Dine for Hope

March 22, 2016

DINE FOR HOPE KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN FOR $200,000 FOR LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IRAQ’s MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Hosted by the Khudairi Group in Dubai, UAE, on March 17, “DINE FOR HOPE” brought together friends, family, and business colleagues to hear from experts on the crisis facing Iraq’s most vulnerable street children, orphans, and displaced children, and to take action.

ICF Vice President-Iraq, Mohammed Khudairi, announced to guests that ICF hopes to raise $200,000 by May 15, 2016, to launch a new initiative of expanded field services for Iraq’s most vulnerable kids, including legal aid for poor street children who are arrested, help in getting key legal documents for children so they can enroll in school, and protection against abuse and recruitment of children by extremists, criminals, and traffickers.

With the generous support of attendees and event sponsors – the Khudairi Group, BH Defense, Lane, The Wonderful Company, and SANY – the event mobilized an estimated $30,000 toward this bold new ICF initiative.

One expert shared a story of two Iraqi boys who were arrested for minor theft.  They were sent to detention where they languished for 8 months without legal representation.  When the judge finally heard their case, he immediately dismissed it and set them free.  With legal aid those boys might never have been unjustly confined for 8 months.

What is it worth to give a child back 8 months of his life?  What is it worth to get a child their legal documents so they can enroll or re-enroll in school?  What is it worth to help a child stop working on the streets?  Each child is of infinite worth and ICF is determined to be an advocate for as many as we can.   We invite you to join us by donating to this cause or signing up for our annual “IN THEIR SHOES” 5K on May 14.  Reaching the goal will require open hearts and teamwork!