Hope Bus 1 & 2
Hope Bus 1 - Before
Hope Bus 1 - After
About the Program
Our eye-catching “Hope Buses” are ordinary, used buses that are converted into colorful, child friendly classrooms. Each bus serves approximately 50 desperately poor orphans and street kids with tutoring, nutrition, health cases, social services, and childhood fun. Children typically attend classes on the Hope Buses for one year, during which they are prepared with the educational and life skills to then enroll in regular schools.
Program update:
ICF plans to launch a minibus service to coincide with the start of the new school year in Iraq in 2021. Minibuses will be provided for Hope Bus graduates, to help them travel to and from school. A social worker from the team will monitor the buses and track which children are utilizing the service. This will be a free service for the children we serve. The goal of this program extension is to encourage participation in the education system, by removing obstacles to school attendance.
Program Location: Baghdad
Program Goals
Through the Hope Bus program, our goals are to successfully eliminate malnutrition, educate (through tutoring and providing access to school), and provide basic health and psychosocial care for all children under the care of the program. ICF also aims to facilitate the transition of children from Hope Bus programs to regular school, by providing enrollment and transport support.
Program Outcomes
The first Hope Bus launched in 2017, with a view to serve 50 vulnerable children in Baghdad. Since that initial investment, and through to the end of 2020, we have accomplished the following:
Another bus added in 2018, and the ongoing operations since that time of two Hope Buses.
More than 500 desperately poor orphans and street children have received regular academic tutoring, health care, psychosocial services, and a sense of community and belonging.
36,700+ nutritious meals have been served to children on the buses.
850 food and hygiene supply packs were distributed to Hope Bus families during COVID-19 shut down periods.
100% of children who graduated from the Hope Bus in 2020 now have their legal documents.
90% of children who regularly attended Hope Bus programs in 2020 are no longer working on the streets.
How you can help:
We are actively fundraising for a third Hope Bus. At present, there are thousands of children who could benefit from this program, but we are unable to serve them due to capacity limitations. We need your help! We need to raise $200,000 to pay for the conversion of a new bus, and three years of operational costs. Any amount helps, please give generously to support these children. If you are interested to fully fund and sponsor a Hope Bus, either individually, with a group, or through a company, please contact liz@iraqichildren.org for more information.
Case Studies: Outcomes in Action
Hussein’s Hope Bus Story
“Hussein* used to come every day to Hope Bus 2, and stand far away watching the children of the bus while they were playing. One day the teacher asked Hussein to register on the bus, but Hussein started crying and ran away. The teacher visited Hussein’s house and met his family, telling them that Hussein should come and join the children on Hope Bus 1. Hussein’s mother told the teacher that Hussein was ashamed of his appearance, as he suffers from deformities in the face and head as a result of being burned when he was younger. Hussein worried that the other children would make fun of his appearance. A social worker spoke with Hussein and convinced him that the other children would welcome him with love and consider him their friend, and would never make fun of him. She also explained that a person is not judged by his external appearance, but by his morals, especially his personality and work. Hussein agreed to join the children of the Hope Bus, and now spends his days having a fun and happy time with the other children.”
*Name changed to protect privacy
Ahmed’s Hope Bus Story
“Ahmed* is a wonderful boy, helping other children and joining in the fun and activities of the Hope Bus. One day, Ahmed came to the Hope Bus carrying a large container filled with milk. He said that he brought the milk from their cow to share with his fellow students. You see, Ahmed and his mother make their living by selling milk from their cow but, on that day, they decided not to sell it but donate it to the Hope Bus children. Their generosity in the midst of their poverty is an inspiration.”
*Name changed to protect privacy