Report and Memory notes from Life-Link delegation mission to Iraq October 2009.

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1 1 Report and Memory notes from Life-Link delegation mission to Iraq October Life-Link delegation Mr Hans Levander, Med Dr, Chairman Life-Link Friendship-Schools Association. Mr Rahim Jassim, Educator & Principal, Life-Link Advisor Ms Aseel Abdul Razzaq, Student, Life-Link Assistant Coordinating organization in Iraq Baghdad Provincial Council ( BPC ) C/o Mr Riyadh N. Al-Adhadh, Med Dr, Deputy Chairman BPC Background Life-Link program is open for schools, youth preferably age 12-19, to engage youth world-wide in cross border cooperation for a more safe and sustainable future based on the Life-Link ethics of Care for Myself Care for Others Care for Nature. Dr Hans Levander s visit to Baghdad in 1999, participating and lecturing at in international Rheumatology conference. Since then keeping in contact with Rheumatology doctors in Iraq. A recommendation from Dr Riyadh to discuss the Life-Link program with Iraqi educators, students and at the level of Ministry of Education. The Life-Link ethics, pedagogic and simple structure has the quality and potential to make the Life-Link program attractive to individual Iraqi schools and even useful for the Iraqi national schools curriculum. A formal supporting invitation was sent to Life-Link from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, confirmed by Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Security precautions were taken by the BPC. A Life-Link DVD presentation, specifically addressing Iraqi schools, was sent to BPC in July. Ten Iraqi UNESCO Associated schools are since 2007 active in the Life-Link & UNESCO ASPnet project Culture of Care and Water for Life. This program is in harmony with UNESCO values and the Decade on Education for Sustainable Development , and the UN Decade on Water for Life Day to Day program. Monday 19 October Arrival from Sweden by flight Turkish Air, via Istanbul Ministry of Education meeting 1. Chair of meeting: Mr Hasanain F. Muallah Secretary General of Iraqi UNESCO National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Director General of International Cultural Relations Iraqi Ministry of Education. Ten participants representing the Iraqi National UNESCO Commission, UNESCO ASPnet and superior regional school-leaders in Bagdad. The Life-Link program was briefed and discussed during one hour.

2 2 A forthcoming Life-Link & UNESCO ASPnet seminar at UNESCO Hq in Paris December gathering ASPnet coordinators from the Arab region was touched upon, Iraq will be represented at this seminar. Bagdhad Provincial Council. Chair of meeting: Dr Riyadh. The Life-Link agenda for the week was reviewed. The Life-Link delegation was introduced to some of the BPC committees. Dr Falah Al-Qaisi, Chief of the Teaching and Education Committee was introduced to the Life-Link program. One of the discussions took place with Ms Aisha Ghazal, also responsible for Tree planting programs in the Baghdad area. The possibilities for students and schools to be active in tree planting at and around their schools will be examined. Tuesday 20 October Visits to three schools in the Resafa region of Baghdad. At each school a discussion took place with the Principal and representatives from School administration. Visits to 1-2 classes were made. Numbers of students at these schools were , teachers 26-60, number of students for each class Students reactions were most positive facing the perspectives of taking part in the Life-Link program, as was the reaction from teachers and principals. Some practical problems on how to perform and to report the local Life-Link actions were discussed. Students knowledge of understanding English seemed to be rather good, conversation could be more difficult. Computer education is available, but no access to Internet due to lack of financing. (Some of the students families have access to Internet, that could solve the problem with future communication within the Life-Link program) Ministry of Education meeting 2. Meeting with Dr. Nehad A. Sh. Al-Joubory, Deputy Minister of Education for Scientific Affairs. An extensive constructive meeting with discussions on the Life- Link basic values, and the potential for introducing the Life-Link program at a large scale in Iraq within five major regions. A consensus on the usefulness for the Life-Link program at Iraqi schools was agreed upon. A Memorandum of Understanding was then formulated and signed By Dr Nehad Al-Joubory, Dr Hans Levander and Principal Rahim Jassim. (attached to this report) Dr Nehad requested Life-Link delegates to draft an Action plan for Life-Link in Iraq, with budget estimates and timetable included. (A first draft will be ready before end of this month Oct 09) Wednesday 21 October Life-Link program information meeting 1 The meeting took place in the BPC major conference hall with 40 delegates: 25 Educators from schools and administration, 10 students/pupils boys and girls, 5 BSP staff members. 18 schools were represented at this meeting. Agenda: *Life-Link introducation by Dr Levander. *Life-Link Basic program powerpoint presentation with comments by Mr Jassim, *Workshop for educators in two groups on the action topic Water for Life Water Study Form at My School. The workshop was a teacher training on how to immediately initiate this action at 20

3 3 schools in Baghadad in collaboration with 20 schools in Sweden during the period Nov 2009 Dec A Water Study action plan was then worked out that will be sent to all participating schools within this effort to get the Life-Link program started immediately at 20 schools (Attached in English version, and translated into Arabic). * Workshop in one students group supported by Ms Aseel. The students discussed which of the Life-Link proposed Care-actions that they want to perform with priority. The following actions were listed by the students to have highest relevance for their lives and situation: 1:15 Sport and Peace 2:05 First Aid 2:10 The Rights of the Child 3:08 Water for Life 3:06 Tree Planting Action 2:09 Children in War Dissussion. A follow up active general discussion included comments on the willingness to include the Life-Link program at schools, the Iraqi school standards, lack of sanitation, risk for epidemics etc. Media coverage from 4 channels. Thursday 22 October Life-Link program information meeting 2 Six teachers and school leaders mainly from the Karch region participated. Life-Link information was given and well met. The information was followed up by a discussion on how to promote the Life-Link program in the Karch region. Some willing and highly competent educators were recognized for future promotion of the Life-Link program in their region. Media: TV intervju with Life-Link delegates, also touching on the recent Flu epidemic in certain Baghdad areas. Swedish Embassy. Meeting at the Swedish Embassy with Ms Elisabet Hellsten, Councellor / Deputy Head of Mission. The Life-Link good results achieved and the Memorandum of Understanding were presented. The Swedish official standpoint and policy on development aid for Iraq was reiterated, schools is not the priority for Swedish aid in Iraq. Some strategies for funding were discussed and will be followed up / have already been started. The embassy will be in contact with the development of Life-Link program in Iraq. Friday 23 October Planning discussions, reporting and letters. A Life-Link program committee with a physical office will be set up in Baghdad, in order to serve the implementation of the Life-Link program in Iraq. (More details in the Life-Link Iraq - Action Plan 2010).

4 4 Life-Link program information meeting 3 Meeting arranged extra for teachers in the Alhamiya district. 30 educators, most of them representing one of the schools. Head and assistant to Head of the Education Committee of Adhamiya were present as well as BPC representatives. 1.5 hours presentation and discussion. The school will consider to join the Water for Life study. Life-Link was invited to visit the schools in this area at next visit to Baghdad! Concluding remarks A Life-Link delegation three persons have taken active part of an efficient information and planning program during 5 days visit to Baghdad October The Life-Link Basic program appeals to students, teachers, headmasters and school-leaders in the Baghdad region. An Advanced Life-Link program is already since 2007 successfully introduced at 10 Iraqi UNESCO Associated schools. A Memorandum of Understanding has been formulated and signed by Iraqi Deputy Minister of Education and Life-Link Chairman, with the intention to introduce and to implement the Life- Link program at a high number of schools in Iraq. A drafted action plan for will be formulated within October Educators from 20 Iraqi schools in the Baghdad region have been introduced into the Life-Link Basic program and will during the period November 2009 March 2010 perform a first Life- Link action: a Water study at the School. 20 schools in Sweden will join this activity to perform a dialogue. Necessary funding is crucial for an efficient implementation of the Life-Link program at Iraqi schools. Life-Link Sweden currently has no specific budget for an Iraqi program. This first information and planning travel expenditures were based on voluntary Life-Link contributions. Budget needs will be discussed in the first draft of Action plan that will be presented before 31 Oct A successful implementation of the Life-Link value-based program at Iraqi schools will for sure raise positive reactions in a wider MENA region (Middle East North Africa) and also among Life-Link associated and other schools world-wide, and among diplomats, UNESCO ASPnet and other organizations working for Common Security and Sustainable Development. A follow up visit 2010 is crucial for successful outcome of this initiative. Baghdad Iraq and Uppsala Sweden October 2009 / Hans Levander

5 5 LIFE-LINK Life-Link delegation Mr Rahim Jassim, Swedish headmaster, visiting students at a biology lesson Memorandum Understanding agreement: Dr Hans Levander Chairperson Life-Link and Dr. Nehad AlJoubory Deputy Minister of Education of LIFE-LINK FRIENDSHIP-SCHOOLS Uppsala Science Park SWEDEN Youth Margarita Medvedeva Chairperson Student Tel: Fax: Chairperson Hans Levander friendship-schools@life-link.org