Street Lawyers, Doctors, Hope Buses for Iraqi Kids

Dear friends:

It's hard to compete with news headlines and major geopolitical challenges in Iraq.  But we encourage you to close out that favorite news app or lay down that newspaper.  We have heartwarming news to share!  And it is all because of you and your kind support for the voiceless, vulnerable children of Iraq.

Looking back over 2019, we have reason to smile with you:

• The Street Lawyers handled 492 legal representation cases (447 completed and 45 ongoing) involving charges ranging from stealing and vagrancy to prostitution, drugs, and other criminal charges.

• The Street Lawyers also helped 335 children get their legal identity documents, opening the door to school enrollment and access to government support and reducing the need of children to work.

• Social workers helped 259 children with social services to address medical needs, trauma, re-entering school after release from juvenile detention, visiting a parent in prison, autism and mental illness, and registering to get government benefits. 

• Two Hope Buses served 243 children (full- and part-time), providing tutoring to approximately 100 students each school day and serving more than 20,000 nutritious meals in 2019. For the first time, a young girl who was paralyzed and couldn't leave home was given a wheelchair so she could come to the Hope Bus too. 

Numbers never tell the whole story.  We have so many favorite stories of children who got truly life-changing help in 2019 because of you: 

• the 5 year old girl  who was tied to a wall at home because of severe mental disabilities is freed and given neurological treatment.

• the girl found at the dump, who is a victim of repeated rape by adults, is brought to a shelter and given medical and psychological care. 

• the 17 year old boy whose uncle tricked him to travelling to Erbil for a "job" but was secretly planning to sell the boy's kidney until police uncovered the scheme and prevented a case of organ trafficking

• the 13 year old girl who was rescued from early marriage after her family was persuaded to let her continue her studies instead

There are so many more children and stories to warm your heart.  We are so very grateful for your partnership with us and hope that - together, as a team with you in 2020 - many more stories will be written of lives changed with love and hope among these children at the margins of society.  We are deeply committed to this cause and hope you will stay the course with us!

With much gratitude,
Cindy

P.S.  GlobalGiving is once again offering a 1-month match for new monthly donors up to $200.  Great time to start a small monthly donation if you are not already on board!