Iraqi Children Foundation Team Joins Partners in Grand Opening of third “Hope Bus” for Orphans and Vulnerable Iraqi Children in Baghdad
October 24, 2022; Washington, DC – A team from the Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF) and The Children’s Village of New York joined their Iraqi partners in a grand opening of Hope Bus 3 in Baghdad, Iraq, the third in a fleet of buses converted to colorful, child-friendly classrooms that provide learning, nutrition, psychosocial services and play for desperately poor orphans and vulnerable children.
Chairman of the ICF Board Grant Felgenhauer (right) joined Board Member Mohammed Khudairi (left) and the President and CEO of The Children’s Village Dr. Jeremy Kohomban (center)in cutting the ribbon to the new Hope Bus.
The grand opening ceremony included a party for the children who have registered to attend Hope Bus 3. Each of the three buses, staffed by two teachers, and a social worker, serves an average of 50 students, but as high as 55. Girls typically comprise slightly over fifty percent of students.
The Hope Bus initiative was first launched in 2017 and has already served 630 children through 2022. Education and nutrition for these desperately poor orphans and child laborers is a deep, long term investment in their future. Social services also provide opportunities to intervene in early marriage for young teen girls, cases of abuse, child labor, and medical and psychological hardships.
Beyond the services the Hope Bus experiences offers these vulnerable children, there is another powerful impact as described by Firas, a “Street Lawyer,” working with these at-risk kids:
“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.”
Those interested in providing monthly support to the students on the Hope Buses can donate and receive news updates.
For more information about the Hope Bus initiative, please contact ICF Executive Director Elizabeth 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