Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

The fertile crescent of Mesopotamia, nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is referred to by many as the Cradle of Civilization. The irrigation and water management techniques that flourished in the region were some of the most advanced in antiquity and once provided an example to the rest of the world. Yet, despite the plentiful water in its ancient past, recent Iraqi history is marred with unsanitary living conditions and contaminated drinking water as a result of political and environmental hardships.

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Muslim Peacemaker Teams Director Sami Rasouli on Iraqi artists and the Iraqi Art Project. Check out our upcoming exhibit, Navigating the Aftermath, which brings Iraqi and American artists together.

One of IARP’s partners, the Veterans Book Project, is running a Kickstarter Campaign. Support them if you can! Ten days until the end of the campaign: http://kck.st/cS0blZ.

Letter to educators:

Letters for Peace is a way for teachers to foster meaningful relationships between students in America and students in Iraq and help students open their hearts and minds to one another. It is a way for students to realize that what we have in common is often greater and more meaningful than what separates us. By participating in the Letters for Peace Program, students can gain personal insight into an often misunderstood region of the world and expand their perspective on the consequences of war on everyday life.

The program is designed in conjunction with our sister non-profit in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT). Students in the US write letters to their peers in Iraq, and the letters are then translated and forwarded to Iraq. MPT works with Iraqi students to write letters and send photos in return. We also provide easy-to-use video equipment in case teachers are interested in including a video recording component to the project. Letters and any other media used in the project are optionally posted on our website.

Teachers may also use powerpoints and lesson plans if they wish. These resources are free and downloadable from our website and fit the Minnesota Department of Education standards. You will find separate powerpoints for grades K-6 and 7-12. Each powerpoint:

• Teaches children how to write meaningful letters
• Teaches some of the building blocks of peace
• Is inclusive of children of military families
• Is designed by teachers and pilot-tested by students

Join us in creating an atmosphere of trust, respect and understanding so that together we may assist future generations of Americans to see beyond war into nonviolent means for settling conflict. Letters for Peace can be incorporated into school curriculums of all levels. For more information, please visit http://reconciliationproject.org/letters-for-peace/ or contact Erika Bisbocci by email at erika@reconciliationproject.org.