From the Founder

Sean O'Sullivan launched our Iraq project in September of 2003. He was directing reconstruction efforts in Baghdad for the period from October 2003-September 2004. While covering the war as a documentary filmmaker in Iraq during the period from March-May 2003, O'Sullivan wrote of his personal experience with the Iraqi people.

"My first visit to the Middle East was on March 20th, 2003, the day the war broke out. I flew into Amman, Jordan, somewhat nervous because of the typical image people from the West see of the Middle East. Honestly, I expected to be harassed or even attacked because I was a Westerner and the Arabs were extremely upset about the war. What I found amazed me."

"Before I even stepped off the plane, I was greeted with hospitality, generosity and openness. My fears evaporated as I realized that I was attributing to the Arab people characteristics which other people, either blindly racist or simply passing on the racism of others, had ascribed to them. What you see on television is absolutely nothing like what you would experience if you were to come here. I have found a people so warm and welcoming that I have decided to give a year or more of my life in service to them."

"JumpStart's programs in Iraq are dedicated to helping Iraqis overcome the devastation which has hit them. This devastation has come not only through the war and criminality unleashed after it, but also through the awful rule of Saddam Hussein, whose programs of murder and oppression have cost the Iraqi people much of their freedom for most of their lives.""I have found, however, that these are a strong, independent and free-spirited people. Many of them are already entrepreneurs, and thousands of businesses are already thriving in Baghdad. Our programs hope to spur employment and the generation of private businesses and public opportunity."