An international group supporting children and
families in Iraq with the aim of expressing PEACE in ACTION.
|
An international group supporting children and families in Iraq with the aim of expressing PEACE in ACTION. |
Our Home –
It was created by a small group of former human
shields, including Donna Mulhearn, initially to
respond to the issue of homeless children in
During Donna’s last visit to
Our Home –
Information on how to make a donation is below as well as a report
of the activities of Our Home –
How
you can help:
Donations
can be made to Our Home –
Our
Home –
By
credit card by phoning 1800 100 786 (tax-deductable
thanks to administrative support from M.A.A)
Or
by direct deposit into Commonwealth Bank account number:
(06)
223 110207377, account name Our Home –
Shukran! Thank you!
Report
of Activities from November 2003 to December 2004
November 2003:
1.
Provided food and friendship to group of approximately 20
street kids (boys) living in the basement of a building in
2.
Provided clothes and showers to the group including jeans,
jackets, shoes, socks, long-sleeve shirts etc.
1.
Provided long-term accommodation (six months) in hostel
accommodation for two older boys, as well as practical and emotional support in
finding employment.
1.
Opened emergency shelter for 20 street kids in
2.
Networking with other groups (Iraqi and International)
providing accommodation to children in
3.
Visit to Nasiriyah district,
south of
4.
Special Christmas and New Year celebrations for boys at
the shelter.
December 2003:
5.
Day-to-day management of emergency shelter.
6.
Provided assistance to poor family (father, mother and
five young children) living in the bottom of a burn-out building in Karrada district of Baghdad– mattresses, sheets, blankets
and toys for the children.
7.
Provided assistance to poor families squatting in
war-damaged buildings in Hilla, west of
8.
Formed partnership with Iraqi N.G.O to transfer children
from emergency shelter to long-term accommodation in new house in Al-Wasiriya.
9.
Support and practical assistance to girl living on the
streets of
10. Networking with
other groups (Iraqi and international) providing accommodation services to
children in
11.
Assistance to women’s group working with poor families in
Babel-shargie slum area of Baghdad as well as
equipment for children – books, pencils, toys, teddies etc.
12.
Provided kerosene heaters, cookers and blankets to
internally displaced families squatting in war-damaged buildings in central
13.
Assistance provided to Al Hawsa
orphanage in Thora district of Baghdad – books,
pencils, crayons, toys etc
14. Visit with the boys
to amusement Park and Baghdad Zoo.
January 2004:
15.
Day-to-day management of boy’s emergency shelter.
16.
Provided support and guidance to 12-year-old girl living
on the street, facilitating reconciliation with her family.
17.
Provided support and practical assistance to the girl’s
family – food supplies, funds, plastic sheeting to stop leaks in the roof, toys
for children etc
18.
Provided blankets (32), warm jackets (58) oranges (20
kilos) to Bedouin families in Nasiriyah district.
19.
Visit of circus troupe to boy’s emergency shelter.
20. Transfer of boys at
shelter to long-term accommodation in Al-Wasiriya
district of Baghdad in partnership with Kurdistan Save the Children.
21.
Financial assistance for 13-year-old boy in
22. Circus troupe
workshop with children at new house.
23. Sports Day at Youth
Centre.
24. Establishing
partnership with Iraqi NGO, Childhood’s Voice, with view to sponsoring a new
children’s centre.
25. Provided sports
equipment for children for new house.
26. Distribution of toys,
books, stationary etc to kindergarten in Nasiriyah.
February 2004
27. Working in
partnership with international group, ‘Circus2Iraq’ to organise
circus shows for children in orphanages, schools and refugee camps.
28. Working in partnership
with Iraqi NGO, Happy Family, to organise theatrical
performances for children, including sponsoring a show at the Iraq National
Theatre.
29. Financial assistance
to a small boy in Al-Shuala refugee camp for urgent
medical help after severe burns on the legs became infectious and
gangrenous.
30. Begin work on the
establishment of children’s centre at Al-Doura,
31.
Continue working with boys at the house at Al-Wasiriyah.
March 2004
- Helped organise
inter-faith peace ceremony held at Iraq National Theatre in
32. Supported water
system projects providing fresh water and sewage system to refugee camps – Saiey Al Shoehada Camp (
33. Provided medical
help for patients (transport, food, medicines) in Saiey
Al Shoehada and Al Adala
refugee camps.
34. Preparation for the
opening of
35. Opening of
36. Continued work with
the boys at the house at Al-Wasiriyah
April 2004
37. Continued
administrative support for
38. Support for
Circus2Iraq in organising shows for children around
39. Circus2Iraq
workshops with the boys at Al-Wasiriyah
40. Formed partnership
with International NGO, Norwegian Church Aid, with a view to establishing more
youth centres in
41. Investigated
establishing a children’s basketball project.
42. Visit to Fallujah to help distribute medical aid while it was under
military siege by US Forces.
May 2004
43. Worked in partnership with Iraqi
Red Crescent Society to assist refugees from Fallujah
in newly established refugee camps in Baghdad
44. Provided clothes, toys, art
supplies for children in the Red Crescent refugee camps for Fallujah
families.
45. Continued support for the boys at Al-Wasiriyiah.
46.Assessed and made report on establishing a new youth centre in Al-Benoig, supported by Norwegian Church Aid.
47. Continued administrative support and funding for Peace Bird Art School
June to November 2004
48. Continued fundraising and support for
November – December 2004
49. Provided emergency aid for refugee families from Fallujah
made homeless as a result of the attack on Fallujah.
This included providing food, blankets, heaters and other essential items
