UPDATE - 100% of donations will go to the Iraqi Children Foundation’s Hope Bus and Fallujah Medical Clinic initiatives.

This GoFundMe emerges from the hearts of some young theatrical artists, daring to bring a play set in a culture foreign to most of them to the stage at the 2025 New York Fringe Festival. It’s a celebration of the shared humanity that is at the heart of every good story. In this spirit, we wish to give to the culture and people we have delighted in learning from as we have learnt this play. Not really as an act of charity, but as a celebration of our shared humanity – and all the many interconnected realities present in our human family.

Like many places in the world, children in Iraq must bear challenges that stem from broken systems. This is not a problem unique to Iraq, but really part of what it means to be human: when the fabric of our societies are fractured, so often are the fabrics of our families. And when a whole country has been tattered by conflict and systems have broken down, motherless and fatherless children are more common and life on the streets is meaner.

The Iraqi Children’s Foundation (ICF) bridges the gap between the needs of Iraqi children and the reality of the country by providing a “hand up” – not just a “hand out” – through the “Hope Bus” initiative; converting ordinary buses into colorful classrooms and equipping each with 2 teachers and a social worker. Each bus serves 50 children – orphans and kids who live on the street – with tutoring, nutrition, health care, social services, practical life lessons, community and fun. (Informational Video - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QlYBNKxhils&pp=ygUZSXJhcWkgY2hpbGRyZW4gZm91bmRhdGlvbg%3D%3D)

The ICF also operates a clinic for children with disabilities in the city of Fallujah, where it is the only place which provides access to free, ongoing medical care, as well as home visits for those unable to travel to the main clinic. Because of this work, children with disabilities as varied as paralysis to severe autism are able to receive care and support. This fills a vital need gap for vulnerable populations which are very difficult to serve in an overwhelmed and underdeveloped healthcare system. The ICF plans to open their second medical clinic in Basra this year.

In a world where crises are endless and everywhere, perhaps you ask – why this organization to give my money to? Practically, you can have good faith in the ICF: in their transparency and sustainable local partnerships (and discernment).

The ICF’s mission also contains something infinite: in providing vulnerable children with resources and support, there is the possibility of not just improving the life of a child – infinitely worthy in itself – but also the ripple effect that young, cared-for, vibrant people have on their society; this effect is so large it may never actually be quantified. Meeting the needs of our children is the endless unfolding of our human potential.

We’d be delighted to receive your help in assisting their mission.