Street Lawyers, Doctors, Hope Buses for Iraqi Kids

Dear kind and generous donors:

Abbas,* a 10-year old Iraqi boy, lives in a slum-like neighborhood.    He is desperately poor and, because he was not attending school, was invited to come to the Hope Bus for tutoring and nutrition.  But Abbas was also struggling emotionally with a head deformity as a result of an accident.  The deformity has deeply impacted his psyche and self esteem, resulting in aggressive behavior and bullying of other kids on the Hope Bus.  One can only imagine his bleak childhood and future without a loving intervention.

This is where you come in.  This is where love and help shows up in the form of an "angel" -  a caring social worker who is paid $400 a month through your donations.   

The social worker noticed Abbas' behavior, heard the complaints of the other kids, and then went to work, spending one-on-one time with little Abbas.  The social worker encouraged him to accept his appearance and explained that a person's value is not in their good looks or appearance but in their personality, ethics, and achievements in life.  The social worker gave Abbas many examples of famous people who changed the course of mankind, such as the world renown physicist Stephen Hawking (who suffered from ALS). 

Their sessions together helped Abbas accept himself and his behavior toward the other kids on the Hope Bus began to improve.

On behalf of Abbas and the hundreds of children who have been helped already this year, thank you!  Love knows no borders and oceans.  Your donations and compassion reach across both to make a life-changing impact for these precious children.

Humbly,
Cindy

PS  Are you in the DC area?  Don't miss our annual 5K and After Party with DJ, Iraqi food, gelato, face painting, calligraphy and more!  Still time to register before June 22 and run with us for Iraq's orphans and most vulnerable kids!  

* Abbas name and picture changed for privacy.

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Little Lamia* (6) was discovered by local police, sleeping at a city dump in Baghdad where street children work.  She was battered and covered with bruises.  They knew right away who to contact for help:  the social workers working with our Street Lawyers.  The girl would need shelter.    

In keeping with police procedures, Lamia was referred for a medical exam which revealed she had been raped.  The social workers placed her in a government shelter for victims of human trafficking and then followed up with daily visits to give her psychological support.  They discovered that Lamia had been begging on the streets and repeatedly raped by three adults, leaving her with serious psychological trauma. The social workers are seeking psychotherapy from a specialist.  Lamia needs a lot of time to recover but at least she is now in a safe place.

It is for desperately vulnerable girls and boys, like Lamia, that hundreds show up at ICF's annual "In Their Shoes 5K."  We are the voice for children with no voice.  And the 5K and after party help us raise thousands of dollars to mend their physical, mental, and emotional wounds.

We invite you to run/walk with us at ICF's 7th Annual "In Their Shoes 5K" to be held on Saturday, June 22, in the Washington DC area.  Join ICF's three brave Youth Ambassadors - Teeba, Humoody, and Ala'a - who themselves suffered as children in Iraq.  Teeba was badly injured when an IED hit a car she was riding in.  Humoody was shot in the face and blinded by an extremist.  Ala'a was abandoned as a little boy with cerebral palsy.  They are the faces and voices of so many vulnerable orphans and other children back in Iraq.  

We thank you again for your high impact support!  We can do so much together as a team.  Can't join us at the 5K run/walk?  Consider a donation to show solidarity with us.  Just make a note that it is for the 5K!  

All in,
Cindy

*name changed for her protection