Building Bridges Project with Iraq
 CANDIL's
vision for the Building Bridges project is to encourage
and promote communication and understanding between the
Calgary community and Communities in Iraq. The first steps
of this program will be aimed at schools as this gives us
the opportunity to communicate not only with the students
but also their families.
The need for basic school supplies in Iraq at present is
extreme, so in the initial stages of this project we aim
to deliver pencils, sharpeners etc. to help rebuild a once
enviable education system.
Schools will be our first contact but the vision of Building
Bridges is to connect with all areas of society including
Arts, Sports, Interest groups and other Educational facilities.
As a first step members of CANDIL will be visiting Iraq
in the fall/winter to promote the project to schools and
groups, and get a first hand account of what life is like
right now.
Update October 21, 2004
Since January 2004, CANDIL members have been visiting classrooms
around Calgary and talking about Iraq, part of the Building
Bridges with Iraq project. In the past year we have spoken
to over 20 classrooms, children ages 7-18. There has been
a great interest by the students about what is taking place
in Iraq. I have found for many of them it is an opportunity
to talk about this issue and ask questions about it. I have
asked the students when and where they are able to talk
about this issue and the response is "We don't talk
about it". Some students mention they talk about it
in the classroom every now and then but that is the extent
of it.
We talk with the students beyond Iraq to issues of democracy,
human rights, and the United Nations. I am so astonished
and excited to see the amount of questioning and analyzing
that is taking place by our youth. The response from the
students and the teachers is inspiring. Currently students
from Westmount Charter School in Calgary are working on
postcards and pictures to be brought to children in Iraq
in November. Some of the students and teachers are also
working on raising funds for the town in Iraq that Calgary
is currently helping to rebuild(check out the Adopt a town
project on this site). In the first week they have raised
$208 from a bake sale. Congratulations to Everyone at Westmount
Charter and keep up the fantastic work!!
If you are interested in inviting Building Bridges in to
your school please contact Julie at 270-9669 or
Update February 25, 2004
After visiting schools in Baghdad and Basra during our
December visit. We have found that the children, teachers
and other staff were very interested in opening up communication,
whether in emails, letters or satellite, between themselves
and children here in Calgary. We found the children were
excited to hear that children in Calgary wanted to know
about their lives, their family and friends and of course
the struggles they have encountered due to the sanctions
and the war.
We were very encouraged by the children of Iraq and their
hopes, desires and dreams for the future and we believe
Building Bridges could be a great stepping stone in the
process of rebuilding Iraq.
We are also hoping that some schools will be interested
in helping fundraise for text books, school supplies and
other important school items. Due to the current crises
many of these critical components to a child's education
are being overlooked. With your schools help we can make
a difference in the lives of many Iraqi children, their
teachers and their families.
If you are interested in this project please contact us.
Noel Ainsley and Julie Hrdlicka are currently going into
schools and speaking about their experiences in hopes that
more schools will get involved.
Julie Hrdlicka
CANDIL
270-9669
Calgary Herald article
Iraquis
Offered hope, gifts (November 27, 2004)
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