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As a college or university commits itself to the education of an Iraqi student enrolled in ISP, a support group begins to gather to prepare for the student’s arrival.  The group works together to plan fundraising events, host educational sessions about Iraq and ISP, share a meal, discern what the student’s needs will be once he/she arrives, and secure housing for the student, all of this while promoting the cause of peace.

An ISP support group is responsible for the physical, emotional, social and financial needs of the student. Some of our young people will be entering college for the first time.  Others will have begun college but could not continue because of the hardships in Iraq (or as refugees in Jordan or Syria).  Most of the students will have been away from school for a year or more.  All of them will be coming from years of war, occupation and violence. They will be good students and they will be skilled in English, but still the transition will be difficult.  The support group is people bringing all the care they can to nurture each student.  They are to be friends, to recognize what is needed and help out.  It may be as simple as learning how to get around the college campus.  Or, it may involve the more difficult task of managing newly found independence. Either way, the support group is the community of people who gather around a student with a firm commitment to helping the student as needs arise throughout their entire college experience.

A support group might begin in a religious or civic organization, or within the context of an already existing community within the area of the college.  It will reach out to include many helpers.  Support groups will need people with various talents, from networking, grant writing/fundraising, accountancy/bookkeeping, counseling, to just being an attentive friend and listener.

Those that make up the support network for each student in any given community will set upon the following tasks: providing housing for the student if dorm living is not available, covering specific student needs, i.e. buying books or health insurance, getting around town, orienting to the university, becoming familiar with the community resources and transportation systems, shopping, raising money for the financial support of the student(s) for 4 years.

Please email the ISP coordinator at coordinator@iraqistudentproject.org  to find out which group you can help with. Please provide your USPS mailing address so that we can best connect you with a support group.