Orfact

Al-Zara Orphanage Nursery

ORFACT has raised funds to build a classroom and establish a Dar Al-Zahra Nursery for orphans and street children who also live in our orphanage (Dar Al-Zahra) attached to our school and the orphanage in Iraq, Basra City.

The Orphanage has about 70 children to date, of whom some are in early childhood. The aim is to open this also to the many children of destitute families living in different cities in Iraq.

Most of the children at the Nursery are orphans. Others have come from single parent or child raised by guardians.

Our Orphanage attempts to provide early childhood education and childcare in an environment conducive to the children. It also offers free lessons and other services to all orphaned and disadvantaged children. The children are offered Residence, education, meals, Cloths and school uniform.

In addition to the usual Nursery curriculum, the Nursery acts as a parent to the children, encourages and teaches them good behaviour and courtesy. The kids are also taught hygiene e.g. toilet training, brushing of teeth after meals etc.

This school has caring teachers who handle children from the tender age of one and half to six years very well. It is committed to laying a good foundation and helping children to develop and build their self image and self esteem. The classes are divided according to the age of the children.

Iraq's anti-corruption board reported that 35% of Iraqi children, or about five million children, were orphans. The Red Cross stated in March 2008 that Iraq's humanitarian situation remained among the most critical in the world, with millions of Iraqis forced to rely on insufficient and poor-quality water sources. The Department of Children's Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, is in charge of protection services for such children who are special need. However, budgetary constraints and lethargy limits what the ministry can do.