Iraqi Children Foundation Releases New Video Featuring Children’s Voices from the Hope Buses
Video Also Features Other High Impact Projects for Vulnerable Children
Washington, DC – The Iraqi Children Foundation has announced the release of “Voices from the Hope Buses,” a new video featuring the voices of vulnerable children who receive education, nutrition, and psychosocial services at colorful buses converted into classrooms in desperately poor neighborhoods. The video also highlights other projects in Baghdad and Mosul.
In the video, two of the girls share their dreams: “I want to be an engineer,” says one. “I want to be a doctor,” says the other. Two of the boys in the class also share their dreams: “I want to be a pilot,” and “I want to be a policeman.” These boys and girls are among the more than 500 vulnerable orphans and former street kids who have been served by the Hope Bus project since its inception five years ago. Plans are now underway to significantly increase project capacity by 50 percent to give more at risk children in Baghdad’s poorest neighborhoods a chance to learn and pursue their dreams.
The manager of the Hope Bus project explained the high impact of the Hope Bus project this way:
“Did you know that most Hope Bus children when they first come to us have negative thoughts about themselves like they are stupid, unable to learn. They do not have dreams about the future and feel inferior and that they are not like other children in schools. But when they carry school bags, books and pens, and when they start learning to write the first letter, the change begins.
“The change is the most important goal that ICF is giving to the children. I always tell you that ICF offers a dream to these children, and when a person has a dream, he will be very powerful and will change. Change is the result that will remain with the child throughout his life.”
The video also features highlights of the Street Lawyer project, including protecting and defending child victims of trafficking. And the video covers a range of social services provided to vulnerable children in Baghdad and teen girls in Mosul.
For more information on these initiatives or to invest in expanding their reach to more vulnerable, at risk children, please contact ICF Executive Director Liz McRae at liz@iraqichildren.org
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The Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF) intervenes in the lives of children who are at risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by criminals, traffickers, and extremists. ICF is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity (EIN 26-1394773). Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information, visit www.iraqichildren.org or email liz@iraqichildren.org