Canadian Living salutes: Usama Al-Shiraida

One spring day, Usama Al-Shiraida downloaded a photograph his father had sent from Iraq: a charred portrait of a family lying in the rubble that once was their home. Although the family are strangers to Usama, he has been haunted by the picture ever since. The sorrow it evokes spurs him to help Iraqis reconstruct their homes and their lives through Adopt-a-Town.

He began the aid project two years ago. Although he was born in Canada, as were his wife and their twin sons, much of the 28-year-old computer programmer's extended family still lives in Iraq, and he is not content to sit back and do nothing. "Being of Iraqi descent," he says, "it's difficult to watch the devastation. This project is the least I can do to help."

To get Adopt-a-Town off the ground, Usama, who lives in Edmonton, brainstormed with friends and colleagues. "We were looking for an idea that was unique," he says, "one that established a personal connection with those we were helping. Not being able to stop the bombing, most of us felt that helping the innocent people of Iraq was the next natural step." They decided to adopt war-torn Iraqi towns and raise funds for their reconstruction.

A few months after first seeing that photo, Usama officially became the chairman of a 15-member committee, and Adopt-a-Town was launched as a project affiliated with Life for Relief & Development (Life), a non-profit, international aid organization. Since moving back to his native Iraq in 1993, Usama's father, Yarub Al-Shiraida, has been projects coordinator for Life.

Yarub's firsthand reports detailing the devastation helped the committee decide on their first places to adopt: the twin towns of Al-Mutayha and New Mishrag in southern Iraq. Dozens of houses, even whole streets, had been destroyed. Anguished families were living in the shells of their homes, surrounded by teetering ruins, fallen wires and splintered furniture.

After recruiting more volunteers in Edmonton, via e-mails, letters and the local media, Usama soon had about 50 people organizing, marketing and finding sponsors for their fund-raising campaign. He says it didn't take much to convince people to help. "The project itself was a source of inspiration. People seemed to immediately feel a passion for the cause. Regardless of opinions on the war itself, everyone knew that the people of Iraq needed our help." Together they raised more than $90,000 through dinners, concerts and corporate donations.

These funds have enabled Iraqi workers to rebuild a recreation centre and more than 50 homes using local materials. Yarub and a handful of volunteers, including some of the homeowners, ensured that the reconstruction work went smoothly.

Today a community of pastel dwellings with gated courtyards and colourful rugs airing over balcony railings has replaced the rubble. Destruction rages on, and the residents are still anxious, sad and tired of the war, but the bustle of everyday life is slowly starting to return.

And the Iraqi and Canadian communities have connected. At an outdoor Adopt-a-Town fund-raiser set up in a park in June of 2003, Edmontonians were photographed, then wrote messages of hope and support on the backs of their pictures. These were sent to Iraq, along with letters and photos from area schoolchildren. In reply, the chief of the twin Iraqi towns sent a videotaped thank-you along with a hand-made gift to the mayor of Edmonton.

After hearing or seeing media reports on the project, others have joined in. The city of Calgary adopted Jurf Al-Sakhr and raised $30,000 to build a new medical clinic in this Iraqi town. From Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, individuals, corporations and organizations, such as churches and mosques, have also contacted Usama to ask what they can do to help. "My hope is that every major Canadian city will take on the challenge and adopt a town," he says.

When he watches his wife play with their sons on the living room floor, Usama is thankful. "I feel grateful being in Canada and thank God every day for providing my family and me with a safe and happy home."

Although he's proud of what Adopt-a-Town has accomplished so far, he says, "I can't help but feel there is more that needs to be done for the people of Iraq."

For more information about Adopt-a-Town and to find out how you can help, contact Usama Al-Shiraida at usama@liferelief.org or visit Life for Relief and Development at www.liferelief.org.