Ghada’s Journey from Baghdad to Seattle
My name is Ghada Ali, a 16-year-old girl from Baghdad, Iraq.
Growing up, I heard about the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) from my cousins, who all had the chance to go. As a 10-year-old, I was too young to understand the true depth of the program, but I saw how much fun my cousins had, and I couldn’t wait for my turn. To me, it seemed like an exciting opportunity to travel to the U.S. and experience something new.
When I finally became old enough to apply, I quickly realized that IYLEP wasn’t just a fun trip to America. The program is much bigger than that—it’s about bringing together passionate young people from all over Iraq to learn the skills we need to go back and improve our communities. That’s when I understood: this was about creating change, not just sightseeing.
In Seattle, we had our first real interactions with Americans. I expected Americans to be polite and cooperative, and they were. What surprised me, though, was the honesty. If someone couldn’t help, they’d admit it and feel genuinely sorry about it. I remember shopping and asking about a product, and the seller was upfront about whether it could survive the trip home in my carry-on. This kind of honesty left an impression on me.
I expected Americans to know nothing about Iraq but the 2003 war. I wasn't wrong, but what got my attention is that they weren't embarrassed to ask questions about things they did not know about my country. If I corrected them about something, they were okay about it. And they were all ears when I was telling them about Iraq.
IYLEP taught me the power of communication. I realized how it can open doors to growth, connection, and even peace. As someone who dreams of a better future for my community, this lesson meant everything to me.
But beyond the formal lessons, my fellow participants taught me something just as important: to simply be a kid. Being 16 doesn’t mean you have to be serious all the time. I love books and poetry, but living life, truly living it, is even more beautiful. In Seattle, I built Lego creations, ran in the rain, had water fights, played games, and blew bubbles. And I realized that these moments are just as meaningful as anything else.
So, here’s what I’ve learned: live every second of life. Because in the end, those moments of joy, laughter, and connection are the ones that truly change your perspective.
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and implemented in partnership with World Learning.
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