30 Elementary Schools From US and Iraq Unite Through Spirit of America's America-Iraq School Partners Program Pilot.

LOS ANGELES -- Spirit of America announces the successful launch of the America-Iraq School Partners Program pilot. The program creates partnerships and friendships between American and Iraqi schools.

The America-Iraq School Partners Program pilot features 13 American schools in Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois, California & Germany and 17 schools in Basrah, Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. More than 1500 elementary school children are participating in the pilot. The America-Iraq School Partners Program is designed to build understanding and friendships between Iraqi and American children, assist the development and improvement of education in Iraq and to demonstrate that the Iraqi people are not alone in their struggle to establish a free and peaceful society.

The core purpose of the School Partners program is to establish connections and communication between the participating schools. Communication includes student-to-student, teacher-to-teacher and principal-to-principal communication. American schools may provide gifts of friendship to their partner schools in Iraq such as supplies, books or equipment. This is at the discretion of the American school and would be expected to be funded privately by the school's parents, students, local businesses and community.

Spirit of America has invested in the infrastructure needed to support ongoing communication and information exchange including the hiring of Iraqi staff that can translate materials and serve as a coordinator and communication liaison among the participating schools.

"The long-term vision for a democratic Iraq lies with its children," said Tamara Quinn, the Director of School Partners Program for Spirit of America. "Through the School Partners program, our American children can be ambassadors for democracy through their interaction with Iraq's children."

The official launch of The America-Iraq School Partners Program will coincide with the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year. Schools interested in participating in the launch program are encouraged to submit a request prior to the end of the 2004-2005 school year. Email requests and inquiries to [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Spirit of America's mission is to extend the goodwill of the American people to assist those advancing freedom, democracy and peace abroad. We provide support to those on the front lines: American military and civilian personnel and people who call to Americans for help in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

Spirit of America is a 501c3 nonprofit supported solely through private-sector contributions. We do not receive funding from the government or military. 100% of your tax-deductible donation is used for the purpose you choose. For more information and to support Spirit of America and this and other projects, visit the web site at www.spiritofamerica.net.