Amar International Charitable Foundation In The United States Of

ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL HELPS PEOPLE IN AREAS OF CONFLICT, CIVIL DISORDER AND DISRUPTION, REBUILDING LIVES WITHIN COMMUNITIES UNDER STRESS BY CREATING AND SUSTAINING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN MEDICINE, PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND BASIC NEED PROVISION.

ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL ESTABLISHED SIX INCLUSIVE VOCATIONAL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS TRAINING (INVEST) CENTERS IN BABIL, DOHUK, ERBIL, NAJAF, BAGHDAD AL-RUSAFA, AND BAGHDAD AL-KARKH IN JANUARY 2016. THE PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE VULNERABILITY OF DISPLACED PEOPLE AND THE BURDEN PLACED ON HOST COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SKILLS THAT ASSIST IN THEIR ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. TO INCREASE THEIR EMPLOYABILITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, EACH CENTER OFFERED CLASSES IN ENGLISH, IT/COMPUTER SKILLS, ARABIC/KURDISH LITERACY, MATH, SEWING, HAIRDRESSING, AND COMPUTER AND MOBILE PHONE MAINTENANCE. SINCE THE CENTERS SERVED BOTH DISPLACED PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES, ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL PROVIDED HANDICRAFT CLASSES TO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AND TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED TRAUMA. THE CENTERS OFFERED WEEKLY EDUCATIONAL LECTURES ON HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS, AND FULL-TIME LAWYERS WERE AVAILABLE TO OFFER LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO CENTER PARTICIPANTS. KINDERGARTEN AND DAYCARE SERVICES OFFERED AT EACH CENTER PROVIDED A SAFE AND RELIABLE SPACE FOR WOMEN TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN, ALLOWING THEM TO ATTEND CLASSES.

ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL ESCAPING DARKNESS INITIATIVE BEGAN IN 2015, PROVIDING PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN FOUR GOVERNORATES SPANNING IRAQ TO VICTIMS SUFFERING FROM SUSTAINED MENTAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA. 36 PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT UNITS (PSUS) OPERATED IN EXISTING GOVERNMENT AND ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL-RUN MEDICAL CENTERS, CONSISTING OF ONE GENERAL PRACTITIONER (GP) AND TWO COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIAL WORKERS (CBWS). TO REDUCE STIGMA AND ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CULTURAL DISCOURSE ON MENTAL HEALTH, ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL ENGAGED IN SCHOOLS AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO BROADCASTING MENTAL HEALTH-FOCUSED RADIO PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO COMMUNAL PSYCHOSOCIAL BENEFIT AND COMMUNITY COHESION, THESE ACTIVITIES ALSO PROVIDED PATHWAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REACH OUT TO ESCAPING DARKNESS STAFF FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT.

IN APRIL 2015, ASPIRE INTERNATIONAL BEGAN WORKING WITH A CONSORTIUM OF PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT THE HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTATION INITIATIVE (HRDI), A PROJECT AIMING TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF IRAQ'S CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOS) TO DOCUMENT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED BY ALL SIDES OF THE CURRENT CONFLICT AND ACTIVATE REPOSITORIES FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO FUTURE TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE PROCESSES.