Building a Culture of Peace in Iraq

The Iraqi Children's Art Exchange is beginning a new collaboration with a small civil society organization in southern Iraq whose focus, like ours, is on children, human rights, education, and culture.

Trading toy guns for soccer balls.

One project in Samawa is helping develop and support a culture of peace where children and youth in the community can focus their energies, time and imagination on sports, art and other positive activities. The project grew out of concern about children's play: using toy guns they re-enact the war and violence they have seen around them.

The organization set out to provide and support positive activities to replace these games, inviting children and young people to turn in their toy guns, in exchange for soccer balls. The first exchange was modest, giving away thirty balls. They were overwhelmed by the response to the second exchange. More than 150 children and teenagers showed up.

ICAE hopes to initiate an Art Miles Mural Project working with local artists to provide another way to channel the energy and imagination of children and youth in Samawa.

Supporting Education

In addition to supporting the balls-for-toy gun initiative, ICAE is helping repair and furnish a school in Diwaniya that serves about 160 children. The school is in need of basic repairs such as fixing the water pipes so bathrooms can be installed, and needs basic furniture -- tables, desks and chairs. ICAE recognizes the importance of schools, not only for educating children, but for supporting parents and families as well.

And schools can support community by providing an after-school-hours meeting place for individuals and organization, giving them an opportunity to talk about community issues. We hope our support helps get children back into school and strengthens the fabric of this community.

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