Vocational Studies is dedicated to providing professional training to Iraqi teenagers, widows, and mothers responsible for family income. Twenty-five years ago, Iraq was one of the most economically advanced countries in the Middle East. Since the war in Iraq, the job market has changed, and there are suddenly many widows and other untrained women responsible for providing family income. By providing the job skills necessary, we can work with Iraqis to restore a sustainable lifestyle to a country devastated by a despotic ruler and decades of violence.

In order for this program to be successful, funds are needed to provide carpentry supplies, sewing machines, floral supplies, computers, software programs, and instructors' wages. In some cases funds are also needed to provide the necessary transportation for these children to and from the orphanage. Your contribution allows us to provide Iraqis with the job training they desperately need to find meaningful employment and provide for their families.

The Iraqis we teach are intelligent, capable, and eager to learn. They are growing up and living under extremely difficult circumstances in a country ravaged by war and they face daily obstacles that we cannot even imagine. They need our help in order to provide them with a measure of hope and the opportunity to build a life and a future for themselves.

Here is the story of one of the girls helped through our program:
Saga is a teenage girl from the Al-Dora district in Baghdad. Her father was killed during the war in Iraq, and her mother worked as a servant to provide the food and rent of their small home, supporting Saga and her four siblings. Eventually, Saga began to work with a local tailor, but her employer attacked her one day.

Saga returned home with tears in her eyes and devastation in her body and soul, as well as to her honor. Distraught, Saga’s mother took Saga to confront the shop owner. He denied the allegations, and Saga’s mother went into a violent rage, beating the man unconscious. He became paralyzed and suffered brain damage. Saga and her mother were imprisoned together until after the trial, and then Saga was sent to a reformatory.

“I lost my mother, and my brothers and sisters had no food or support,” Saga said. “Now I’m thinking of my life and understand very well that what happened to us was because of our ignorance. If we had educations we would have behaved like civilized people and taken him to court and had our legal rights in such a case. We didn’t know the right process and we were victims of the bad people in the society.

“Now after the rehabilitation at the reformatory house, I feel much better, and thank Generation Iraq for the training workshop for hairdressing and makeup. I feel that the world opened for me again and Generation Iraq will take me to the right path of my life.

“I feel so great to have such training. I have the skills now and will be with my family again in the near future. I have the confidence and self-respect, and I’m sure that I will achieve my dreams at last. I promise you that I will have the respect and honor, and will do my best to serve my community and not be a heavy burden. Thank you for creating the new life for me.”

Please call Cassie at 847-814-5905 or e-mail cassie@generationiraq.org if you are interested in sending in-kind donations or planning a funding/supply drive in your area.