[Rainey]

This is an effort to help Iraqi children be ready for school. http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/

It touched my heart that simple things might make a difference for these kids who have been through soooo much. If you're inclined to help there are options for making direct cash contributions as well as directions for putting together school kits and sending them off to be distributed to the children. The tangible hands-on approach gives me the personal feeling I need and reinforces that sense that, as I go about the business of equipping Izzy for college, we're all the same in so many basic ways.

Besides school supplies it says they can use sports equipment like soccer balls.
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God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor

[simona]

Dear Rainey,
I understand you want to help the really needy, so could you please post also a web link concerning the orphans of the massacre in Darfour (SUdan)- 200.000 people ( low estimate) murdered and 1.800.000 displaced , or for the starving and dying children in Niger - 2.500.000 starving among them 800.000 children, already thousands of children dead. Help might keep them alive and give them a chance to go to school, that is if they ever had schools to begin with.
Thank you
Simona

[Rainey]

Here are links I could find to UNICEF's efforts in Niger and Darfur.

http://www.unicefusa.org/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=27736&ct=782867

http://www.unicefusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=50755

This is a FABULOUS international effort that is always on the leading edge of crises all over the world. They know and respond before we ever know how bad things have gotten. To the best of my knowledge, they are always completely egalitarian and non-sectarian in their deployment of services. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

If you have others, simona, perhaps you could add them.
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God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor