Preemptive Love Coalition exists
to eradicate the backlog of thousands of children in Iraq WAITING IN LINE FOR LIFE SAVING HEART SURGERIES
in pursuit of peace between communities at odds.

We train Iraqi doctors and nurses to save kids' lives inside Iraq...

We also send kids outside Iraq for lifesaving heart surgeries when necessary.

Chemical Warfare, Sanctions, & Intra-Family Marriage

Experts think that Saddam Hussein’s 281 chemical attacks and experiments on the Kurds of northern Iraq contribute to the high rate of life-threatening heart disease among children in the region today.

Others cite U.N. sanctions and the massive spike in infant and child mortality throughout the mid-nineties for many of the problems among children and youth in Iraq today. Widespread corruption and the deliberate withholding of essential human services led to rampant malnutrition and disease in Iraq on a scale so vast that it led to the resignations of the U.N. Coordinator for Iraq and other U.N. leaders. The sanctions were widely criticized by U.S. and world policy-makers for never really harming Saddam.

Intra-family marriage—a practice common in tribal societies and reinforced by histories of ethnic cleansing—is still practiced by many today and probably also contributes to the prevalence of these diseases.

Founding of Buy Shoes. Save Lives. and the Preemptive Love Coalition

In July 2007, Jeremy & Jessica Courtney and Cody Fisher came face-to-face with the overwhelming reality of thousands of children waiting in line for life-saving heart surgery. With a background in grant-writing and fundraising, the trio knew that they did not want to start a traditional non-profit. They determined to make the markets bend in favor of the outcast, underdog children of Iraq.

The Courtneys and Fisher launched Buy Shoes. Save Lives. to generate critical funding through a creative blending of commerce and compassion. They loved the traditional handmade Kurdish shoes and they suspected that others around the world might like them as well—especially when the purchase of every pair of Klash would help fund a life-saving heart surgery for an Iraqi child.

As this movement gained momentum, more staff was added and the Preemptive Love Coalition was officially incorporated in February 2008, immediately multiplying the means through which people could come together to save lives.

Through our Remedy Missions - international surgical missions we bring into Iraq to provide immediate surgeries and long-term training of Iraqi healthcare professionals - we train Iraqi doctors and nurses toward long-term self-sufficiency so they can serve their people without the help of outsiders. We don't know what the future holds, but it looks extremely hopeful for thousands of Iraqi children with a Klash-wearing coalition like you on their side.

Hand-made candles from Iraqi moms.
Every candle funds lifesaving heart surgeries for Iraqi kids.

Featured Candles

$38.00

SERENITY GIFT BASKET

(Pillar candle & artisanal soaps in a handcrafted basket)

$28.00

GLOBAL SISTERS CANDLE SET

(Two pillar candles in a gift box)

$24.00

SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE (UNSCENTED W/ STAND)

$15

3" X 4" PILLAR
(DEEP BERRY, UNSCENTED)

$3.95

GIFT BOX
FOR 1 PILLAR CANDLE

Featured Candle-Maker

NAZAHAT
Baghdad, Iraq

Nazahat is the mother of five children. She spends a lot of time making candles in her home so that she will be a good trainer of other candle-makers. Her dream is to have a large exhibition with a wide variety of candles for sale. She hopes to one day reach a global market with her branded candles. She wants to help her husband because she loves her family very much.

Nazahat has been very supportive of new entrepreneurs, helping them make high-quality candles and developing new designs by using simple items sold in the local market as molds. Nazahat is very active and is always trying to find new ways to improve her business.

"I want the entire world to know what an Iraqi woman can do. I trust that I will change my life to be better than before," she says.

Even in the earliest days of her work Nazahat earned 3.5X the "minimum wage" in Baghdad, Iraq by producing over 250 candles in just a few weeks.

Leave a message for moms in Iraq.