready to receive the surgeries, he offered to prepare them in time. Dr. Khalaf has offered his support to LLI in every leg of our missions, particularly in our medical missions over the past year. The people of Basra are well known to be generous, well-natured and hospitable, and those characteristics are boldly embodied in Dr. Khalaf. He has embraced us in the region with the utmost hospitality, facilitating our work in Basra a great deal.
Already experienced in dealing with the victims of war by heading the Al-Shuhadaa Organization from 2003 to 2006, Dr. Khalaf readily sympathized with us and supported us in our efforts to help orphans and widows of war in Iraq. Very many Iraqis have felt the effects of conflict in the region, but Dr. Khalaf is one of the leaders that took action to improve the conditions of his country. Known for both his relentless hard work and his warmth, his modesty proves just how thoroughly committed and confident he is in his crucial role in the re-development of Basra, the sea’s gateway to Iraq.