Iraqi Orphans

Picture: http://film.britishcouncil.org/112

 

A few months ago, I watched a program, In My Mother’s Arms, about orphaned children in Iraq. The numbers of these children has increased dramatically due to the destabilization and erosion of the government caused by previous as well as current events.

The documentary struck a chord so deep that I just could not move on as if this happens a million times over around the world and pretend that I, one individual, cannot do anything to help. Watching those children battle with their own fears and loss, wondering what will happen to them next and still manage to be content with the little that they have, helped me to reflect on the abundance I am currently living in and yet I sigh because something or another is not working according to plan.It made me think of how greedy and so in- my- bubble I am sometimes and how those children and many others, would wish for a sliver of what I have.

I decided to write to Al Jazeera to find out how to send a few children a ray of hope and spread the word to friends and family who are just as eager to help lives as that man, Husham, who is responsible for those lucky boys in the documentary. I say lucky because there are thousands of other children who do not have such a chance of living safely in an orphanage.

I wrote to a few people and nearly lost hope when the lady who assisted in the making of the documentary, Isabelle Stead, wrote back on Monday and provided me with the email of Husham, as well as the site where one is be able to donate some money if they so wished. 

I have since written to Husham and he came across as a wonderful man who only wants to feel supported and help many other orphaned children around Iraq as a whole. 

I thought of sharing the site, as well as Husham's email, in case anyone was interested in helping out.

I would very much appreciate it if you would spread such a worthy cause to your friends and family as any bit of help will go a long way with these needy children whose only wish is to have a normal full life.

In addition, it would mean so much to Husham, I am sure, if he received a supportive warm email to thank him for the effort and time he has put in to save the Iraqi orphans. You can use Google to translate what you have written before sending it to Husham, or send me a copy for me to proofread and correct before you do... as sometimes Google translates stuff literally and it does not make sense.

Donation Site: http://www.justgiving.com/IraqiOrphanage

Alternatively please feel free to email Husham directly: althahpea@yahoo.com

Yet Again!

I have been away from blogging for sometimes and that's because of so many reasons. My son's birthday for one and another being a life changing decision that came up so unexpectedly. 

Jad's birthday went well and the guests seemed to have enjoyed themselves  We had a few activities planned for them from cocoon toilet paper races to sleeping bag caterpillar races. The last activity was the spider pinata. After watching my daughter refuse to hit the spider with a hockey stick it made me think what a terrible thing it was to beat a living things in real life. I wondered what she probably thought watching 7 year olds do so. It is a replica but still to her it meant something. 

I have now come to to the conclusion that even though making dinosaurs and spider pinatas is fun, the act of beating them to get candy is, in reality, violent. From now on, if the kids wanted me to make a pinata, then I will make a colorful geometric shape for them.... not even a flower or a tree would do. 

I enjoyed having Jad design the cake he wanted and bringing his vision to life as well as watching the kids have a marvelous time playing with each other. I needed to hear the laughter of children the weekend after we had made a life changing decision which entails us leaving Thailand after 4 years of working. 

I loved watching Jad laughing and having such a blast at his birthday party as it took my thoughts away from worrying about how this move might throw Jad into a whirlwind of emotional turmoil. I do not like change but I know I can manage. The emotions that Jad goes through when something like this happens is 100 time more intense and I cannot see him struggle to make sense of it all... struggle to make new friends again and struggle to control the tears. 

He has just made good friends at school and he is a much happier boy than he was last year. The thought of having to uproot him yet again is burning a hole through my soul and it pains me. However, I keep saying that if he has a loving supportive family, then he will be all right. He is in a much better place than so many children out there. So we are blessed to be together and have supportive friends and extended family. We will pull through Inshallah!