Thread: Iraqi Children Outreach

Operation Iraqi Children


OK, HERE WE GO This is for all who would like to support the next generation of leaders in Iraqi. Let's hope that by building relations with the children they will view Americans from a different lens than their parents. We need to start with the children if we want to change the attitudes and face of Iraq. This is a great beginning.

Let's give back for all the pain and suffering they have had to endure. We can send supplies ourselves or donate money to have them sent. Doesn't cost much and I would think it would have a tremendous impact on the country and our relationship with them. There is no better way to touch the hearts of parents than to love their children.

It would be a nice venture for all of us to get involved in since we are all INVESTED in Iraq and it's future. The children are their future, and ours

Hey Par77, I am up and ready. Point me in the right direction. Any idea how we can organize and do something collectively? A group effort is always more powerful than individually. Can you get us started or recruit someone who can? I think I'll post something on the Crazy thread to see if we can get joiners.

BUILDING SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS:

The most efficient and effective way to help Iraqi children is to create School Supply Kits which will be distributed to each student. Each Kit contains basic, badly-needed items that can make a world of difference to a child heading to school. Assembling standardized Kits ensures that each child receives the same number of the most needed items, facilitates customs clearance, and relieves our volunteers and soldiers of the time-consuming and labor intensive process of sorting and allocating random donated items. Kits are wildly popular among Iraqis, who often request them.

Assemble each Kit according to the following list of items. Please enclose NO additional items and be sure that all items are new and unused. Each Kit should contain:

* One pair of blunt-end scissors
* One 12-inch ruler with metric markings
* 12 new pencils with erasers
* One small pencil sharpener
* One large eraser
* One box of colored pencils (Crayons melt in the Iraqi summer heat!)
* One package of notebook paper
* One composition book
* Three folders with inside pockets
* One zippered pencil bag

Ok, I am thinking off the top of my head here. I am going to suggest some options to consider and see who wants to pick this up and run with it or offer additional thoughts, options to consider.

If we set up an e-gold or paypal account in the name of Iraqi Children that we could all donate to we could pool our money to be more effective.

With the money donated we could have someone go to Costco or Sam's club and buy bulk supplies of the above items at discount. Maybe someone could share this program with the people at these places, or other stores that carry school supplies that might even donate these items to us. Spread the word and people can be very generous for a worthy cause. If this benefits our troops and our future relations with Iraqi I am sure many stores would be willing to donate to this cause.

Who do we have who lives in Kansas City, Mo where there warehouse is? If we had someone in the area it would be great if they wanted to organize delivery to their warehouse. I think we have enough people involved on this forum from around the world to really make a difference to support our troops who give out these packs to the children.

Operation Iraqi Children

c/o Fast Pace Distribution

6200 E. St. John Ave.

Kansas City, MO 64123

USA

If you click on the website links there are flyers, instructions and lots of ways for us to do this both as a group or individually. I think if we just send out some feelers to various stores we shop at, we might be surprised at the good response we get. Once we get some feed back we can decide how we want to go and who wants to do what.

How is that for a start?

I like it! I don't live in KC, MO. but I do live in Topeka, Kansas and that is only 50 miles from there. If no one responds that actually lives in KC, then I will take this part on. I think I may be able to contact our news paper and see if they can help us out with some type of publicity also, to get the stores involved. I'll give it a try. We can make a difference! Thanks for your hard work and great ideas, Par.

If you can set up the e-gold account or the paypal, I'll gladly contribute to that too!

A very humble intiative there and goes to show the quality of hearts we have flocking within RC...

WTG...and many will be on par with this path you are setting forth! I'm in too, will discuss my part if needed at a later stage... am preparing to leave soon for a new destinattion with a promising outcome, even for RC.


YB. - cheers to all and to the RC CARE Group...

It is near impossible for any of us to step into another person's shoes. That is what the group is trying to do by gathering school supplies. I think it is a wonderful and thoughtful thing to do. If you had a child in need, and someone sent you things for your children-you would find kindness in the gesture. But, you are thinking like a person from the "West". That is not always true in other places.

The families that these supplies will go to are not the structured the same as a traditional "Western" family is. Meaning, children in the "West" rule the home. You have soccer moms and dads who follow their children from event to event. Kids often become more like friends to their parents. That is totally not the way a traditional Muslim family works. It is a top down world there. Fathers tell their wives, and children, the way it is. They have arranged marriages still. And their kids go along with those ideals.

Again, I think this is a wonderful gesture. But, you might want to look at other ways to help. I would not be surprised if the supplies are met with scorn in the homes there. If the father, who is very proud, says that this gift is not a gift, but another way for Americans to show they are better...well, the supplies will be pitched into the street.

Another thought might be to put $$ into some of the women organizations that have been popping up. If women become empowered, the family structure could change.

Just a thought from...Trapper T's girlfriend.

Hmmm...., a very astute observation and one that has learnt from past display of the different perception that truly divides both WEST and third world attitudes...always reviewing patronisation to their disposition but that is also immediately overlooked/overcome by accepting the gesture nonetheless.

Whatever or however it poses, the the fact of the truth and gesture lies with the GIVER... come what may on what the receiver assumes...wherever they are, we do what we can and to the extent that we can allow and afford, it helps with our conscience towards our fellow men irrespective of colour, creed, deed or religion.

This is for your gal's great analysis on one such as this towards those in need from the Muslim world we truly want to help too!


YB. - cheers to all those involved...

Originally Posted by YogiBrood

Hmmm...., a very astute observation and one that has learnt from past display of the different perception that truly divides both WEST and third world attitudes...always reviewing patronisation to their disposition but that is also immediately overlooked/overcome by accepting the gesture nonetheless.

Whatever or however it poses, the the fact of the truth and gesture lies with the GIVER... come what may on what the receiver assumes...wherever they are, we do what we can and to the extent that we can allow and afford, it helps with our conscience towards our fellow men irrespective of colour, creed, deed or religion.

This is for your gal's great analysis on one such as this towards those in need from the Muslim world we truly want to help too!


YB. - cheers to all those involved...

Thank you for your words of wisdom and kindness. The American troops are the ones that pass these out to the kids. If you look on the site in the gallery you will see so many similing faces of these brave children that want to go to school inspite of the dangers.

I am waiting until Sunday to see what happens with the CBI because everyone is so caught up in the excitement/pathos that's all they are concerned with.

I am so glad we have such a great group of caring people. I will keep you posted when I have more. Until Sunday