DOING GOOD

Humbled and Flattered

Friends:

Frankly I am humbled and flattered by all this attention. I thank all of you for your words of encouragement. To all my country men and women, I owe it to you and my culture to have learned to give and care. I also have to remind you that I did not donate all the items; I just had the idea and sent out emails. I was showered by the good will of people, mostly my close Iranian friends. I only acted as your representative to the kids.

I truly believe that children around the world are our only prized possessions. We owe it to ourselves and our future to teach our kids compassion. When I see a child, I do not see their gender, their color of skin, race, or what God their parents believe in. All I see is an opportunity to make a difference. I certainly hope when you see my child you do the same as well.

To clarify a few things & for those who do not know me, I would like to introduce myself. I am a busy full-time wife, mother, daughter, sister and a dentist. I do not have an organized website nor have time to create one. This trip to Manila was different for me because this was the first time that I actually was going with a medical mission and was unable to practice medicine. So I decided to help those less fortunate than us by a simple act of compassion. I hope that clarifies a few of your concerns.

In regards to volunteering, you may contact me via email and I will put you in touch with the medical group that does organize these missions. These missions primarily provide medical & surgical care.

To answer my dear but harsh critics:
Although I have a busy life, I have managed to go on missions to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, and the Philippines.
As all of you know, working with the Iranian government is a bit tricky. Needless to say, I have sponsored orphans from the Bam earthquake. In addition, I have sent money to build a clinic in Bam. Moreover, on a yearly basis, I have sent money & clothes to orphanages in Iran (specifically Isfahan).

I have done many other charities but I don’t think I need to list them all. I never thought that one day I would be judged for my deeds! I also never thought that there would be a contest or competition on compassion… but, frankly, I am starting to like your criticisms. Maybe this "competition" will make all of us care more, give more, and finally make us act like citizens of the world rather one specific race, religion, culture, or country.

I don’t think the point here is who does what and for whom….rather just doing something to make a difference somewhere…the question you should ask yourself is “what have I done to make a difference in someone’s life & my children’s future?”

Love and Peace,

Leyla

Thank u

Leyla....thank u
it makes me so hopeful that there are still people like u exist in the world.....
GUYS come on...a child in need is a child......in Iran , in africa or anywhere.........stop criticizing please....if someone doing good...don't start criticizing...I am for one can not say anything, because she is doing more than what I am doing sitting on my bum.....
Layla.....thanks again.....I would love to have the courage to leave everything that is dear to my heart behind and go help others , even though it might be dangerous at times.

I agree with you Toofan

I agree with you Toofan jaan.

Let people such as Souri do the hiding unless she can show us what she has done for Iran.

Souri is not alone. There are many people like her who live outside of Iran and expect Iran to get better.

Is it possible

for me to volunteer to go with her next time shoe goes to the Philippines? Those kids look so lovely and it will be so rewarding to do something for them. I can contribute a little too as well as working as a volunteer.

Dear Toofan

I'd read your post and I do agree about the link for the charity program. Just FYI: this was only a personal email from Leyla to me with more pictures attached. It was only my own idea to post this here and announce Leyla as my Iranian of the Day. To be honest, Leyla does not know yet abut this. I'd just send this link to her by email. Thanks for the advices.

Never mind

I found it, Payvand.com has a nice listing. Maybe Iranian.com should make a similar listing and advertise for it on its main site?

//www.payvand.com/web/ (Scroll down for "Charity, Philanthropy")

RE:Souri

No not really, me and my girlfriend donated alot to the MAHAK cancer clinic last summer when we were in Iran, with our student salaries, it was alot for us, and my gf is not even Iranian..

My point to you was that if she is running an Iranian charity program, posting a website link, more information etc right away would gather more attention and funding than just showing pictures alone and giving a mail. Having a site with direct online payment would increase her activities. Thats just advice, thats why I asked..

I, my family, usually give to programs inside the country when Im/We are there, because I sadly dont know much about expatriat charity organizations outside Iran.

Toofan

Please contact Leyla trough the link in the above text (in blue print). She will give you all the information. But frankly, as a concerned Iranian abroad, do you really need her, to send your help to the children of Iran?

Oh.. alright

Then Souri Khanom, please post links to the charity sites that go to Iran, I would gladly donate.

Toofan........

"Why does she not deliver clothing back home and be an ambassador there?"

She does!! We do this all around the world. This trip however was different. It was organized differently and Leyla took advantage of it to do her mission.

Thanks for asking however.

Would it be racist and out of my place to say the following..

Why does she not deliver clothing back home and be an ambassador there? There are certain areas in the north and south-west of Iran that are just as worse as Manilla..

The thing I love about Israel, the only thing, is that they are racially and nationally supportive to their countrymen no matter what..

(Toofan goes hiding behind his couch before he gets the entire living room tossed after him)

Thanks JJ

For posting this article. I may post more pictures of that event which are  more revealing. We need your contribution of all and any kind.

Children of the world need us, regardless of their race, gender or color. They are innocent, miserably catch in the power struggle of men and also the Nature!