Life for Relief and Development was invited by Ashinaga, a Japanese Organization, to attend the eighth camp for orphans. Ashinaga hosts an international summer camp for orphans yearly, At this camp, children who bear the same sorrow gather together, and talk about their experiences for the first time and share their feelings transcending all the differences, such as languages, nationalities, religions and ethnicities. Then they know that they are not alone so they start walking heads up toward the future.

This year over 18 countries were invited.   Life selected 6 orphans from Iraq along with their companions to go to Japan from July 31 to Aug 19 for the camp. The entire trip was funded by Ashinaga.  The camp schedule was packed with tasks, activities, and psychological and social rehabilitations. The mother of one orphan who attended is overwhelmed with gratitude and thanking Allah every day for the changes that have taken place with her child after the camp. 

The orphans met with the first lady Mrs. Akio Abe at the opening of the camp.  Later they met the Prime Minister and he approved a plan to let orphans study in Japanese universities free of charge. One individual donor set up sponsorship of 10 orphans.  Many other pledges and promises for future assistance were launched.  In all it was a very fruitful trip for the orphans and the program in general. 

Life thanks Ashinaga for giving our orphans and all of the orphans involved this life changing experience and making the difference in the lives of these children.