Thura Al-Windawi is a young Iraqi girl who kept a diary during the 2003 Iraq War. The diary documents her courage in facing numerous challenges over the course of the war, from having to prepare her home for war and care for her family, to leaving Baghdad fearing she may never return, to being interviewed by American reporters and speaking her mind. Throughout difficult and dangerous situations, Thura consistently showed bravery in putting her family first and trying to maintain normalcy, demonstrating her strength and hope for a better future.

1. Thura Al-Windawi
From the book:
“Thura’s Diary “
Book By: Thura Al-Windawi
Slideshow by: Elizabeth
Paglione

2. A Timeline of Thura’s
courage
March 15, 2003
Thura has to go about her March 23, 2003
life, when she will probably Thura has to act brave for March 30, 2003
never see some of her her younger sisters when Thura has to wait at home
friends again. She has to really she is terrified that her while she sees the Doura
keep a good head on her uncles will not survive their district where friends and
shoulders and prepare the trip to Al-Jadida. Even grown cousins live go under
house for war. ( wrapping ups are scared, so she has attack. She just has to sit
up possessions). Shows no one to look over and and wait, which is scarier
courage by being brave comfort her. Shows courage than actually being under
and strong even when by caring for her family in attack. Shows courage by
she’s scared. times of trouble. trying to keep everything in
order when very worried.

3. Thura’s Courage Timeline
April 4, 2003 April 17-21, 2003
Thura has to leave Baghdad when Thura is interviewed by
she knows she might not ever see American reporters. She
her friends again and might get speaks her mind about
killed on the journey. how people in Iraq are
April 1 2003 felling. She feel great
Thura has to go pride in what she has
outside and get done. Is courageous to
necessities for her speak her mind.
family when she April 12, 2003
could easily be Thura and her family go back to
bombed or shot. Baghdad though Thura thinks the
Shows courage by Americans who have captured the
going out anyways city might be monsters. She is
for her family. also afraid of crazy looters
stealing everything, but she still
goes back, overcoming her fear.

4. Thura’s Courage Timeline
May 3, 2003
Afterword:
Thura goes out to buy food
Thura goes to America,
essentials when women and
which is a new country
kids are being kidnapped all
where she is different and
over the place. She puts herself
knows no on, but is willing
in danger for the family.
to go anyway because of
April 17-21, 2003 here love to learn.
Thura works up the
courage to talk to an
American Soldier in May 17, 2003
a tank even though Thura decides to go back
she is afraid of to college even though
him.Is courageous she knows she might hear
because she is news about a friend dead.
overcoming her fear. Is courageous because
she goes even if theres
bad news, How far Thura goes from home.

5. Green-Hopeful
- Thura is hopeful when she sees an
American man and she hopes that
someday they will be able to understand
each other, talk to each other and learn
from each other. She says” I hope that he
will be friendly” to her father when she
sees the soldier.
- At the end of her diary, Thura also says
the she hopes the people of America will
understand what it is like to be an Iraq
family, and the two different kinds of
people will learn to accept each other.

6. Purple-Sensitive
-Thura lets her little sister Sama cuddle up
to her when she’s scared.
-Thura feels the pain of the people on
television who have surgery on them
without pain killers, or who have lost
loved ones, houses, cars, and money.
-Understands the hatred they must feel to
everyone in the war.

7. Orange-Generous
NOT CLEAN
CLEAN
-Thura gives the good, pure water to Sama
and thinks “Yes, kids should come first.
Then after Sama, it should be Aula and
then my mum and dad.”
-Thura herself drinks the dirtier water from
the river which takes 30 minutes to make
drinkable.
-Thura gives the sweets and fizzy drinks on
their long journey to Sama.

8. I Give Thura Al-Windawi:
The Want for a better World
I give Thura this
Someday, the world
award because she
Will be always wishes that
everyone will get
a along, and that
I wish, I dream someday, Iraq
people and
American people will
b understand each
e other. She wants the
tt best for everyone
e and wishes that
I hope everyone will love
r
each other.
PLACE

9. Thura’s Garden:
I chose to use
these pencils
because Thura
loves to draw
I chose a pile These are Thura’s two dogs who I chose this outside
of books she loves very much. garden because
because during the war, Thura
Thura loves to didn’t get to go
read and outside a lot and
learn. missed it. Also, she
hated hearing bombs
all day long, and
I chose a picture of
missed peace and
two little girls
quiet, so this peaceful
because Thura
secluded garden is for
loves her sisters
very much and
would certainly
want them in her
garden.

10. Thura’s Diary Café
Appetizers:
Diary Dairy cheese:
An assorted cheese plate of cheese, including swiss,
stilton, brea and gouda. Comes with a compliment of
sweet grapes and wine.
Bread Plate:
Fresh bread, Iraq style, just like the kind Thura learned
to make in the country side of Al-Jadida
Bombshells:
A incredible mix of cheese, bacon, green peppers, sour
cream and salsa all pilled onto potato shells!
The Tank
An amazing camouflage of a salad: greens, peppers,
iceberg lettuce, romaine and the green goddess dressing.
It’s delicious!

11. Entrees
The Iraq
Taste foods that Thura ate during the war, including dried goods
like meat and with a main course of rice, chicken and tomato
paste. Tomato paste was a need to have for people in the war as
it was used in many Iraq dishes and could keep well.
A country side delight
This meal has a main meal of fresh eggs, bought from Thura’s
family in the country side. It’s sides are oranges and lemons
from the beautiful trees and grove by the little village Thura
stays in the country side. Wash this meal down with a glass of
milk, taken from the cow by Thura’s own family.

12. Drinks and Desserts
Drinks:
Sama’s best: Sama’s favorite fizzy drink that she used to cheer
her up when she left home.
Generous water: This pure water tastes sweet with the generosity
Thura showed when she gave the only pure water to her
family.
Desserts:
Sama’s sweets: These are a mix of the sweets Sama ate on the
family’s journey to Al-Jadida.
Peace: In this ice cream chocolate and vanilla swirl as one. This
way both chocolate and vanilla lovers are satisfied, just like
people from different countries will be satisfied if the
understand each other and have peace.

13. - (Love Theme From "Titanic") Love can touch us onetime
Every night in my dreams And last for a lifetime
I see you. I feel you And never go till we’re one
That is how I know you go on.
Far across the distance Love was when I loved you
And spaces between us One true time i hold to
You have come to show you go on. In my life we’ll always go on
Near, far, wherever you are Near, far wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart And you’re here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on And my heart will go on and on
You’re here theres nothing I fear
We’ll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart and my heart will
go on and on

14. I chose the song my heart will go on to show Thura’s
belief in her heart. The song is about still believing and
loving in someone, and Thura still believes and loves her
family even though they are very far away, so she must
believe that their hearts go on and they are still alive.