English Conversations in Northern Iraq

In February 2009 the Women and Family Center in Rapareen welcomed five English teachers from the U.S. as part of a six-month USAID project at the local university.

These teachers came prepared!  Despite jet lag and culture shock they jumped right in, teaching 20 hours a week to over 500 students.  The teachers used multimedia, creative games and other tools to help students improve their conversation skills and knowledge of spoken English. Here are comments from two students about their most enthusiastic instructor:

“I [enjoyed] Ms. D because she treated us just like a friend... The class was dynamic; there was much laughing in the class and she [made the] English language easier and simpler. . . . I’d like to learn about people’s culture around the world.”

“It is fun, and because it is fun I learned many new things. And Ms. D is so nice… it is important to be nice when you are teaching.  The first words that I learned in this class were zest and zeal and salutation and reconciliation… I learned many new poems that I love… I like to learn new information about American culture.”

So successful was this project that university faculty began requesting workshops geared to their various work and professional needs.  Our teachers were more than happy to oblige.  They agreed to hold a two-week intensive course for university teachers.  The purpose of this program was to raise the spoken English comprehension and speaking ability of non-English department faculty members. The focus was on these teachers because with the exception of the Arabic and Kurdish language departments all classes are taught in English.  This class was a huge success, giving the faculty member who attended a new level of comfort and confidence with the English language.

While Iraqi students received a little bit of America, our American teachers took home a little bit of Iraq.  They learned how to wear traditional clothes and feasted on the local cuisine.  They learned many of the customs, including how welcoming and warm the Iraqi people can be.  And we know they went home with a little bit of Iraq tucked firmly in their hearts.

Rebuilding Lives in Southern Iraq
2008

The Millennium team in Basrah had a very busy and productive year in 2008.  Our team works with other groups, including UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and IOM (International Office for Migration), to help Iraqis rebuild many aspects of their lives.  For five years we have extended our best efforts on behalf of the people of Southern Iraq through improved water supplies, renovated housing, health clinics, job training and micro-enterprise development.

There are many difficulties facing the residents of Basrah and the surrounding areas.  Given the extensive damage to houses during the fighting of the last several years and the large number of poor and displaced people, adequate shelter is a top priority.  In 2008, Millennium worked on two projects to repair almost 1,300 homes and shelters.

Clean Water for Thousands in Kirkuk

2008-2009

With the population of Kirkuk expected to double in the next 20 years, it is essential for local authorities to have a master plan for the city and surrounding area. In the fall of 2008, MRDS Kirkuk helped the Iraqi government facilitate just such a master plan. With this tool the city will be able to grow in a healthy, sustainable way. MRDS Kirkuk acted as the Architect and Engineering Consultant through the US Army Corps of Engineers.

The master plan encompasses issues related to the ability of local government to provide essential services to all peoples in the city. This includes transportation, a clean water supply, wastewater and drainage, economic and industrial development, and areas of growth for future residential and commercial expansions.

Safe, clean water is essential; the health of people everywhere is impacted by their access to clean water. In 2007 cholera was becoming a serious issue in northern Iraq. That summer, a newly chlorinated water supply prevented the spread of this deadly disease in Kirkuk. Funded by the US government, MRDS Kirkuk worked with local Iraqi engineers to install brand new chlorinators in four strategic locations throughout the city. The project also included service water systems renovations and an overhaul of the chlorine buildings including the electrical and instrumentation systems. The completion of this project now enables Kirkuk to boost the chlorine levels of 70 million gallons of water a day, providing a safe water supply— a foundation for public health.