Providing for the children through “I CAN”
The Iraqi Children Assistance Network (I CAN) was established to allow American Soldiers the opportunity to work with Iraqi children and provide them with hope for a brighter future.
Through Operation I CAN, Soldiers distribute donated school supplies and toys to Iraqi children. Soldiers have distributed over 100 boxes of donated school supplies throughout the country. They are gathering more for the upcoming school year.
Army officials said the program works to bridge the perception gap between Iraqi children, their families, and Soldiers by providing the children with greater opportunity for hope in their future as well as the future of their country.
The Army Civil Affairs’ objective is the stabilization of Iraq through humanitarian assistance and development projects. Officials said achieving this goal allows the Iraqi people to function as a legitimate, prosperous and safe country without the further aid and supervision of the United States.
I CAN is part of the broader, Army-wide effort to revitalize Iraq’s infrastructure and invigorate its self-sufficiency and capacity for autonomy. It operates on a people-to-people basis at the grassroots level. It encourages positive and close relationships between Iraqi children and U.S. troops.
By distributing school supplies and toys to the Iraq children, Soldiers work directly against the aims of the Anti-Iraqi Forces that seek to discredit the U.S. presence.
Army officials said the ultimate goal is to shape the children’s and their parents’ perspectives on why the U.S. troops are here.
Operation I CAN allows Americans stateside to participate directly in helping win the hearts and minds of Iraqis. (Story by 1st Lt. William A. Diefenbach, 4-3 Air Defense Artillery)
