Michael Symons

After 10 days in #Iraq and nearly $300K raised for orphans, I'm finally home. Thanks @ChildAidIntl for the amazing experience! #walk4life

Sampling the wares at Al Shakarchee Sweets in #Karbala. Apparently this was Saddam's fave - he kidnapped the baker!

A lunch with fish from Al Furat in #Karbala. #Iraq #walk4life @ChildAidIntl

Last leg of the journey. It's so hard to say goodbye to #Iraq: such incredibly resilient people. What an incredible experience! #walk4life

On my flight MUC to YUL. After 10 days in #Iraq I'm going thru culture shock! It feel strange not to end conversations with "Masalama."

Employees at IST believe that life is suffering and do everything in their power to prove it to their customers.

Me to @urbvancouverite in NJF: "Hey, that guy looks khoja. Go see if you're related to him." He wasn't but I'm sure one of our group was.

On our way home: NFJ - IST - MUC - YUL - YVR. Ya Khuda! @childaidintl #walk4life

Leaving Karbala: sad goodbyes to our gracious hosts and to Abu Haider, our tireless volunteer here. On to Najaf, then home!

I just heard a heartbreaking story about a widow who had to identify her husband's body in pieces after a sectarian bombing. So tragic.

The kids and their mothers here have been through so much, it's inspiring to see the will they have to build a better life for themselves.

Visited another group of families including Samaah's: a beautiful young child whose mother wants to set up a small business out of her home.

Met an enterprising widow named Umm Ali: she makes and sells religious goods from her home in #Karbala. CAI wants to help grow her business.

We visited Ayaat yesterday: she is such a delightful girl with such a tragic story. Child Aid helps but I wish there was more we could do...

Another car bomb in Hilla, south of #Karbala, killing 18 people. This place can be so tragic... @ChildAidInt #walk4life

@mohamedadewji Good point, although we did put up a partition between the mens and ladies glasses...

Just finished a pilgrimage to Al Shakarchee Sweets. It was a religious experience that should be part of every Ziaraat.

Got told off in #Karbala today for clinking glasses. That's a first. Surely there are bigger fish to fry in this country...

@mahmoodjaffer Everything is great so far: just living the dream in Karbala.

Morning in Karbala: it's a cacophony of roosters crowing, dogs barking, and cars honking. Just another day in the life of a Karbalai.