About Springs of Hope Foundation
Here at Springs of Hope Foundation (SOHF) we live the radical beauty of transformation and restoration. These aren't mere words from a dictionary, these are facts of our life here amongst thousands of torn, worn out tents. People who are becoming whole having been broken by hate.
Broken lives don't mend overnight, which is why we are here for the very long haul. Broken lives need patience, they require us to sit very quietly on the sidelines, no agenda, just to be, waiting for that moment when the process of healing is ready to begin and then to help with great wisdom and care.
We are a team of 20 staff, Yezidi and Muslim who do family together, who make a daily choice for peace, who make a daily choice to live amongst the most vulnerable and to embrace the most dangerous into our family.
We are not the ones who " do it" or take the headlines . Our time and effort is poured into the broken so that they become the glue and the cement in the rebuilding process of their communities.
Our passion is to see them raised up and embracing their future.
Our invitation to you, is not to fear those who are unknown on the other side of the world. Our challenge is not to fear that which appears dark or way too big. Our innvitation to you is to reach out, join our ever growing family, listen to their voices, follow their successes. Be part of their journey from brokenness to leadership.
WHO ARE WE
We're the guys who love peace but live in a war zone. We do life within a centre which is an oasis placed between hundreds of refugee tents in a 20,000 person refugee camp.
We’re there to be the antidote to a region brimming with ancient hate and prejudice. We’re the gentle infusion of love, hope and future to hundreds of youth and women who have been rescued from captivity in the black caliphate of neighbouring countries.
We’re there because we believe in change and legacy. We want our kids to look back one day with pride and not shame, and say “ Hey they turned up . They broke the silence and apathy of the world and picked up and did something that counted”. We want to be the change in this crazy region. Read about our mission and vision and find out how we live change.
SOHF is USA 5O1C3 nonprofit organization based in Northern Iraq. We are also a registered NGO in Baghdad, Iraq, and in Erbil within the Kurdish region of Iraq.
Our Team
Lisa Miara
Founder/ PresidentDr Saeed Khudeida Alo
Chief Executive Officer/ DirectorMusa Asaad
General Manager/ Director of Hopefully, YoursSalam Shewekar
Director of The Hope CentreSahla Jassm
Assistant Director, The Hope Centre / Director, ESL DepartmentShex Khalid
Director of The Rainbow ZoneNatik Salim
Director of MusicEvan Haji
Photography TeacherNoori Saeed
Director of PsychotraumatologyKhero Khudeida
House FatherKajen Zerevan
Computer Science TeacherBassima Alsmoqy
NurseAvya Qaidy
PlaytherapyShex Sirwan Haji
Sports CoachLatifa Murad
Co-Director, The Hope FactorySalwa Sleman
Co-Director, The Hope FactoryBashiq Hassan
English TeacherVagar Sharya
Music / DAF TeacherSteven Shikery
Music / Play TherapistSami Kocho
Gardener / FarmerAras Barwary Esq.
Chairman, Kurdistan and Iraq BoardsDr. Karim Kamal
Director, Kurdistan and Iraq BoardsLindy
Chairman, US BoardNorma
Director, USA BoardDr. Rick
Director, USA BoardLarry
Director / Accountant, USA BoardTracey
SecretaryAdam Collett
Senior AdvisorTracey Schlafer
Fundraising DirectorPat Bull
International ESL VolunteerSue Robbins
International ESL VolunteerAnnMarie Kokash
International ESL VolunteerKim Flint
Director, The Garden at Shariya CampRozha Saeed
Local VolunteerSufyan Sulaiman
Local VolunteerFady Badal
Local VolunteerAdel Hussein
Local VolunteerOUR MISSION
Is to see the the 450 Yezidi women, youth and kiddies who cross our threshold every day, those who are victims of genocide and crimes against humanity, be restored, rehabilitated and empowered, taking their place the future leaders of their community and region ( their voices being a powerful awake up call to the world ), healed, educated, trained and fully engaged lives.