Ambassadors of Hope

FIELD UPDATE

Life in Kurdistan is community-based. The camps for the displaced are arranged around former villages in Shingal so as to keep the scattered communities together. This has both benefits and downsides. Take Qadiya Camp, for example. The atmosphere across the camp is incredibly heavy, to the point of depression. When we go to visit our students who live there, even for a brief time, we head home heavy in spirit and usually with a splitting headache. It's the camp of the dead, the camp of Kojo Village, the village of mass graves. It is the camp where the memory of the dead spills over into the lives of the living. It's a very hard place to live precisely because it represents community, both of the living and the dead.

We cannot escape "community," nor would we want to. Those who have been uprooted from their villages and lost everything need community. They find strength in togetherness. This is one reason why, several times a week, we bus in mainly orphaned students from camps all across the province, giving them the social connections, from village to village, that they need. Connection is belonging, and belonging is empowering.

This is also a strong element of our sports program. Yes, it is a day-to-day program for the children of Shariya Camp, giving them a mental and physical outlet and a framework that helps shape their daily routines and habits. It is also a forum for broader connection, restoring village-to-village and camp-to-camp relationships between people who otherwise would have little opportunity to meet outside of a football championship or volleyball tournament.

In our society, the choice of a sports coach is key. It is not simply a matter of qualifications, but of standing within the community, life experience, and the ability to mentor broken children and teenagers. It is almost a parental role, or one similar to that of a shepherd who carries both staff and rod in his guiding hand.

Shex Sirwan is our coach, a watchful big brother to our children and to many others in neighboring camps. Every couple of months he hosts championships, welcoming teams from camps throughout Duhok Province to Springs of Hope Foundation. They come for the game, which is serious business (for some, an issue of honor). But they also come for connection. 

They don't arrive in shiny, air-conditioned buses but in dusty pickup trucks that may have transported sheep an hour before the players climbed aboard. Connection over comfort. We asked some of the players to comment on their preparation and the event itself. We want to share a brief insight into the value of sports as a means of social connection.

"I am Mahdi, age 23, from Khanke Camp. My team did not win, but that's not so important to me. The champions, Cham Mishko, deserved their victory. I learned much about myself during the volleyball championship. I saw how my life values reflect my sports principles. Honor, respect, commitment, and dedication are the principles by which I live.

I witnessed the transformative power of hope through sports. We were not merely players or participants in a game. We were Ambassadors of Hope. Whenever Springs of Hope hosts an event, all the sports teams pay attention and attend. They create an atmosphere of respect between the teams, each representing a different camp, which motivates everyone to participate.

We miss the days when we could visit our friends in the next village. Today we are scattered apart. Springs of Hope brings us together. We value the connection just as much as the game. I respect the way Shex Sirwan and the entire SOHF team notice and care for every detail. They see the player who is struggling or in need of support and are quick to respond with encouragement.

The moments just before the game are difficult. We all want to prove ourselves by winning. It is during these moments that they show themselves to be just and fair, giving us confidence and enthusiasm both on and off the field. They give us hope.

As I said, my team lost. I did not hold the victor's cup, but I left with an immeasurable victory in knowing that hope is the deciding factor. Hope is the school of life. Hope leads us on. I learned that a championship is far more than a game. It is only partly about who wins. I learned that living in hope is a choice, one that continues long after the whistle has blown. He who has hope has victory.

Thank you, Springs of Hope."

"My name is Ayman. I worked alongside Shex Sirwan as a referee, recording match scores and being present at every game to judge fairly. The championship reflected the character of Springs of Hope: fairness, integrity, high moral standards, peace, and hope.

The enthusiasm of all the players from every camp was tangible. They all spoke about the beauty of their experience inside the Hope Center, a place filled with joyful color and a peaceful atmosphere. Many commented on how much they needed a 'time out' from camp life. Although the Hope Center is situated within Shariya Camp, it feels like a different world, one filled with life and a future. It does not carry the stagnation of the camps.

Our sincere thanks to Springs of Hope for its unwavering belief in the power of hope to unite people and create lasting, positive change, even through sports."

"Hello. I am Fahad, age 19, from Shariya Camp. Living in a tent for twelve years is hard, even depressing. I miss the ability to connect with peers who live and think as I do. I miss both emotional and intellectual connection.

I welcomed the recent volleyball championship as something far greater than a game. It was life-giving. Every match allowed me to reunite with friends and breathe freely. Springs of Hope looks beyond the game. Its vision extends far beyond tournaments. It looks toward the future, teaching us discipline as lovers of sport and helping prepare us for life beyond the camps.

Thank you for constantly opening new doors for us, expanding our horizons, and giving us a living hope that we carry long after the final game ends."

"I am honored and excited to host championships for players and supporters from all over the province. I love watching the pickups and minivans arrive as the players pour out, immediately reuniting with long-lost friends. 

These sporting events open new horizons. The barbed-wire fences surrounding the camps seem to disappear, and our center fills with aspirations of reaching an international level. Supporters arrive with every team, and Shariya Camp turns out for every match, providing motivation and encouragement to every player.

I am so proud to see the work of Springs of Hope reflected on the field through sports. The Hope Center is not simply a venue for tournaments. It is the beating heart that provides confidence, safety, and determination from the moment the players arrive until the final whistle.

We provide every player with an environment that encourages discipline, self-control, and respect. Before each game, Nurse Fawzi teaches about safety on the field. We ensure that every player knows he has value regardless of the outcome of the game.

These championships have become a special event in the life of the camp. Everyone follows the matches and the standings and wants to know the date of the next competition. In the hours after each game, we listen to everyone's 'professional' opinions and analyses.

As an organizer, I feel deeply satisfied that we have succeeded in providing a safe space where players can develop their talents and compete with confidence. We have earned their appreciation and respect, and it is a joy to watch them shine on the playing field.

I thank you for your support, which enables us to bring displaced communities together through sports. God bless you all."

-Shex Sirwan, Coach

Thank you, dear friends, for your support, your encouragement, your prayers, and for entrusting us with your financial support. Without you, we would be no more than dreamers. Because of your partnership, hope is no longer just an idea; it is a tangible force propelling our tribe onward and upward. As we watch the days grow darker, our Ambassadors of Hope are taking their place.