Toward Reconciliation with Iraq

Sue Markey, a founding member of the Immigrant Women's Action Group, recently travelled to Baghdad with the help of the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC). She is fundraising and organizing for the workshop project that grew out of her nine-day visit.

By Sue Markey | 1992-03-01 12:00:00

The purpose of my visit was to initiate a process of reconciliation with Iraqi people. I wanted to bring home a peace and development education project to Canada. I met with relief workers, engineers, artists, and a priest, who helped me obtain over 300 drawings and paintings by Iraqi children.

The Iraqi Children's Art Project integrates a mobile display of these drawings and paintings with factual information about Iraq, and writings by Kurdish, Iraqi and other peoples of the area. The purpose of the workshops is threefold:

To create understanding about the long-term effects of the Gulf War on the Middle East in general;
To encourage Canadians to reflect on the effects of the war, and to begin reconciliation with the Iraqi people;
To provide an environment in which to discuss nonviolent conflict resolution.

These workshops are suitable for elementary and high school students as well as community or church groups. I bring to them extensive experience in developing and coordinating workshops for schools and community groups.

The Peace and National Concerns division of World Outreach of the United Church, and the Christian Children's Fund have provided funds for this project, but a minimum of $7,000 is still required to pay for printing workshop kits, and to allow me to travel through Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta with the display. Cheques should be made payable to NECEF Support Network for Iraqi People. Donations are tax deductible.

If you are interested in having a workshop for your class or for a community group in your area please contact Sue Markey at (416) 527-0365 or write to #2-94 Emerald St. S. Hamilton, Ontario, ISN 2V3. Workshop cost is nominal.