Salam Talib, an associate of Voices in the Wilderness in Baghdad, presented us with a new idea for a non-governmental organization to start in Iraq called “Rent-a-Whitey.” His humorous and yet accurate reflections on the lack of self-determination for Iraqis under the US occupation betray an extremely troublesome aspect of life for ordinary Iraqis.

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Ed Kinane, a veteran peace activist who worked with Voices in the Wilderness Baghdad from August to November of 2003, shares some of his reflections on the work of Voices in the Wilderness, given from the Beit al Bacher house in Baghdad.

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Childhood Voices is a non-governmental organization, created and staffed by Iraqis, that seeks to nurture self-confidence and strengthen loving relationships in disadvantaged Iraqi children by imparting some of the beauty and joy of life that is found in art. Childhood’s Voice works to develop children’s creative and social skills through team-based art education and art therapy projects. We hope to improve the critical sense and self-image of Iraqi children, so as to increase their ability to deal with problems, and raise them up from this bitter reality under the shade of the wars that have lasted for so long in our country.

Childhood Voices staff are united by the following principles and concerns:

1. We believe in the inherent creativity and loving potential of all children.
2. Spreading child’s rights among children and local society.
3. We believe in the inherent equality of all peoples, regardless of ethnicity, religion, class, or gender.
4. We are concerned that Iraqi children have been subject to great stresses and isolation in their lives, due to years of dictatorship, wars, embargo, and poverty.
5. We believe that art represents an easily accessible and beautiful avenue for tapping into the creative potential of children in both individual and communal settings.
6. We believe that through art education and art therapy, children can develop their self-confidence, learn the value of working with others, and find creative and beautiful ways of dealing with stressful situations.

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Ed Kinane, a veteran peace activist who worked with Voices in the Wilderness Baghdad from August to November of 2003, shares some of his reflections on the work of Voices in the Wilderness, given from the Beit al Bacher house in Baghdad.