(no subject)

I just stepped out to water my tomatoes, and the one plant that I was starting to think was sterile now has two flowers on it! Yay!!!!!!! And the cilatro is about half an inch high. Yay!!!!!!!!!

Shower, post office, and back to research work.

For Iraqi women and children

As people know, I've been sketching over the fact that I've only been sending things to soldiers, and feeling badly about not doing anything for the Iraqi people. Well, calloo, callay! the 3rd Signal Brigade are working with Iraqi citizens (who took the initiative) on a womens' shelter and an orphanage. This is off http://www.anysoldier.com. Go to "Where to Send" and look up CW3 Tracy Lawson.

Let's be a strike force for compassion.


From the Soldier:

10 Aug 2004:
Please pass this out for me with the widest decimation.   Thanks allot….Tracy

Attention America!

The women and children of Iraq need your help. Even with the new regime change, there is still a series of injustices that are happening throughout this country. Currently it is still accepted for a woman to be abused by her husband, father, or brother if she is no longer considered “pure” in their country. As a result women are suffering the beatings from their family in silence.

This is about to change.

WOMEN’S SAFE HOUSE:

Some people in Iraq realize that this practice is wrong and want to change this horrible tradition. They have created a women’s safe house. This house is designed to protect women who are in this situation, or are in danger because they work with coalition forces. It is a temporary place for them to re-group and re-integrate back in society and their families. A trained staff of caring Iraqi men and women are working together to make this place a reality. The community has also helped by donating items to the house to include beds, a stove, and a refrigerator. The house is fully operational; however, there are still some things that are greatly needed.

Safe House Monetary needs:

Operating Cost funds:
The new government accepts the safe house; however, they are not willing to pay the employees enough each month to cover the operational costs. Reoccurring expenses include: house keeping costs, paying for 24 hour guard service, food, and utilities. The monthly cost for these expenditures is about $1200

Back up Generator:
The power grid fails regularly where this house is located and therefore a back-up generator is needed. Currently, the appropriate sized generator costs between $18,000 and $25,000.

Guard Trailer:
The guards that are willing to risk their lives for the ladies are not allowed to stay in the house due to Iraqi tradition. The safe house would like to purchase a trailer to be placed along side the house with its own amenities; the lowest cost for a trailer is $5,500 and the highest bid is $50,000. We need to put a down payment on the trailer first before we can get the trailer moved to the house.   

IRAQI CHILDREN PROTECTIVE HOME

Now what about the children of Iraq? There is a growing problem in Baghdad, Iraq with children begging outside of the hotels. These children are picked up by police and thrown into regular jails. The culture does not agree with this but they have no place to put these children. This is causing larger problems throughout the country as children are being subject to abuse and other dangers in the prisons. That is why the Iraqi Children Protective Home was created. This will be a safe house for children that have been picked up by local police. These children will be cared for and their families will be contacted to see what can be done to help their situation. This house will have counselors available for working with the children. It also will have, like the women’s safe house, beds, food, and basic needs for the children as they stay in the facility. The safe house will also have a playground, swimming pool, a library, and computer access. This home is a place for young children to get back on the right track in life, back in schools, and back to a safe, healthy environment.

Children’s protective home needs:

Refurbish the home:
A house on over three acres of land has already been allocated and zoned for this project. However, the contractors cannot start work without funds. This house was nearly destroyed by the prior occupants. They stole the toilets, doors, counters, and even the kitchen sink. The house needs to be refurbished. The grass is overgrown and there is a lot of debris around both the house and the land surrounding it.

Fence:
The staff would like a 9 ft security fence around the property to maintain security for the children and to prevent burglary and vandalism.

Landscaping/Playground:
Currently the land needs to be landscaped-- there is some grass, but the land is mostly covered with rocks, dirt, and trash. There is plenty of area that will allow the building of a full sized playground to include an area established for smaller children to play. The playground needs to be ordered and as of yet we do not have an estimate on costs on this yet.

Swimming pool:
On this large lot is a smaller fenced in area where we would like to build a full size swimming pool. We think this would be great for the children to cool off in the summer months and can be available to help teach children how to swim. Local contractors in the area are still working on estimates for this project.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Bottom line, all these projects take require funding. HHC, 3rd Signal Brigade has sponsored us for these two projects; however, they told us that their resources have been put on hold until the next fiscal year, which is October 04. The problem with waiting until October is that the longer we have to wait for this money to be available the more these projects are at risk of failure and termination. Without money, the women’s safe house and children’s home employees will not be able to afford to work. Without money, the children’s house and fence cannot be built and we are in danger of losing the property to someone else.
America, we need your help. If you want to know how to donate please contact

Safe house and Children Home Coordinator: Laith al Sudany at:

icpols@yahoo.com


Thank you for your consideration.