 |
The "International Partners for Peace" initiative in Iraq is a public-private partnership initiated in 2004 designed to strengthen relationships between five U.S. and Iraqi communities. The goal of the project is to foster increased communication, cooperation and understanding. Initial efforts focused on humanitarian aid programs and have since grown to include exchanges, trainings, and reciprocal learning. It is being organized through Sister Cities International with funding support from the U.S. Department of State.
Grantee Communities
 |
Dallas, Texas - Kirkuk, Iraq
- Shoes for Souls Project: Buckner Orphan Care International presented the mayor-governor of Kirkuk in northern Iraq with 7,000 pairs of new children's shoes and 10,000 pairs of socks at BOCI's aid warehouse on Oct. 19, 2005. The shoes were collected through BOCI's Shoes for Orphan Souls humanitarian aid drive, which has donated more than one million pairs of new shoes to orphans around the world.
- Soccer for Life: In their first conversations, both cities found that they shared a common passion for the game of soccer. The game provides a needed outlet and distraction for young people currently living in a tumultuous reality. Dallas thus proposed that a youth team from Kirkuk be selected to come and participate in the annual Dallas Cup Tournament. This exchange will include 18 youth team members and 4 team coordinators from Kirkuk. More details to come after selection of the Iraqi team...
- DRCOG has had a close relationship with Baghdad since 2003 when former Glendale Mayor and DRCOG Board Member Joe Rice was called to active duty and assigned to help form a local government in Baghdad. He used DRCOG as a model for the local government structure, asking for further advice from the Colorado Municipal League and local communities in the Denver region.
- In April 2005, a delegation of 18 Iraqi government and community
leaders visited the metro Denver area for two weeks. Included were members of
the Baghdad City and Provincial Councils as well as officials from
Baghdad universities, businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Iraqi visitors watched city council and county commission meetings,
attended Kiwa
nis and Rotary club meetings, and visited public works
projects.
- Since 2004, the Baghdad-Denver Region Partnership, in cooperation with local boy scouts and ezschoolsupplies.com, has shipped over 2,500 school supply kits for students and teachers. The kits are distributed to schools by local Baghdad leaders who participated in visits to the Denver metro area over the past two years.
Tucson, Arizona & Sulaimaniah, Iraq
- The first exchange brought two professors focused on crop sciences of Crop Sciences from the University of Sulaimani to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to participate in a short course focused on crop production, engineering, marketing, pest management, and environmental control. The two universities signed and finalized a Memorandum of Understanding in August 2005, committing them to continued student and faculty exchanges.
- In early 2005, Tucson hosted Mr. Qubad Talabani, the US Representative of the Kurdish Regional Government and son of Iraq's president. His visit garnered broad media attention and was used to educate the Tucson and Phoenix communities about the International Partners for Peace program.
- A delegation of doctors from hospitals in Sulaimaniah are expected before the expiration of the grant in June 2006. U.S. and Iraqi doctors will share research and techniques and discuss medical best practices.
- 34th Annual Oktoberfest, Sept 30-Oct 2, 2005, raised enough funds to purchase 280 wheelchairs for those in-need in Hilla. Tempe Sister Cities provided a booth for Wheelchairs for Peace in increase awareness of the Partners for Peace program.
- A documentary of the distribution, sponsored by Wheelchairs for Peace for over $15,000, will be filmed in Hilla. However, the wheelchairs delivery date has not been set yet due to security risks. Click here to help send a delegation to distribute the wheelchairs and meet with Hilla officials.
- The humanitarian needs of Mosul were assessed by both sets of city leaders which selected school and medical supplies as the primary material needs of Mosul at this time. Though many of the collected supplies were diverted to New Orleans to support Hurricane Katrina victims, a new collection has been assembled and a shipment is forthcoming. A separate shipment of school supplies is also being prepared for shipment with the help of the Girls Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
- In March 2006, local Mosul officials and leaders visited Philadelphia and Washington, DC, participating in meetings that emphasized information exchange and cultural understanding. As the city works toward democracy, these exchanges provided valuable support to assist in this process.
- Philadelphia is now trying to raise $25,000 to bring and train officials officials from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority in operations, risk management, and security as a step toward creating new jobs at Mosul Airport. Click here to learn more about this effort or donate.
Media Updates
|
Sister Cities International "Partners for Peace" Initiative with Iraq Announced (6/10/04)
Visit our press area for more information and press releases from Sister Cities International
Resources
|
|
Jenny Oliver
Islamic Partnership Program Manager
phone: 202.347.8630 x8638
email: joliver@sister-cities.org