THE ORPHANAGE
These pictures have recently been sent to us from Baghdad, showing the house now that it has been repaired, cleaned and decorated.
New hot water system has been installed along with a generator to ensure a constant electricity supply.

Selling chewing gum or cigarettes is one way of earning a few pennies but the streets are dangerous and bigger lads may beat him up just to get his money and his cigarettes.

The generator does not look very good but we are assured it is reliable and the engine does not use too much diesel. At the moment, most homes in Baghdad get on average, two hours of mains electricity a day, so you can understand why a generator is so essential.

With such an unreliable mains electric supply the refrigerator would not be able to keep food cold and with the high temperatures reached in the Summer months, this would not be good. If nothing else, at least the refrigerator can be kept running with the generator.

Furnishing is the next step, beds, chairs and perhaps even a few colourful rugs. However, that requires more money and the funds already raised are all but gone getting the structure ready for occupation.

Many of the children will not have lived in a house before and they may take some while to adjust.

The secure garden is an added bonus, where the children can enjoy ball games and just hanging out together.

The Project

After regaining possession of the family home in Baghdad, the decision was made to open its doors as a shelter for some of the orphaned street children of Baghdad and for Ahmad to go over to Iraq and make it happen.

Renovation and decoration is now complete and the first six children are in residence.

Ramps have recently been added to the entrance steps to allow for wheel chair access.

One of the new residents does a spot of gardening in the grounds of the shelter.