Education for Peace in Iraq Center

FIELD-BASED PROJECTS: Empowering Diversity and Democratic Participation in Ninewa: In 2023, EPIC continued to carry out a field project with SGP-International focused on supporting locally based policy research and advocacy in Iraqs Ninewa/Mosul region, an area still recovering after many years of war. Through a series of trainings and one-on-one mentoring, EPIC equipped eleven local activists with skills in research, policy writing, and advocacy. By empowering communities to better petition their own local government, EPIC is helping to enhance engagement with their elected officials to address local needs. With EPICs support, the 11 young activists organized themselves into 6 advocacy teams, with each team working on a locally focused issue. Those issues include life-threatening shortage of essential medicine and medical equipment at Sinjars Snuni General Hospital, the failures to enforce fire safety laws in Qaraqosh where a wedding fire in September 2023 killed 140 attendees, and the lack of available evening classes for intermediate school (grades 7 - 9) and secondary school (grades 10 - 12) youth who have to work during the day to support their families. More information about the project is available via: https://enablingpeace.org/advocacy-training // Field office in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Throughout the year, EPIC invested in the ongoing staffing, operations, and development of its field office in Erbil. The office played a role in supporting EPICs ground-breaking research, implementation of field projects, and building relationships with international donors, Iraqi activists and beneficiaries, civil society organizations, and potential new partners.

RESEARCH & EDUCATION PROGRAM:Conducted groundbreaking research to better understand Iraq. In 2023, EPIC was commissioned by Lithuania Aid and our long-time partner, the Iraq Health Access Organization (IHAO), to conduct a research study on the current state of vocational education in Iraq. EPICs research will, in turn, guide a program to modernize infrastructure, curriculum development, and teaching methods at two select vocational schools. The goal is to better equip and empower local youth with skills for their districts job market. // Provided ongoing monitoring of developments in Iraq, including militia violence, kidnappings of environmental activists, and climate-related displacement. In 2023, EPIC published 46 weekly (and two bi-weekly) editions of the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor (ISHM). Those updates reached thousands of journalists, aid workers, policy professionals and other readers in the U.S., Iraq, and around the world. // Podcasting, communications, and internships: EPICs Research and Policy Program also included promotion of EPICs Iraq Matters podcast; our internship program offering university undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to spend a semester researching and writing for EPIC; and communications and public outreach to enhance understanding about the people and cultures of Iraq, the peace and development needs of the country, and the part that concerned Americans can all play to help make a difference. // Through all these activities, EPIC continued to educate policymakers, scholars, aid workers, journalists, and other Iraq watchers with a deeper understanding of Iraq, highlighting important developments and trends impacting the people of Iraq and the region, often with direct policy implications for the U.S. and international community.