Building a peace bridge from Skidmore to Fallujah
Wissam Khaleefah at the entrance to Wilson Chapel
Skidmore senior Wissam Khaleefah is from Iraq. This summer, he returned to his hometown of Fallujah?site of some of the fiercest battles in the U.S. war in Iraq?to do his version of an "extreme makeover" at the Wahran School.
He and Brown University student, Norway native Hanne Brynildsen, helped renovate the elementary school's classrooms, playground area, and outer walls. They also ran a day camp featuring games and art classes. Most importantly, they sent the small-but-powerful message to students, teachers, and community members that people do care about them and want them to succeed. Both Davis Scholars, their work was funded by the Davis Projects for Peace.
Khaleefahgot the idea on a visit home last winter when he met with the Wahran School principal and was "shocked" to see that the school had no running water or electricity, or even desks. He had expected more since reconstruction efforts had been under way in Iraq for some six years. The international affairs major had been contemplating doing research on the mental and physical effects of war on children in Iraq, Lebanon, Bosnia, and Chechnya. But when he heard that Davis Scholars could apply for $10,000 grants to fund grassroots projects that promoted peace, a light bulb went on. Not only could he help improve his elementary school, he could also raise awareness at Skidmore and elsewhere about the human cost of living in conflict and hopefully contribute to a culture of understanding and pro-peace sentiments.
Khaleefah paints his rebuilt school
Khaleefah's exhibit, "Children of Iraq," is currently showing at Skidmore's Wilson Chapel. It's a small but powerful assemblage of drawings and journal entries from school children. One of the journal entries is accompanied by a drawing of an idyllic day interrupted only by a military helicopter.
To view a brief video clip ofKhaleefah's efforts to educate Skidmore students about the children of Iraq, please click here.
Click here for details on his Davis Peace project.
Khaleefahhopes to attend graduate school in law and diplomacy or conflict resolution. He's applying to Georgetown, Columbia, and Tufts, among others. After gaining his master's, he plans to go home to Iraq and help his country rebuild physically and spiritually.
