The Iraq Solidarity FundClick here for the latest news update. Following an inter-faith visit to Iraq in early 2004 by Ray Gaston of All Hallows Church and Hussein Mehdi of the Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, Leeds, members of the Church and the Islamic Centre established the Iraq Solidarity Fund. The aims of the fund are:
We have several projects we are currently trying to help get off the ground: The Nasariyah Puppet TheatreIt is estimated that 80% of children in Iraq are suffering from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder following the years of dictatorship, sanctions and war. A group of Iraqi actors and artists got together to establish a puppet theatre that would work in schools and in the community, helping children to express themselves through play and creativity. A little money goes a long way in Iraq, and the project required only £2500 to get going - this included all the materials, and the building of a mobile puppet theatre, and the making of hand-made puppets, and the purchase of a van for transport. The group is working in partnership with the NGO War Child, who have a worker based in Nasiriyah. For full project details, click here. This project had its first public performance in February 2005. If you would like to contribute to the further development of this project, please make cheques payable to Iraq Solidarity Fund and send them to ISF(PT), 24 Regent Terrace, Leeds LS6 1NP. The Michri Village ProjectMichri village is in the very south of Iraq. It is in an area that has suffered from long-term neglect by the old regime and from the effects of sanctions in recent years. There is a strong community spirit in the village, and they have already begun to work on building their own community centre in memory of the 25 people in the village executed by the Ba'athist regime. They have asked us to help raise funds for the surfacing of the main road into the village - at present it becomes unusable in winter, so that children cannot get to school - and to raise money for basic school materials, which are in very short supply. In the longer term we hope to be able to raise money to help the villagers rebuild their dilapidated school. This project has yet to be properly costed, but we estimate that the total cost could be up to £60,000. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make cheques payable to Iraq Solidarity Fund and send them to ISF(MVP), 24 Regent Terrace, Leeds LS6 1NP. The Najaf Medical Aid ProjectThis project is based in Najaf, and aims to subsidise the cost of medical prescriptions or examinations to families unable to afford them. Currently there are about 10 doctors who are involved in this community project that helps the poor receive decent medical care. At present it costs about £3,000 to help 500 families with medical bills for a year. Our aim is to help the project expand so that it can assist more people in need of free or subsidised medical care. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make cheques payable to Iraq Solidarity Fund and send them to ISF(MAP), 24 Regent Terrace, Leeds LS6 1NP. The Najaf Hospital Equipment ProjectNajaf Hospital is also lacking in basic ECG scanning equipment as well as other heart-related equipment. We need to raise £30,000 for this equipment. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make cheques payable to Iraq Solidarity Fund and send them to ISF(HEP), 24 Regent Terrace, Leeds LS6 1NP. The Sister School Twinning ProjectAre you a school student, a parent, teacher or governor? Would you be interested in your school being involved in a twinning project with a school in Iraq? Grant funding is being sought by people in Iraq to employ an Iraqi in Nasariyah to establish links with schools in Leeds and elsewhere in the UK. The idea would be to develop real links between communities for mutual learning and benefit, and to encourage action in UK schools in solidarity with people in Iraq. If you would like to know more about this project and how your school might be involved, contact Hussein Mehdi at hmehdi@crohdi.org or Ray Gaston at contact@allhallowsleeds.org.uk. Latest news updateOctober 2004Money raised and distributedWe have raised and distributed £8,000 for Iraq: £2,500 for the Nasariyah Puppet Theatre Project, £1,000 sent to help the doctors in Najaf during the time of conflict between the Mehdi Militia and the US Army, and £4,500 sent to Al Michri village to help buy materials to build their Community Centre. The Commitee made up of people from All Hallows and Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre is now meeting monthly. Fund-raising eventsWe held an auction of pledges at All Hallows Church on Saturday 19 June 2004. The evening went very well, and we raised £1,150 in cash and cheques and a further £845 promised in IOUs which would take our total for the night to £1,995. With the £800 already raised for the project we have achieved the target of £2,500, with some left over to distribute to other projects being supported by the Iraq Solidarity Fund. Thank you to all who offered promises, spread the word through your networks, helped in the planning of the event, volunteered on the night, made the food and bought stuff. There was a fund-raising Charity Iftar dinner on Saturday 23 October 2004 from 5:45pm – 8:30pm at Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, 35 Hanover Square, Leeds 3. Back to topSpeakers availableBoth Ray and Hussein are open to invitations to speak to any organisation or group, either together or individually, about their personal experiences and impressions of Iraq and the current situation. Travelling expenses, and a donation of your choosing to the Iraq Solidarity Fund, would be the only payment we would require. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Iraq Solidarity Fund This page was last updated on Wednesday, 23 May 2007home | about all hallows | what’s on | worship and prayer | discussion and reflection | action in the community | projects | an open, welcoming … | weekly bulletin | site map | search site | admin | |