Mother's Day For Peace at Brave New Films

Building Bridges with Iraq

2008-01-12T20:28:14Z

Salee Allawee, a young girl from Fallujah, started out her trip to the United States many months ago. Injured by a U.S. airstrike, she lost her brother, her best friend, and both of her legs. Through the Mother’s Day For Peace Campaign, No More Victims was able to bring Salee to Greenville, South Carolina where she has received medical treatment and prosthetics since July.

The team at Brave New Films had the opportunity to meet with Salee and her father in Los Angeles last night before they return to Iraq after nearly four months in South Carolina.

Her father, Hussein, recalls that Salee had become reserved, quiet, and depressed after the incident. But you would not know it today, Salee is a bright and beaming gem. She was playful, silly, and constantly smiling as we had cake last night to celebrate her recovery. She talked animatedly in Arabic about their trip to Catalina Island earlier in the day. She had loved the kayaks and even saw a sea lion along the way! (Read the LA Times article about their trip here).

As they prepared to return home, we also asked her father what he thought about his time here in the States. Hussein explained, before he came to the United States, the word "American" was a dirty word -- a word he almost could not bring himself to say. He thought all Americans were like the soldiers who have violently destroyed his family, his home, and his country.

Hussein said many of his neighbors and friends do not believe that Americans were bringing him to the United States to help his daughter. They could not believe that any American would be so caring or kind.

Hussein now has a different view. He says he has seen more generosity and kindness here than he has ever seen in his life. He has made friends here and is grateful to everyone who has helped his daughter.

He also talked about life back in Iraq and the horrors of living through a war. He asked several times for the Americans leave his country. He does not believe there will be any progress until we do. He believes Iraqis will be able to resolve their own internal divisions. Before the war, he says, people did not even ask if you were Sunni & Shia. In fact, his ex-wife had been Shia. The translator concurred, his parents were the also mixed - one Sunni and one Shia - and it was not big deal. Hussein insisted they will be able to repair their internal divisions after the American troops leave.

When he returns to Iraq later this month, let us hope he and his family are kept safe. Let us also hope that he can help paint a different picture of Americans - one not of guns and violence, but of compassion and kindness.

If you would like to sponsor a child, there are many ways to get involved. Please visit www.nomorevictims.org. Let us become Ambassadors of Peace. As Mahatma Ghandi said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

Peace, Paris

Salee Says Goodbye to Greenville, For Now

2008-07-09T19:27:30Z

After several surgeries and a fitting for prostethics, Salee Alawee can walk again. This 10-year-old Iraqi girl has spent the past three months in Greenville, South Carolina not only seeking medical attention, but finding her confidence and charisma again.

Salee will be returning home in the next couple of weeks. She says, she is most looking forward to giving her mother a great big hug. But as Salee leaves the United States, she certainly won't lose all the friends she has made in Greenville. Through the generosity of Shriner's Hospital, Salee will return to Greenville every 18 months until she is 18 years old to be refitted for new prosethetics as she grows.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the Mother's Day for Peace campaign which helped fund Salee's travel and recovery. Cole Miller of No More Victims will be escorting Salee and her father back to Amman, Jordan in the next couple of weeks.

While in Amman, Cole will meet up with Abdul Hakeem and his father for their journey to Pittsburgh. Abdul Hakeem is the young boy who Brave New Films sponsored for our Father's Day For Peace campaign. This will be his second visit to the United States for continued medical treatment.

If you would like to contribute or get involved, please visit www.nomorevictims.org.

Watch the video

Salee Arrives in Greenville, South Carolina

2008-10-20T09:30:24Z

For those of you who donated to our Mother's Day For Peace campaign, you will be excited to hear Salee has arrived safely in Greenville, South Carolina this week!

Salee and her father had been in Amman, Jordan for the past month and a half with Cole Miller and Maki Al-Nazzal of No More Victims while waiting for visas to enter into the United States.

Salee is scheduled for surgery this week and will be in Greenville for several months while she is fitted for prostethics legs.

To learn more about No More Victims or to donate to their cause, please visit their website at: www.nomorevictims.org.

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Salee's Wheelchair

2008-12-02T12:50:44Z

After Salee's injury, her father scrambled together some money to purchase a second-hand wheelchair for her. In this video, Maki will show you Salee's rickety old wheelchair and explain why is it a problem for her.

No More Victims will soon be purchasing a new wheelchair for Salee, one that is appropriate for her age and size.

Cole and Maki of No More Victims are currently in Amman, Jordan with Salee and her father waiting for visas to bring them to the United States. They are expected to arrive in Greenville, South Carolina in the next couple of weeks. Check Salee's blog for more updates on her progress.

www.mothersdayforpeace.com
www.nomorevictims.org

Watch the video