CRO endeavors to find ways the public can help refugees by contributing to their individual medical and educational needs. We provide the information that will allow you to directly donate funds or time to help an individual refugee.
RAHMAN Al Kaabi
The Iraq war tore a giant hole in the world of Iraqis. It has caused a diaspora of huge magnitude, with families separated all over the world. The difficulties of refugees to regain their footing in a new country are seemingly insurmountable.
See Rahman tell his story in his own wordsRahman is a courageous Iraqi who has continued to work against these odds. This opportunity to attend Circus Center is his chance to become a “star” in his community and give back. I know Rahman will give back as he always does through his performance and art.
He wants to eventually build a school for Iraqi kids, to learn acting and clowning, something he had when he was a small boy in Iraq.
Will you reconsider and give a little to his campaign?
DONATIONS CAN GO TO:
CHECKS WRITTEN TO: The Alalusi Foundation/ RAHMAN Fund
MAIL CHECK TO: The Alalusi Foundation,
1975 National Ave, Hayward,CA 94945
Contact: Ruth Friend, info@citizensreachout.org
MUSTAFA AL NIDAWI
Mustafa 3 years old after receiving first cochlear implant
Contribute to a cochlear device the “Rondo” for 8 year old Mustafa Al Nidawi who lost his hearing in a bomb blast in Iraq in 2006.
History of Mustafa Al Nidawi
On December 31, 2008 Mustafa Al Nidawi arrived in San Francisco with his father Ghazwan Al Nidawi. They traveled from Iraq to the U.S. because Mustafa then 3 years old was deafened by a U.S. bomb explosion near his home in Diyala Province and needed medical care not available in Iraq.
Mustafa was sponsored by a community organization in Marin County California, formerly named Ruth Group (Now Citizens Reach Out). The project was conceived in the hope that through this act of citizen diplomacy the group could not only educate the nation about the outcomes of war, but also actually help a child who was its victim.
Doctors from UC San Francisco Medical center volunteered their time to help Mustafa. Volunteer organizers from Ruth Group went to work to find a surgeon to do the surgery, the manufacturer of the cochlear device to donate one device, teachers from SF Hearing and Speech Center to admit Mustafa in their school once the device had been implanted and a place to live at Ronald MacDonald House. Mustafa received his first device in January, 2008.
Since Mustafa received his cochlear devices, a new generation of devices known as the “Rondo” have been developed. This device uses only one piece on the outside of the head. The device that Mustafa has is one piece on the head and another sound processor that hangs on his ears. The device that hangs on his ears is difficult for him to deal with as it falls off easily when he is physically active. It makes it awkward for him to participate in sports and be close to other kids who are playing as his device is always in jeopardy of falling off, or being lost. It also sticks out prominently on his head and makes him more susceptible to teasing and ridicule. This refugee family will not be able to afford this device in time for Mustafa, and Mustafa needs it now.
Mustafa today age 8
ALL DONATIONS CAN GO TO:
CHECK WRITTEN TO: The Alalusi Foundation/ MUSTAFA Fund
MAIL CHECK TO: The Alalusi Foundation,
1975 National Ave, Hayward,CA 94945
Contact: Ruth Friend, info@citizensreachout.org
AHMED AL KUBAISI
Contribute towards a wheelchair for Ahmed who was shot by a stray American bullet and is now paraplegic.
Ahmed is a 21 year old Iraqi man who was shot by a stray American bullet in Fallujah when he was 15 years old. His neighborhood was across the street from an American military installation and fighting went on most of the time during 2007. He was on his way to the market to get food for his family when he was shot in the street. Ahmed is now paraplegic, unable to use his lower body and legs. He is still a vital proactive person who miraculously made it out of Iraq to Jordon and then to the U.S. and the San Francisco Bay Area. Ahmed suffers from life threatening bed sores he developed because of inadequate medical care and the need to be lying on his back and eventually in a wheelchair all the time. He is now in hospital in the east bay of San Francisco with an aircushion bed, and the medications he needs to heal. He will be there for at least 6 months.
Ahmed with Dalia
In the meantime Ahmed is studying English and making plans to return to school. The war interrupted his graduation from high school and plans for college. CRO has found volunteers to tutor him, and to spend time with him outside the hospital as much as he is able. He is anxious to get out and return to school. He will need a wheelchair to be able to function.
If you can help Ahmed please donate:
ALL DONATIONS CAN GO TO:
CHECK WRITTEN TO: The Alalusi Foundation/ AHMED Fund
MAIL CHECK TO: The Alalusi Foundation,
1975 National Ave, Hayward,CA 94945
Contact: Ruth Friend, info@citizensreachout.org
Ahmed with Katya
