Erbil

A few weeks ago, Nadine and I travelled together to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. We went for work – to cover IOM’s projects in the area. The whole trip, I couldn’t help thinking how surreal it was…two best friends, paid to go on an adventure to a new place, meeting and interviewing people who have beautiful stories of hardship turned success with a little help from IOM. Really, it does not get much better than that.

Perhaps the best takeaway of the trip though was feeling the impact IOM has had on its beneficiaries’ lives – as well as seeing the way IOM staff truly integrate themselves into the local communities. There are many cynics of humanitarian work and aid in general – they talk of top-down approaches, programs that ignore local realities, and office bureaucracies that forget about the humanity of the people they serve. Yet watching IOM staff in action re-affirmed my belief in this work.

The staff members truly became a part of the communities in which they worked – IOM staff and beneficiaries looked at each other as friends and partners, working toward the same goal together. The local community groups informing IOM’s work were active and passionate, volunteering their time to ensure effective programming for the vulnerable populations in need of assistance. More than that, I cannot even count the number of times beneficiaries told us, a lot of different organizations came and took photos of us… but IOM was the first to do anything to help. It was truly inspirational to see such good work being done – and having a big impact.

To see the result of our trip — check out the newsletter produced on IOM’s Community Revitalization Program

As always, because IOM blogging rules are unclear.. disclaimer: these are IOM’s photos but only my opinions :)

A New Adventure

I alluded recently to my new work (with aforementioned roommate Nadine) but have yet to elaborate. So, as a minor life update, we are working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). I started volunteering with them during my Fulbright and am now working full time in the Public Information department. Its been a great experience, and IOM is a wonderful organization doing important work all over the world.

Our corner of this organization is IOM-Iraq, which is remotely based in Amman but works in Iraq to assist internally displaced people, returnees, and local host communities. Its been a great learning experience for me, as someone who previously knew little about the situation in Iraq. The situation there is complicated and remains dire; organizations like IOM are making a big difference on the ground to help people whose communities are in need and whose security remains fragile.

IOM-Iraq has also been helping Syrian refugees in Iraq. Iraq is not the first place people think of when reflecting on the Syrian crisis, yet at present UNHCR estimates over 160,000 Syrians have fled there. Resources are stretched, and there is great need.

The largest camp is Domiz Camp, in Dahuk governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan. Nadine recently visited this camp as well as Erbil governorate to collect material about IOM’s response to the Syrian crisis. Thereafter, IOM produced a report about the response — You can read it and see photos from the field here on IOM’s website: Relief Beyond Immediate Needs

Nadine also has been documenting the stories of IOM beneficiaries. They are beautiful and inspiring films, which I am excited to share with you. Check out the first one here, and the rest will be up soon on IOM’s YouTube.

So, al muhim, I have been really happy in this new work, learning about a new corner of the Middle East, and contributing to a new organization’s humanitarian efforts. Its also worth saying, that of course, nothing I write is representative of IOM and all reflects my own opinions. However you can learn more about the important work IOM is doing by following IOM here on Facebook or checking out IOM Iraq’s website here!

The Baqa’a Times

I’ve been so bad about blogging lately.. its actually unreal. Have I mentioned yet that I started a student blog for the Orphan Welfare Association in Baqaa? Anyway, check it out (I’ve been decent about blogging on that platform)… http://thebaqaatimes.wordpress.com/

 

The Baqa’a Times is our OWA student blog. It has students’ writings (English and Arabic) and photos. The idea is to empower the students – giving them a platform to present their work, their Association, and their community. I also occasionally contribute stories about our activities. For example, the most recent post on “Rap and Graffiti” … our latest Friday program :)

If you get a chance, peruse the site. The OWA (and Baqa’a in general) remains to be my favorite place in Jordan.. and a big piece of my heart.

I feel like a proud mom when I think about it (I hate that I even just wrote that, gosh I’m old)… but really I can’t help but think: look, look, see powerfully Selselbeel wrote about her family? Look, look see what insights Hashem captured with his photos? Look, look can you believe little Ban memorized poetry about Palestine? Look, look how big are they smiling?

Things I learned today

After some great conversations (of course over shisha), I felt like sharing two stories that stuck with me – things I learned today from my friends, young Iraqis who now live and study in Jordan:

 

– Under Saddam’s regime, there were no mobiles, internet, or satellite tv. To call his family in the UK, my friend had to go to a public phone.. which was then easily monitored by the government.

– You couldn’t say anything bad about Saddam – or you would “actually” die. My friend’s uncle once made a joke about Saddam. A man who heard told the intelligence police (you were rewarded a car if you turned someone in), and then the uncle disappeared. He reappeared 6 months later, not talking or leaving his room. It wasn’t until long after that he was able to talk about the torture he endured..

 

My friends don’t talk about politics much.. this was in fact the first time we spoke about their home at length. Without putting any opinion on the US-led invasion & occupation of Iraq (which is less easily categorized, with my friends’ opinions varying).. its pretty clear Saddam Hussein was a terrible terrible dictator. Which, I guess, I had always thought was true.. but its a lot different hearing stories from a friend who lived it.

I still wonder how people laugh and joke when looking back on such hard (and in the case of Iraq, not yet resolved) times. It takes strong people, and maybe a certain light disposition. Whatever it is, my friends definitely have it.

“Yeah, but then Saddam..”

“(laughing) ahhh Allah yarhamu”  

“Yeah right – more like, god damn him”

 

 

 

Allah yarhamu – arabic pleasantry said whenever one mentions a dead person’s name, meaning something along the lines of God keep him