Iraqi Children Foundation

TO INTERVENE WITH LOVE AND HOPE IN THE LIVES OF IRAQI CHILDREN WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION BY EXTREMISTS, CRIMINALS, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.

STREET LAWYERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS: STREET LAWYERS/ANTI-TRAFFICKING: OUR LAWYERS PROVIDE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE TARGETED BY CRIMINALS AND TRAFFICKERS, ABUSED BY EMPLOYERS, OR ARE FACING OTHER RISKS. THEY ALSO HEKP CHILDREN OBTAIN CRITICAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN ACCESS BENEFITS AND ATTEND SCHOOL. IN 2021, THE STREET LAWYERS COMPLETED 266 LEGEL REPRESENTATION CASES (AND AN ADDITIONAL 11 WERE ONGOING), FOR CASES INCLUDING STEALING, VAGRANCY, PROSTITUTION, FIGHTLING, DRUGS ETC. THIS IS UP FROM 220 COMPLETED LEGAL REPRESENTATION CASES IN 2020. LEGAL DOCUMENT CASES HELPED 281 CHILDREN OBTAIN LEGAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL AND ACCESS GOVERNMENT BENEFITS. THIS IS UP FROM 201 COMPLETED FILINGS IN 2020. TOTAL LEGAL CASES COMPLETED IN 2021: 547. IN ADDITION TO THOSE LEGAL CASES, THE NEW ANTI-TRAFFICKING LEGAL TEAM WHICH ADDRESSES SEX, ORGAN, AND LABOR TRAFFICKING, COMPLETED 76 CASES IN 2021 WITH ANOTHER 5 ONGOING CASES. SOCIAL SERVICES: SOCIAL WORKERS ON OUR STREET LAWYERS TEAM STRIVE TO END CHILD LABOR AND GET CHILDREN OFF THE STREETS. THEY ALSO WORK TO STOP DOMESTIC ABUSE (WHICH INCREASED DURING (COVID-19), PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE, AND HELP KIDS ACCESS PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SOCIAL WORKERS SERVED 192 CHILDREN WITH CLOTHING, MEDICAL ATTENTION, FAMILY MEDIATION, AND ABUSE PREVENTION. THIS NUMBER IS UP FROM 135 IN 2020.

HOPE BUSES: EACH OF THE 2 HOPE BUSES, CONVERTED FROM USED BUSES TO COLORFUL, CHILD-FRIENDLY CLASSROOMS, HAS TWO TEACHERS AND A SOCIAL WORKER, AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 50 ORPHANS AND STREET KIDS EACH SCHOOL DAY. THEY RECEIVE TUTORING, NUTRITION, HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, PRACTICAL LIFE LESSONS, COMMUNITY, AND FUN. IN 2021, 105 CHILDREN ATTENDED HOPE BUS 1 & 2 IN EITHER A FULL- OR PART-TIME CAPACITY AND AN ESTIMATED 20,000+ NUTRITIOUS MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS. CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVED NEW CLOTHES, TOYS, AND PLAY EQUIPMENT.

OTHER PROGRAMS:MY LIFE BOOK: IN 2021, ICF EDITED AND PRINTED AN UPDATED, BILINGUAL ARABIC-ENGLISH EDITION OF THE THERAPUTIC "MY LIFE BOOK" WITH IRAQI AND ENGLISH PARTNERS. THE BOOK WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN IRAQ IN 2012 AT TRAINING FOR ADULTS CARING FOR ORPHANS AND OTEHR VULNERABLE CHILDREN. THE NEW EDITION WAS PILOTED AMONG A SMALL GROUP OF CHILDREN, FEATURED AT THE BAGHDAD BOOK FAIR, AND PLANS WERE UNDERWAY FOR WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN. THE BOOK IS DEDICATED AS A FREE GIFT TO THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN OF IRAQ AND ADDRESSES THEIR DEEP NEED TO BELONG BY GIVING THEM AN OPPERTUNITY TO WRITE THEIR OWN STORY AND DRAW PICTURES ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE ETC.ADOLESCENT GIRLS CENTER: IN 2021, ICF FUNDED THE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR A "SAFE SPACE" FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN MOSUL TO PROVIDE SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GIRLS, AS WELL AS A SENSE OF BELONGING. MANY GIRLS IN THIS AREA HAD BEEN DISPLACED DURING ISIS' OCCUPATION AND NOW RETURNED TO MOSUL. GIRLS AT THE CENTER PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SPORTS, SEWING AND CRAFTS, READING, AND COMPUTER LITERACY. THEY ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL WORKERS, A LIBRARY, MEDICAL CARE, AND COMPUTERS. BY THE END OF 2021, THE NUMBER OF GIRLS BEING SERVED WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 PER DAY, WITH AROUND 1,000 GIRLS IN TOTAL SERVED ACROSS EACH QUARTER. TRAUMA: ICF HAS CONTINUED ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING SESSIONS LED BY A PROFESSIONAL IRAQI-AMERICAN THERAPIST TO SUPERVISE, MENTOR, AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN IRAQ WHO HANDLE CASES OF TRAUMA AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.