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Iraq's people were among the first to learn irrigation, to invent the writing of sounds that is key to our own alphabets, to create a legal system that is the foundation of modern law. During the early Islamic centuries Iraq was a center where ancient learning was translated and preserved, where poetry and music and medicine flourished. In modern times, Iraqis built a thriving system of higher education and sent thousands of students to study all over the world, returning to teach and work in Iraq. Western institutions of higher learning benefit from the contributions to scholarship and human development that have taken place across the centuries in Iraq.

But as a result of the six years of war that have ravaged the country, Iraq's educational system is now in ruins. Students in Iraq are without teachers, without books and computers, without university structures. And years are going by. Those who have taken refuge in Syria and Jordan (estimated at more than 2.2 million Iraqis by summer of 2007) are often unable to avail themselves of the higher education of those countries. Only a few succeed in being resettled elsewhere.

One student in this situation is 23-year-old Rahman Aidi Mashhoof Al-Kaabi. Rahman was studying theater at a university in Baghdad and working as a performance artist with a theater troupe in 2006 when his troupe started receiving death threats. When two troupe members were killed, Rahman and two other troupe members fled to Syria where he has lived since, away from his family and friends.

In Syria, Rahman has used his performance talent to entertain other refugees, waiting in long lines at the UN High Commisioner of Refugees, but he has otherwise been unable to continue his university studies, nor work regularly. For the past two years, he has been a student with the Iraqi Student Project, a grassroots, non-profit organization which provides a select group of college-aged refugees with intensive English courses in Damascus and a chance to continue their studies in the US with the support of full-ride tuition waivers and community support groups.

With the economic downturn this year, it has proved especially difficult for four-year colleges to provide spaces for ISP students. That's why we started investigating the possibility of bringing Rahman to Monterey Peninsula College where we hope he will continue his studies this fall. My family has offered Rahman room and board at our home in Carmel and now we are trying to raise funds for his first year's tuition, books and minimal living expenses which will total approximately $8,000. Similarly, we are also reaching out to build a support group for Rahman once he arrives to help provide non-financial support like inviting him to your house for home-cooked meals, introducing him to your organization, school or team and generally welcoming him to our community.

Could you and a neighbor offer some support for Rahman's course fees? Could you tell your church, synagogue, mosque, team or office about the project, email the link this page to a friend, or offer help with fundraising? Or would you like to be part of Rahman's support group? While these are undoubtedly tough economic times, even a small amount or a quick mention to a friend can be helfup in making an immediate and lasting impact on Rahman's life.

"Many people from the whole world think Iraq is just a field of war whereas other people believe that Iraq is a brilliant world among others," Rahman wrote recently to an American penpal. "In fact, Iraq has had a difficult situation since 1990 [when the Gulf War began] until 2003. It's true that Iraq has a great history of fighting wars with other countries, but inside Iraq, there is a beautiful life with tradition, science, beautiful nature and friendship . . . we have the will now to write a new history of Iraq by our hands, history of peace, life and love."

All donations are tax-exempt, and you will receive a letter from ISP for tax purposes. And anyone interested in helping or joining Rahman's support group is welcome and can send an email to daniaakkad@gmail.com.