In November, 2007 I joined a group from Global Exchange to visit the Middle East to learn more about the Iraqi refugee crisis. I learned about the incredible suffering that these people were enduring. There were a hundred heartbreaking stories and a hundred causes that deserved (and still deserve) attention and action. There were also stories of hope and kindness.

One story that stuck with me was the story of Abdul Hakeem and his family.  We were invited to meet with a group of people who had witnessed the air strikes in Falluja. Below is an excerpt from my travel journal that day.

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I wanted to help an injured war child because I could never think of my little brother being hurt in such a way. These injures don’t just hurt the child physically but emotionally also. I believe that children should be able to have choices and be able to have dreams but when they are injured in such a way their dreams are gone. I help because I want to give those children their dreams back.

Alyssa is a middle school student and the lead organizer for the No More Victims – Casper chapter at her school.

Woodsford Congregational Church in Portland, Maine recently held a successful fundraiser they called “An Evening for Nora”.  Middle Eastern cuisine was served, there was music and dancing, and a wonderful time was had by all as the community came together in an effort to help little Nora.

Mustafa is a five-year old Iraqi boy. Three years ago, in November 2004, during the U.S. assault on Fallujah, a U.S. missile landed near him as his mother carried him to escape the bombing, cutting off his left leg and causing severe abdominal injuries and a colostomy. He was about 2 years old at the time. His mother was slightly wounded. Our goal is to provide him with medical treatment that is donated by physicians and hospitals here in Portland, and to tell his story so that we can all better understand the human cost of war. Mustafa will live in our community with his father until his treatment is completed. They will then return to Iraq.

Shriners Hospital here in Portland has agreed to treat Mustafa’s orthopedic injuries free of charge. We are still working to arrange care for his abdominal wounds. Mustafa and his father will be arriving in July. Although we don’t know the exact travel date, his first appointment at Shriner’s is on July 24.

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The Bay Area Project of NMV to bring 2-year-old Mustafa Ghazwan here for medical treatment is really underway. Doctors at UCSF have agreed to provide the surgery to implant a cochlear device so that Mustafa’s hearing can be restored. He lost all hearing due to a U.S. bomb explosion near his home. In addition to the pro bono services offered by the surgeon and the anesthesiologist, the UCSF doctors have contacted the manufacturer of the cochlear implant, and this company has offered to provide this $27,000 device at no cost. Ronald McDonald House in San Francisco has agreed to provide housing for Mustafa and his father during their expected 4-5 month stay, which may begin as early as July 2008.

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On April 12^th and 13^th, the Asheville chapter of No More Victims held a fundraising weekend for Rusul. We were joined by Ann Cothran, National Community Coordinator, and Cole Miller, Founder and Director of No More Victims. Early Saturday morning, there was a guided meditation and a meditation walk in remembrance of Rusul. This was held at the Baha’i Center in Asheville.

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Ruth Group volunteers spent last Saturday addressing and stamping letters to friends and family in an appeal to raise $20,000 for medical treatment for 2-year-old Mustafa. Through the organization No More Victims, we will be sponsoring Mustafa here in the Bay Area for medical treatment. Mustafa’s hearing was completely lost when a US bomb dropped near his home in Iraq. His world is completely silent now. He has been tested by the local medical community in Syria and seems to be a perfect candidate for a cochlear implant. Following the operation he will need months of speech therapy and observation before returning home.

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Asheville group has been busy promoting Rusul’s arrival and raising funds to cover the costs. We were invited to have a program on “No More Victims – Asheville” at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville on March 14, 2008. We showed the movie “Caught in the Crossfire” and then had Ann Cothran of Greenville speak to the group and talk about Rusul. About 35 people showed up for this event and we collected (or had pledged) about $350 in donations. The next day, we had a House Party, hosted by Jeanne and Lew Patrie. This was small in attendance, yet we still got over $360 in donations. A big THANK YOU to Jeanne and Lew for opening their home and their hearts to “No More Victims – Asheville”.

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Hailey and I have been working very hard, trying to balance school and other extracurriculars with this great project. Thankfully, with the support of our community and teamwork, we have been able to cover a lot of ground in the past months. We have been trying to raise community funds (which will go directly to No More Victims), sponsorship funds (to help cover our $2000+ operational concert costs at Rocketown), and awareness for the concert. We intend for all of the ticket sales from the concert to be sent to No More Victims.

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Young professionals have joined local design team, Studio-220, to spearhead a city-wide initiative to benefit the children of Iraq. Over the past two years, local press have followed the touching story of young Iraqi boy, Abdul Hakeem, who was severely injured when an American air-raid hit his home in Fallujah. In 2005, NMV learned of Abdul and began reaching out to local philanthropists and hospitals to fund his much needed medical support. In 2006, Abdul was brought to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to receive a prosthetic eye and reconstructive face surgery. He is now back in Pittsburgh to complete the final stage of his treatment.

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