AFSC Helps Iraq Create Its Own New Society
June 18, 2004
Excerpts from a recent report on AFSC activities in Iraq offer an excellent snapshot of AFSC resources and values in action.
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| Layla Mohammed (right), Mary Trotochaud (center) and a resident of the Salam camp (left) meet with camp officials. Photo: McDowell/Trotochaud |
AFSC's focus is to support emerging Iraqi NGOs. By mentoring and financially supporting local partners' projects and programs, AFSC strengthens and develops their capacity as emerging non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Reconciliation and dialogue are a hallmark of AFSC's work in Iraq. Health and social service crises also receive high priority as AFSC tries to help the country's most vulnerable and underserved populations.
Security issues have greatly restricted staff ability to travel beyond Baghdad in the past few months, but work continues on many fronts.
Highlights of new and ongoing initiatives
Capacity building workshop
One of AFSC's local partners, the Iraqi Al Amal Association, and international partners MCC and Care help emerging NGOs strengthen their capacities to be active and leading members of the emerging and vibrant Iraqi civil society. AFSC provided funds that will allow for the participation of sixteen local NGOs in a series of training workshops. The workshops will be facilitated by regional NGO/civil society experts. Security concerns prevent outside experts from entering Iraq, which forced program coordinators to temporarily rely more heavily on in-country facilitators.
The objective of this six-to-twelve month program is to identify and support the organizations in their development into strong national NGOs. Thirty Iraqis participated in the first workshops that concentrated on civil society, democracy, human rights, the basics of how NGOs operate and the role of NGOs in civil society. Ninety percent of the participants rated the workshop as good or very good.
Homeless camps for the urban poor
 | | An Iraqi family makes a home in Al Huda. |
AFSC continues to support the work of local partner OWFI (Organization for Women's Freedom in Iraq) in the homeless camps. Recent projects include filling emergency medicine prescriptions for the camps' children, and transporting hygiene kits and other donated supplies provided through the AFSC Emergency and Material Assistance Program (EMAP). AFSC also funded the construction of toilets and sinks at the Al Huda camp, home to more than 3,000 internally displaced families.
Read more about Al Huda:
Read more about OWFI:
Orphanage
AFSC funds made possible the purchase of emergency supplies and furnishings for an orphanage that provides housing for thirteen street children. Purchases included food, beds, heaters, clothes, shoes, fuel, and a fuel storage container.
Bethany House
AFSC helped purchase a van to transport people with handicaps to medical appointments and related services.
Read more about Bethany House
Infant kits and medical supplies
Iraqi Al-Amal Association will be AFSC's implementing partner for the distribution of infant kits collected through EMAP. Al-Amal has opened a women's clinic in the Southern city of Najaf, the site of intense combat. The distribution will be part of their educational program, which includes pre- and post-natal care training for mothers.
Al Maarefa (Knowledge for the Iraqi Women's Society)
Al Maarefa, a society of Iraqi women, previously provided community services through Baghdad 's mosques. Since the fall of the regime, the society has registered as an NGO and opened its first Baghdad center in June 2003. In the past year, the center has held lectures, twenty-three training courses on Windows XP and Word 2000. The center also offers eleven training courses on sewing, cooking, ceramics, and physical fitness.
The center houses a nursery school, small gym, computer room, kitchen, sewing room and a clinic where 350 patients have been examined. Al Maarefa recently opened a center in the poor neighborhood of Al Dora, on the outskirts of Baghdad. The clinic offers sewing courses and Al Maarefa hopes to initiate a computer-training course for the poor women and girls of the community. AFSC plans to purchase four computers and accessories to initiate this program.
The Sisters of the Sacred Heart's Home for Abused Women and Girls
The Sisters of the Sacred Heart are an Iraqi Christian religious community established in 1911. The community has operated a home for abused girls and women in Mosul since 1998. With violence against women increasing, the Sisters hope to establish a similar program in Baghdad. The program will serve Muslims and Christians. AFSC has supported the Sisters' Good Shepherd home in Mosul, and hopes to continue supporting the home in Mosul and the planned service in Baghdad.
Farmers of Dhuluiya
U.S. forces recently plowed under the fields and orchards of the Dhuluiya farming community. A group of farmers from Western Massachusetts, along with the local AFSC office, wrote a letter of apology to the Dhuluiya farmers. AFSC staff has identified a local resident who is willing to forward the letter, and hopes to identify and fund a small reconciliation project. This might be a soccer field/basketball court for the youth of the community.
Read the letter of apology.
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