By Cindy Fogleman | Executive Director (pro bono)
Well, as it turns out it is very, VERY difficult to say "no." And, truth is, we don't want to. Although the Hope Bus was designed with desks to accommodate 40 students, some days as many as 59 extremely vulnerable and desperately poor Iraqi boys and girls crowd aboard the bus for classes and a healthy lunch. The staff tell us how hard it is to deny a child the opportunity to participate. So, it is very cozy and the kids squeeze in a little tighter. Best option? Maybe it is time for Hope Bus 2?
We are also happy to share some good news. This fall, 15 children from the Hope Bus "graduated" to go to public school. They joined another 86 kids that got help from our street lawyers to secure their legal documents so they could go to school too. That's 101 kids who have access to education because of our generous donors. Bravo! Thanks to all of you!
The Hope Bus is just one part of a team of street lawyers, social workers, and tutoring staff. Many kids get help from part of the team but, once in a while, one child gets the help of all three. Take 8-year old "Sara" (not her real name) who lost her father three years ago in a battle against ISIS. She, her mother, and older brother lived in a small room in extreme poverty. At first, Sara begged on the streets until police picked her up. She was released after her mother promised not to let her beg again. So Sara went to work with her mother instead, collecting tin cans. She suffered from skin disease, toothaches, and malnutrition. Living in poverty and suffering, school was a distant dream for this little girl.
But, thanks to terrific donors like you, some dreams do come true. Sara started attending classes on the Hope Bus and stopped working. She got nutritious meals and health care. The street lawyers helped her get the required legal ID document to enroll in school. Sara's mother got help filing for financial support from the government. The team found jobs for the mother and older brother which, in turn, enabled them to rent a small apartment. And, to top it off, Sara said goodbye to the Hope Bus to go to school!
Yes, you are donors. But more than that, you are indispensable "Dream Makers." All of us at ICF thank you from the bottom of our heart for being a part of the team to make dreams come true! Never doubt how much you are needed.
By Cindy Fogleman | Volunteer Executive Director of ICF
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