Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

IARP and our partner in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, are pleased to announce that 1689 more students in the area of Najaf, Iraq will now have access to clean drinking water through our Water for Peace program. This brings the total number of students who have received access to clean water through Water for Peace to almost 40,000.

Thank you to donors ECHO Valley Hope, Steve and Christine Clemens, Cathy Fasy, Shannon Ball, Laurie Bangs, and Students at the American Community School in Amman for contributing funds to install large (200 gallons/day) water sanitation systems at Mustafa Jawad School, Madinet Al Alem School, and Khawlah Bent Al Azwar High School in Najaf!

Below are some photos from the three schools:

Water for Peace partners American groups with Iraqi schools and hospitals to provide water sanitation systems for Iraqis without access to clean water. Today, after the “end” of the American-led war and occupation, more than 7 million Iraqis lack access to clean water, which contributes to the deaths of young children from such conditions as typhoid and dysentery.

Since 2007, IARP and MPT have coordinated projects by individuals, schools, and civic groups to hold educational events and raise funds for water sanitation systems to be installed in a large teaching hospital in Najaf and 82 schools, which together serve almost 40,000 students.

To learn more about Water for Peace, visit http://waterforpeaceproject.org.

IARP and our partner in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, are pleased to announce that 915 more students in the area of Najaf, Iraq will now have access to clean drinking water through our Water for Peace program. This brings the total number of students who have received access to clean water through Water for Peace to over 36,000.

Thank you to donor Robert Miggler for contributing funds to install a large (200 gallons/day) water sanitation system at Ad-Doha Elementary School (915students) in Najaf!

Below are some photos from Ad-Doha:

The background statement in the pictures is translated as:

The Honorable Scholar Imam Zain Al-Abedeen speaking to young students 1300 years ago said you owe your teacher the following:

• Honoring him/her at all times.
• Respecting her/his presence.
• Listening with interest.
• Being true about your study.
• Continuing individual effort for conducting new researches.

Water for Peace partners American groups with Iraqi schools and hospitals to provide water sanitation systems for Iraqis without access to clean water. Today, after the “end” of the American-led war and occupation, more than 7 million Iraqis lack access to clean water, which contributes to the deaths of young children from such conditions as typhoid and dysentery.

Since 2007, IARP and MPT have coordinated projects by individuals, schools, and civic groups to hold educational events and raise funds for water sanitation systems to be installed in a large teaching hospital in Najaf and 79 schools, which together serve over 36,000 students.

To learn more about Water for Peace, visit http://waterforpeaceproject.org.

Note:
*Students ages from 6-12 years old.
*Elementary schools in Iraq include students from 1st Grade to 6th grade.

President Akeel Yasseen spent 5 days in the Twin Cities in April meeting with the University of Minnesota and other higher education institutions to support exchange programs between Kufa University in Iraq and Minnesota universities.

President Akeel Yasseen of Kufa University

The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP) hosted President Akeel Yasseen of Kufa University, Iraq in the Twin Cities from April 15 to April 19. President Yasseen spent the bulk of his visit with the University of Minnesota, but also met with students and faculty at Augsburg College, the University of St. Thomas, and Macalester College.

President Yasseen and Dr. Zuhair Alleban, who accompanied President Yasseen on the trip, gave a public lecture at the University of Minnesota on April 17 on, “Higher Education in Iraq: Strategic Opportunities for Partnership.” Dr. Alleban is a distinguished gene therapist and faculty member at Kufa University.

The University of Minnesota and Kufa University have worked together since 2009 on academic exchange and faculty visits, focused on the University of Minnesota’s College of Nursing and the College of Education and Human Development. President Yasseen met with deans, faculty, and staff of international programming to expand this relationship and explore other strategic partnerships, including an Arabic language program at Kufa University for University of Minnesota and other Twin Cities college students, collaborative faculty research opportunities, a joint scientific journal, and guest faculty lectures at Kufa.

Kathy McKay, Executive Director of IARP, says, “President Yasseen and Dr. Alleban are very committed to rebuilding higher education at Kufa University and throughout Iraq. We hope their visit will move forward cooperative efforts between the U of M and Kufa University. President Yasseen is interested in expanding partnerships with American universities, and we see this as an important way that American institutions can participate in reconciliation. It’s also a great way for Minnesotans to get to know Iraqis better.”

Kufa University is a leading university in Iraq and is located in the metro area of Najaf, Sister City to Minneapolis. Since the two cities began that relationship in 2009, eight delegations from Najaf have traveled to Minneapolis, including faculty and administrators from Kufa University. Last fall, for example, the Dean of the College of Nursing of Kufa University traveled to Minneapolis to meet with the University of Minnesota College of Nursing. Last August (2011), University of Minnesota student Anna Kaminski spent three weeks in Najaf and met with President Yasseen.

For more information, please visit http://reconciliationproject.org or contact:

Kathy McKay Luke Wilcox
Executive Director Development and Communications Director
952-545-9981 605-360-6020
kathy@reconciliationproject.org luke@reconciliationproject.org

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The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP) creates bridges of communication, understanding and support between Americans and Iraqis that lead to the development of friendship across cultures; expanded understanding of one another; and tangible acts for rebuilding a country devastated by years of war, sanctions, more war and occupation. The mission of IARP is to promote reconciliation between the people of the United States and Iraq in response to the devastation affecting Iraqi families, society, and culture. IARP works with our partner organization in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams.

“Higher Education in Iraq: Strategic Opportunities for Partnership”

President Akeel Yasseen of Kufa University

Join President Akeel Yasseen of Kufa University, Iraq for a presentation on higher education in Iraq and opportunities for partnership between Iraqi and American universities. Kufa University is a leading academic institution in Iraq and has worked with the University of Minnesota on academic exchanges since 2009. The university is located in the metro area of Najaf, Sister City to Minneapolis. President Yasseen will be hosted by IARP.

When: Tuesday, April 17, 3:30pm
Where: University International Center
331 17th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

For more information, view the Facebook event page here

Click here to download the full press release about President Yasseen’s visit

“Water for Peace”

Join IARP staff person Luke Wilcox and President Yasseen for a presentation on water in Iraq and Water for Peace, a program of IARP that provides safe drinking water to Iraqi schools. Through Water for Peace, groups working with IARP and our partner in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, have provided clean water to 78 schools and approximately 35,000 students in Iraq. The presentation will be at the College of Nursing at the University of Minnesota.

When: Monday, April 16, 12:05 pm
Where: Room 4-180, Weaver Densford Hall,
308 Harvard Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

IARP and our partner in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, are pleased to announce that 1,539 more students in Najaf, Iraq will now have access to clean drinking water through our Water for Peace program. This brings the total number of students who have received access to clean water through Water for Peace to over 34,000.

Donors from Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN and St. Augustine Church in Cohasset, MN contributed funds to install a large (200 gallons/day) water sanitation system at Al E’timad Elementary School for Girls (705 students) and a large (200 gallons/day) water sanitation system at Al Muntada Elementary School for Boys (834 students) in Najaf. Thank you to the donors!

Below are some photos from the two schools.

Water for Peace partners American groups with Iraqi schools and hospitals to provide water sanitation systems for Iraqis without access to clean water. Today, after the “end” of the American-led war and occupation, more than 7 million Iraqis lack access to clean water, which contributes to the deaths of young children from such conditions as typhoid and dysentery.

Since 2007, IARP and MPT have coordinated projects by individuals, schools, and civic groups to hold educational events and raise funds for water sanitation systems to be installed in a large teaching hospital in Najaf and 77 schools, which together serve over 34,000 students.

To learn more about Water for Peace, visit http://waterforpeaceproject.org.

Note:
*Students ages from 6-12 years old.
*Elementary schools in Iraq include students from 1st Grade to 6th grade.