We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of our fundraising campaign to support the Summer of Hope program, providing educational enrichment for 25 conflict-affected children in Sulaymaniyah.

Partnering with the Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF), we had a goal of raising $20,000 in order to make this dream a reality. In a time where U.S. aid to Iraq has all but vanished, leaving those who relied on this assistance with an unstable path forward, this goal seemed lofty, but all the more necessary.

Ultimately, 84 valued supporters donated a total of $7,895 to the cause. Each and every contribution to the project helped to catch the attention of Sulaymaniyah’s own Vim Foundation. With their generous support, we were able to achieve our $20,000 fundraising goal.

Although Summer of Hope was initially developed as a program to aid young girls, this gift to close the funding gap also made it possible to include six boys in the programming.

Thanks to the selfless support of our donors and those who helped spread the word about the Summer of Hope initiative, the participants will have access to eight weeks of educational programming, including English and STEM classes, leadership workshops, and mentorship from American University of Iraq, Sulaymaniyah (AUIS) students. In the past, the Summer of Hope programs have helped young girls to realize their passions; like Banu (15), a Syrian refugee who discovered her love of engineering with the help of her AUIS mentor. Anyone who supported our crowdfunding effort helped to tell these children that their futures matter.

Halbast Abdullah, Summer of Hope’s project lead in Sulaymaniyah, shared a few words for these supporters.

“From the heart of this project here in Kurdistan, I want to thank you all deeply. Your support means more than words can express. With full funding, we saw an opportunity to include boys who face profound isolation in state care. This program gives all these children what every child deserves: space to imagine, tools to grow, and mentors to help them lead. Together, we’re building something truly powerful.”

This is how peace grows: one healed heart, one child educated and inspired, one community at a time.

For a more detailed report on the Summer of Hope program, from the moment EPIC joined Ms. Halbast and her team to make this year’s program into a reality to the closing ceremony, visit the full report at AUIS.

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