The Halabja Community Playground: We’re working with the children and adults in Halabja, Northern Iraq to build a playground. Since 2009 we’ve been raising money and resources her in the UK and then taking those and specialist expertise out to Halabja where we’re empowering the local community to build their own playground for their community. [...]
History of the project: In March 2008, while photo documenting the 20th anniversary of the Halabja massacre for the Kurdish Human Rights Project, Tom Carrigan spent two weeks living with the family of Nariman Ali Mohammad . Nariman Ali is a local community representative and Deputy Director of the Halabja Monument who acted as guide and translator. [...]
Halabja: Halabja is a Kurdish town in southeast Kurdistan, making up the northern part of Iraq. The city is situated next to the Hewraman mountain range close to the border with Iran at the end of the fertile Sharazoor plain. This is a rich farmland where the Kurds have grazed their animals and grown their [...]
The team in Halabja: Nariman Ali: Co founder of the project, a translator and community representative. Kdher Kareem: Mayor of Halabja and Iraq representative to Mayors for Peace Kwestan Akram: Deputy Mayor. Warzer Mohamad: Sports teacher and our first “playworker” on site from Halabja. Saryas Ali: School teacher and social journalist. Saryas is well respected in [...]
The builders: The project is led by an experienced multi-skilled team of carpenters, builders, and play consultants from the UK. However, for this project to be a success it must be run as a partnership with workers from the community in Halabja. Skilled translators, teachers, tradesmen and playground site staff from the town have contributed [...]
Looking ahead: Since the staff returned to the UK in the Spring of 2009 the Project has worked hard to raise funds through corporate sponsorship and private donations to achieve the next target. £23,750 has been raised in funds and over £4,000 through gifts ‘in-kind’ since the start of the project through the generosity of [...]
We are a small UK-based charity building an adventure playground in Halabja, Northern Iraq. We have helped the local people decide what sort of playground they want. With their help we have dug the foundations. With the help of our supporters we’re getting the materials and equipment to make the children of Halabja’s dreams a reality. With your help we can get do that even faster and ensure the playground can continue to run. Please help in any way you can.
