Two years ago today, tens of thousands of Iraqis began turning out at Baghdad’s Tahrir (“Liberation”) Square to peacefully demand their rights. They were sick and tired of being sick and tired of their government’s failure to fight corruption, deliver basic services, or create enough jobs for the 500,000 or more young people entering the […]
Category: Fundraising
EVENT: “The Long Game: Iraq’s ‘Tishreen’ Movement and the Struggle for Reform”
On October 1, 2019, a broad-based protest movement demanding systemic political reform took hold in Iraq. Activists dubbed their movement Tishreen from the Arabic word for October. Iraqi security forces and militias backed by Iran responded with lethal force, killing hundreds of protesters and wounding many thousands more. And yet the protests persisted, peacefully forcing […]
Our Appeal for a Brighter, Safer New Year
As the New Year begins, we have a special opportunity to double our impact for lasting peace in Iraq. Two generous EPIC supporters have agreed to match all gifts up to $15,000! With this opportunity, you can help make 2x the impact in 2021. In Sinjar, we are empowering community-based activists to use creative story-telling […]
Spark Joy on #GivingTuesday
A spark of joy. That’s what every child expresses when he or she receives a gift, and that’s what we feel every time EPIC makes a positive difference in the lives of children and families. For this #GivingTuesday, if you have not already done so, we invite you to join us in making a lasting […]
Update on our Campaign for #IraqCOVIDRelief
Earlier this month, we kicked off our #IraqCOVIDRelief fundraiser that will aid two hospitals fighting the spread of COVID-19 in Mosul, Iraq. As of today, we are over 20% of the way towards our $30,000 goal! And it gets better. Thanks to two generous supporters, right now all donations will be matched dollar for dollar. […]
Help Protect Mosul and Fight the Spread of COVID-19
From the start, EPIC has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak in Iraq. Early on, we sounded the alarm about the threat to Iraq’s health care system and more recently, the exponential rise in cases with health care workers being twice as likely to contract the virus. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, the response by the […]
Three Ways Your Support Can Save Lives and Help Iraq
We are one world. Iraq is us and we are Iraq. The world heritage of the land between two rivers is interwoven into the very fabric of who we are — from humanity’s early quest for meaning (the Epic of Gilgamesh) to our pursuit of knowledge (Ibn al-Haythem‘s embrace of the scientific method). Likewise, our […]
Help make 2020 a better year for Iraq!
Iraq is at a crossroads. One path leads to the hopeful, democratic vision of Iraq’s youthful majority as we’ve seen expressed by mass rallies in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square and across Iraq. The other path leads to the continued violence, dysfunction, and corruption of autocratic rule. And now, at this fateful hour, the belligerent actions of […]
JOIN EPIC FOR AN EVENING OF SOLIDARITY WITH IRAQIS PRESSING FOR GENUINE REFORMS
Tahrir Square in Baghdad, the heart of the Iraqi anti-government movement is covered in creative displays of protest art, culture, and community. Tahrir Square in Baghdad sits at the heart of the Iraqi anti-government protest movement that has swept through Iraq for the past two months. Amid increasingly violent responses from security forces, demonstrators have […]
From Baghdad to EPIC’s Board Presidency
By Zeena Abdul-Rahman, EPIC Board President Veteran EPIC Board Member Bilal Wahab snaps a selfie at EPIC’s April 2019 Board Retreat. Behind Bilal from left-to-right: EPIC Executive Director Erik Gustafson and Board members Taif Jany, Hussein Al-Baya (Treasurer), Dennis Eóghan Clancey, Zeena Abdul-Rahman (President), Sören Südhof, Kate Phillips-Barrasso (Vice President), Yasmeen Alamiri, and David Slater. […]