Christmas 2021 Iraq Mental Health Project.

Decades of war, terrorism and displacement have levied a terrible price on ordinary families in Iraq, leaving millions of families destroyed. In 2019, Beyond Conflict agreed to work with the internationally respected British Iraqi charity, the Al Khoei Foundation through its subsidiary the Al Kawthar widows and orphans charity. The Al Khoei Foundation is led by Yousif Al-Khoei OBE who has been a leader in Middle Eastern humanitarian work for several decades. Maha Rida MBE runs Al Kawthar, which has helped thousands of women and children across Iraq.

For Christmas 2021, Al Kawthar, aided by BC funding, ran a two week project in the cities of Najaf and Karbala under the renowned Canadian psychotherapist Berak Hussain, also known online as “The Muslim Counsellor”. She is an AK Ambassador and has a reputation for advocating on mental health within the Muslim community. Sixty families were helped by this project which delivered mental health workshops and training as well as some practical help for children. Part of the money for this project was raised by the pupils of Trinity School, Croydon who wrote Christmas cards to the children in Najaf. In turn, the children responded with their own messages of thanks to Trinity.

In 2023 Beyond Conflict hopes to work with Berak and Al Kawthar on another follow up trip to Iraq to help more families there. Your help is making a real difference to these lives. Thank you.