When the US tanks rolled into Baghdad in 2003, things were supposed to begin improving for the citizens of Iraq. One year after Saddam Hussein took control of the country in 1979, he led Iraq into a bloody war with neighboring Iran. By 1989, almost a million people were killed or wounded - and the bloodshed has continued to this day. Two Gulf Wars and 10 years of stringent sanctions have left the country crippled.

 

Whatever you think of the rights and wrongs of the most recent war, after years of oppression, freedom was in sight. Democratic elections were held for the first time in the country's history and the sanctions were lifted. But violence is still widespread across Iraq and despite the presence of thousands of coalition troops, the lives of citizens are in no less danger now than they were before the invasion. With families devastated by years of conflict and communities shattered, countless children and youth struggle to live a normal life. Many are unable to go to school, whether for economic reasons or because conflict has brought the destruction of schools and other infrastructure.

 

 

In Iraq, War Child works closely with local partners Iraqi Al-Amal Association and Muslim Hands Iraq. The goal of this joint project is to rehabilitate schools and communities in an effort to help Iraqi children and youth lead normal, productive lives, free from the horrors of violence. To date, our results have been very encouraging and we have witnessed some wonderful outcomes. We have rehabilitated 3 schools in Baghdad, provided access to education and educational resources to at least 1550 students, and supported the healthy emotional development of the children by providing safe places for them to access education and interact with peers.

 

The project also focuses on building the skills of Iraqi youth through human rights, civil dialogue, conflict resolution as well as IT and English training. Al-Amal has reached thousands of students through its outreach activities (especially its youth-developed website www.shabab-alamal.org) as well as its training in high schools and communities all over the country. In addition, the project works closely with educators and professionals to build their capacity to effectively work with children and youth affected by war.