December 27, 2004

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Last summer, we traveled to Iran. We visit every two or three years, and we mostly end up spending most our time visiting family and friends in our hometown, Ramsar. The town did not change much  over many years .This year the story was a little different though.

We visited a sort of shelter/nursing home. The building and the land was donated by the people of town a few years ago.  It was a two-level building located at the top of a hill. The occupants are only women who have no other place to go. Among the residents there was a woman who had multiple sclerosis and, as I have heard, her husband was abusing her and she took refuge in this place.

There were a few mentally challenged women in there too. There was one neat old lady whose family did not want her. There was also a thirteen-year-old girl, Mehnaz, who was in a wheelchair.  She was wearing a white hejab as it is required by the Islamic regime. I do not know if she was an orphan or not, but she was not in school and it seemed like she was in need of more help than what the facility could offer her.

The place is run by a council, which included mostly retired people, such as teachers. I heard that some officials from government offices would come to visit the place. They would make speeches, and try to take credit for the building. But they usually leave with mostly empty promises. The building is mostly run by donations. I learned that some people in the community pay a monthly fee, and in exchange, they are promised a bed for retirement in that building.

While we were visiting the place, the faculty told us that they are in need of some equipment such as a dryer and van. We donated some money. I wanted to do more. That is why I am writing to you. I am giving you the facts, and I think the pictures speak for themselves. Please look at the attached pictures. I am writing this to let our fellow Iranians  know that if you like to help, I would be glad to give you the address to visit the place and directly donate money or medicine. For more info, and how you could help, please contact: Mashaiee@hotmail.com.

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