BIG CHALLENGES
BIGGER
SOLUTIONS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017
WELCOME FROM BARONESS NICHOLSON PAGE 3 ABOUT AMAR PAGE 4 EMERGENCY AID PAGE 7 FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE PAGE 8 LIFE-SAVING SERVICES PAGE 11 BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PAGE 12 SECURING BRIGHT FUTURES PAGE 16 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PAGE 17 WHAT’S NEW IN 2017 PAGE 18 SUPPORTERS IN ACTION PAGE 22 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW PAGE 24 Photographs by Angus Beaton, Robert Cole, Constantin Menier, Firas Al-Qasy, Amy Stallings Photography and Katie Welsford @AMAR International Charitable Foundation
BIG CHALLENGES: BIGGER SOLUTIONS 25 YEARS OF LIFE-CHANGING WORK IN THE MIDDLE EAST After three years of relentless violence and wanton destruction by the monsters of ISIS that has left thousands dead and three million poor souls displaced, there now seems to be light at the end of this particularly dark tunnel. At the time of writing, the allied forces had all but defeated the remaining terrorists, and there was optimism that the Iraqi government and its people could finally begin to look forward and rebuild their proud but beleaguered nation. They will need help of course, and they will need it in every aspect of their lives. AMAR has been helping rebuild people’s lives in Iraq for the last 25 years. A quarter of a century of experience means our teams on the ground - all local professionals and volunteers - are all at the very top of their game and ideally prepared for the massive challenges ahead.
Huge thanks to the Rumaila Operating Organisation, Shell Iraq, The US State Department, the EU-EIDHR and LDS Charities, Hunt Oil, VoLo Foundation, and St. Lazarus, without whom many of AMAR’s programmes would simply not have been possible. And this year, a very special and heart-felt thank you to the Emir of Kuwait whose incredible donation has enabled us to begin work on a state-of-the-art maternity hospital just north of Basra city centre. This 36-bed facility will be superb and is desperately needed in the region. It is due for completion in 2018 and will revolutionise pre and post-natal care there.
The Iraqi Government’s priority - quite rightly - will be trying to encourage great numbers of these unfortunate people to return home. AMAR must support this initiative, by helping to ensure their medical and educational needs are met. We will do all we can, but of course we need the funds to carry out our award-winning work.
So thank you Zain Iraq - our leading corporate sponsor - for your fantastic, unconditional support. Your donations are vital to our work across the Middle East, from the emergency operations in the North, to the training centres, schools, kindergartens, and religious tolerance programmes in the South.
>
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne VOICES OF AMAR BARONESS NICHOLSON OF WINTERBOURNE, AMAR FOUNDER
“
“
We already have superb support of course - from giant corporate and institutional household names, to the wonderful folks who walk up mountains, hold dinner parties, run exhausting races or just pick up the phone and generously donate - but we can always use more, to help more people in distress.
Finally, if you are reading this as a current AMAR supporter, thank you. If this article is the first you’ve heard of us, then please consider supporting our work. Please encourage your family, friends, and work colleagues to do the same!
I’d like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all our current sponsors, from the biggest to the very smallest, for their support this year.
3
ABOUT AMAR
DELIVERING ON OUR MISSION TO REBUILD LIVES AMAR is an award-winning charity that builds and improves the lives and livelihoods of some of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged people. Since 1991, we have provided professional health and education services on a sustained and lasting basis.
BIG CHALLENGE: RESTORING HOPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST With 25 years of expertise, AMAR’s teams are now working across Iraq delivering hundreds of thousands of medical consultations, providing vital emergency services, and ensuring thousands have access to education. From psychosocial support for war-scarred Iraqis and kindergartens for displaced children, to improved capacity of civil society organizations documenting human rights abuses, AMAR’s diverse and unique projects are helping to ensure that all needs are met.
ERBIL
BIGGER SOLUTION: OUR ALL-LOCAL TEAMS
BAGHDAD
Our all-local staff works across Iraq to rebuild lives turned upside down by conflict and instability. AMAR’s teachers, doctors, engineers, and health volunteers are all Iraqis - working around the clock to improve conditions for families who have lost everything. Every day, we are inspired by their enormous acts of courage to help others. Many of our staff members are displaced themselves - living in sprawling camps and unable to return home. They have suffered enormously. But with regular training and support they are being empowered to take action and make change in their country.
4
IRAQ
BASRA
25 YEARS
1000+ STAFF
3 OFFICES
Of life-changing work in the Middle East
All local to Iraq working & volunteering on AMAR projects
Supporting our Iraqi Teams in Basra, Baghdad, and Erbil
VOICES OF AMAR: SAIFALLAH AMAR DOCTOR IN ESSIAN CAMP
“
I couldn’t sit by and watch as ISIS destroyed millions of Iraqis’ lives. Fortunately, AMAR gave me the opportunity to use my medical skills to help others in my country. Every patient that I am able to treat is one less person in pain.
“
>
5
>
VOICES OF AMAR: NADIYA AMAR BENEFICIARY
“
Life under ISIS was terrible. Soldiers constantly used to pull out clumps of my son’s hair. It was just for amusement, they thought it was really funny. Now he is absolutely terrified of men. There was also no healthcare available for us, and as it got colder my son and newborn daughter were getting sicker and sicker. Eventually, we were able to escape. It was a terrifying journey and I was worried about the fate of my children, but immediately AMAR was right there, ready to help them. I am so relieved to see them both recovering, my nightmare is nearly over.
“
6
EMERGENCY AID RESPONDING IN TIMES OF CRISIS
BIG CHALLENGE: MEETING THE MOST URGENT NEEDS Immediate medical care is always a priority, as families find themselves living in overcrowded conditions where disease spreads quickly. With 5 emergency healthcare centers in both camp and non-camp settings, our experienced medical teams delivered thousands of consultations every day. We also ensured long-term assistance for Iraqis disabled by violence and the explosive remnants of war: 279 adults and children were provided with brand new wheelchairs, helping them to regain independence and significantly improve their quality of life.
BIGGER SOLUTION: EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT TEAMS 2016 saw significant gains against ISIS, with the liberation of cities such as Mosul and Fallujah. While free from ISIS control, liberated communities faced substantial challenges. Our Emergency Assessment Teams visited both the Sinjar and Ramadi regions, finding their healthcare and education systems almost entirely destroyed. Residents also faced a dangerous lack of electricity, clean water, and food supplies. In Ramadi, AMAR staff and volunteers worked through the night to distribute emergency supplies to 715 of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
>
VOICES OF AMAR: AMAR STAFF SMILES AT CHRISTMAS
“
In 2016, we were thrilled to be selected by Britain’s biggest selling daily newspaper as one of their Christmas charity partners. The Sun and its readers were immensely generous, donating an incredible $25,000 towards our emergency work and providing over $250,000 worth of toys for Iraqi children - helping to bring some much-needed smiles to children who have lost everything. Thank you!
279 WHEELCHAIRS
7,447 FAMILIES
5 HEALTH CENTERS
Delivered to adults and children to aid with mobility
Received essential supplies like food boxes and blankets
Serving thousands of patients in camps and surrounding areas
“
With armed conflict and political instability continuing to plague Iraq, millions of families face a constant battle for survival. Forced to flee their homes to escape violence, 10% of the population are now living as refugees in their own country and are without access to even the most basic of resources. Throughout 2016, AMAR’s Emergency Response Teams worked on the frontlines of the conflict, providing vital, life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands and delivering essential supplies to 7,447 families.
7
FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE FOR FAMILIES DISPLACED BY VIOLENCE
BIG CHALLENGE: DELIVERING ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES In October 2016, government forces launched an offensive to liberate Mosul from ISIS control. As street-to-street fighting consumed large areas of the city, hundreds of thousands of residents began to flee, risking terrifying journeys to save their families. But these were the lucky ones. In Mosul’s densely populated old city, residents quickly found themselves trapped by fighting and facing severe food, water, and medicine shortages.
BIGGER SOLUTION: EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS
In Qaymawa Camp, our team constructed, furnished, and opened a brand new, state-of-the-art healthcare center in just 10 days. Since opening, the clinic’s team of 10 doctors and nurses have delivered up to 400 medical consultations a day – including laboratory, ultrasound, and gynecological services. Elsewhere, AMAR mobile health clinics regularly visited vulnerable, displaced families, providing urgent healthcare in areas with limited medical assistance. From treating wounds and fractures to administering vaccinations and distributing essential supplies, our mobile health teams provided 1,279 consultations in just three months.
8
2.5+ YEARS
400,000 PEOPLE
50 PERCENT
Of brutal ISIS rule in the city of Mosul and the surrounding region
Displaced during the 7 months of fighting to liberate the city
Of all those displaced by violence are children under the age of 12
10 DAYS
712 FAMILIES
6,781 CONSULTATIONS
The amount of time it took to open a new Healthcare Center
Received emergency supplies to care for their infant children
Delivered per month at AMAR’s Health Center in Qaymawa Camp
>
VOICES OF AMAR: KHAMENA AMAR NURSE, QAYMAWA CAMP
“
It’s a disaster. So many people are fleeing Mosul, we have to do everything we can to help these families. My family was so lucky to escape the city just in time, but these people have had to live in terrible conditions for three whole years. When families arrive in the camp, they are scared and traumatized. I try to reassure them that they are safe and free from ISIS, and demonstrate that I am here for them. I want to help these neighbors of mine – we are, after all, one family in Iraq.
“
AMAR’s Emergency Response teams were on the ground immediately. As hundreds of thousands of displaced residents sought sanctuary in newly established camps across Iraq, AMAR teams quickly set to work providing much needed assistance. Immediately, more than 700 displaced families received baby supplies to ensure the youngest victims of conflict remain healthy.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT SHIKHAN HOSPITAL, DOHUK
Once a civilian hospital with just 50 beds, Shikhan Hospital quickly found itself on the frontlines of the fighting. As thousands fled their homes, Shikhan was the only working hospital that could treat the injured. Overstretched and struggling to cope with the rising numbers of wounded patients, the hospital was at a breaking point. AMAR quickly stepped in, providing an urgent delivery of medical equipment including hospital beds and nebulizers, helping to ensure that the hospital keeps running and that trauma casualties receive the specialist care that they urgently need.
9
>
VOICES OF AMAR: SHEIKH QUASSIM BENEFICIARY IN AL KHORA
“
Before AMAR built new water pipelines, my children’s health was always poor. I knew it was because of the dirty water we had to drink, but there was nothing I could do. Now there is clean water for us, my family is so much happier and they have not been sick in a long time.
“
10
264,271 CONSULTATIONS
39 NEW CENTERS
18,516 VACCINATIONS
Delivered by AMAR health providers to under-served communities
Providing psychological support to trauma victims in 2016 and 2017
Administered to children and adults via mobile clinics and PHCCs
51,307 BENEFICIARIES
45,752 CHILDREN
47,262 LAB SERVICES
Received public health eduction during community health sessions
Received child health consultations from doctors across AMAR’s facilities
Conducted for patients in need of advanced treatment
LIFE SAVING SERVICES PROVIDING CLEAN WATER AND TRAUMA THERAPY
Years of war and political instability have taken a terrible toll on Iraq’s healthcare provision. Many regions struggle to cope even with basic services and their hard-working professional staff are dangerously overstretched, leaving millions without access to essential care.
BIG CHALLENGE: FIGHTING THE INVISIBLE BATTLES
But physical healthcare isn’t the only challenge. Iraq’s population has been subjected to brutal violence, including indiscriminate bombings, summary executions, kidnap, torture, and rape, leaving millions scarred by their experiences. Women have been particularly victimized. With the number of psychological disorders rapidly rising, we immediately responded.
BIGGER SOLUTION: COMMUNITY WELL-BEING INITIATIVES Our ‘Escaping Darkness’ project established 10 new psychological support units in northern Iraq, trained 10 GPs and 20 social workers in trauma therapy, and delivered 2,824 professional consultations. The program was so successful that it was quickly expanded across Iraq, and in 2017 an additional 29 new psychosocial support units were opened. Committed to positive community wellbeing, AMAR’s teams initiated health projects across the country to improve quality of life in remote regions. More than 51,000 community members received simple but life-saving health education, equipping them with skills to stay healthy. Hospital staff from 13 Basra hospitals also received vital training in infection control, helping to ensure safe environments in existing healthcare facilities. In the village of Al Khora, AMAR’s infrastructure team also stepped in to refurbish and re-open the local water treatment plant to extend the piping of clean water to 1,000 households. The project provided over 7,000 local residents with clean drinking water, saving them from dangerous waterborne diseases.
>
VOICES OF AMAR: DHALFAA GYNECOLOGIST IN KHANKE CAMP
“
I’m originally from Mosul, but when ISIS arrived my family fled and now I live in Khanke Camp with my husband and our nine-year-old daughter. Our house in West Mosul has been completely destroyed by the fighting, and there’s nothing left for us there any longer. Here at AMAR’s clinic, I see over 150 women every day – there’s always a huge line outside my door. Without this clinic, there would be no support and the situation would be much, much worse.
“
AMAR is dedicated to rebuilding and boosting healthcare capacity across the nation. Providing high-quality clinics, health posts, and mobile units across Iraq, our doctors and nurses delivered more than 260,000 medical consultations in 2016.
11
HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES WITH WOMEN HEALTH VOLUNTEERS BIG CHALLENGE: HEALTH EDUCATION & ACCESS TO CARE
BIGGER SOLUTION: WOMEN HEALTH VOLUNTEERS WHVs play an integral part in our health service delivery. Local women are trained by expert medics to conduct regular visits to families within their communities, providing them with medical advice and equipping them with vital health knowledge. From advising parents to vaccinate their children and emphasizing the importance of hand-washing, to identifying symptoms of trauma and PTSD, our WHVs are performing crucial work delivering healthcare directly to the heart of Iraqi communities. In 2016, they made more than 329,000 health visits across Iraq. WHVs are also helping to strengthen female community participation. With regular training, women are empowered to engage with residents in their neighborhoods and to cultivate collaborative relationships to solve health-related problems. In 2016, our team of WHVs participated in 610 training sessions covering topics like how to assist pregnant women and spotting symptoms of jaundice. WHVs also receive a monthly stipend, helping them to financially provide for their own families.
12
>
VOICES OF AMAR: REWAQ FADIL HEAD OF AMAR’S WHV PROGRAM
“
I met three sisters, aged 20, 15 and 9, who lost their mother during a bombing campaign and each had suffered terrible injuries. I supported them daily for 6 months, helping them recover and heal, and I felt like I was a mother to them. We were able to help one girl get prosthetic legs and one to get surgery to repair her ruptured intestines. Life is so much better for them now.
“
Every year, thousands across Iraq die of preventable conditions such as diarrhea and respiratory illness. AMAR’s 659 Women Health Volunteers (WHVs) are working throughout the country, delivering simple but life-saving health education to put a stop to these unnecessary deaths.
610
659
49,677
Training sessions for WHVs teaching essential public health topics
AMAR Women Health Volunteers deployed in Iraqi communities
Families receiving regular at-home health visits from WHVs
>
VOICES OF AMAR: KHALIDA AMAR WHV IN ERBIL
“
Mosul has always been my home, but when ISIS arrived, my brother was killed and my sister was abducted. We had no choice but to flee. Today, our home is an abandoned building site – my husband, children, and I live with hundreds of others from Mosul. Working as an AMAR WHV is really important and I’m proud to be helping other families who, like me, have lost everything. The health advice I learn saves lives and stops unnecessary diseases, and sharing this with families is really fulfilling. Because of my work, I’m also gaining lots of knowledge and am managing to support my family during really difficult times. It makes me feel strong and like I can really make a difference!
“
13
>
VOICES OF AMAR: DANYA, AGE 5 AMAR STUDENT IN ERBIL
“
I love coming to school! My teacher is so nice, and I learn new things every day. Because of her, I want to be a teacher when I grow up. My best friend wants to be a doctor, so we pretend to play at ‘jobs’ after school!
“
14
2 MILLION
10 KINDERGARTENS
3,585 STUDENTS
Total number of children currently out of school in Iraq
Delivering educational opportunities to AMAR’s youngest students
Total students receiving educational services across AMAR’s schools
192 SCHOOLS
3,171 STUDENTS
39 IDP CHILDREN
Number of primary & secondary schools supported by AMAR
Participated in religious tolerance training sessions
Attending chess club and music classes after school
BRIGHTER FUTURES IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM
BIG CHALLENGE: STUDENT RETENTION & ENGAGEMENT Iraq’s crumbling educational infrastructure has become yet another casualty of the continuing violence. In 2016, more than two million children were out of school, and almost one in five schools were no longer functioning. In 2016, AMAR reaffirmed its commitment to helping Iraq’s children to achieve a brighter tomorrow. Girls in Iraq have been hit particularly hard by the current education crisis. Faced with lengthy and difficult journeys, as well as insufficient facilities and a lack of girls-only schools, many families have opted to keep their daughters at home.
BIGGER SOLUTION: SAFE SPACES TO LEARN AND PLAY AMAR sought to tackle this issue, constructing a brand new, state-of-the-art girls’ school in Al Nashwa, Basra for 540 girls ages 11-16. Prior to opening, AMAR also initiated an Education Awareness Campaign within the local community, advocating the importance of girls’ education amongst 6,117 families. As the number of children in need of education increased throughout the year, AMAR expanded its services for the country’s youngest children. By the end of the year, 10 kindergartens were in operation, providing some of Iraq’s most vulnerable students with free education and access to safe spaces to play and develop. Secondary school and university students also benefitted from AMAR’s education projects. 3,613 students attended our ground-breaking religious tolerance training courses in southern Iraq, equipping them with skills and knowledge to confront persecution and intolerance within their communities.
200
School children received soccer coaching
2
Brand new community soccer fields opened in Basra
>
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT NURTURING STUDENT SOCCER TALENT
Hundreds of young Iraqis now have access to soccer coaching and all-weather fields, thanks to AMAR’s latest project to provide children and adolescents with recreational facilities. The fields were constructed following requests from local communities, and are now allowing students to temporarily escape the instability surrounding them.
15
>
VOICES OF AMAR: KHADIA, AGE 17 AMAR SEWING GRADUATE IN SHARIYA
“
My family is originally from Sinjar. In 2014, we had to abandon our house to escape ISIS. My dad died on the journey, so now it’s my mom, me, and my twelve siblings. As the oldest child, I knew it was up to me to support everyone so I enrolled in AMAR’s sewing course. It taught me the skills I needed to set up my own fashion business, sewing clothes for women and girls. It’s been growing every day and now I even have my own workshop. I absolutely love my job, and can’t wait for my business to expand!
“
16
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JOB SKILLS TRAINING & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP BIG CHALLENGE: LIMITED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Having fled the war with just the clothes on their backs, millions of displaced Iraqis have limited financial means and are almost entirely reliant on international assistance. But across Iraq, AMAR’s free vocational and skills training programs aim to change this situation.
BIGGER SOLUTION: TRAINING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT With 13 training centers across the country providing courses in literacy, numeracy, English, computing, mobile and computer maintenance, sewing, hairdressing, and handicrafts, our instructors trained over 13,200 of the country’s most vulnerable adults in 2016. Catering to both displaced Iraqis and members of host communities, AMAR courses are bringing diverse individuals together, helping to promote greater community cohesion.
Of women in Iraq are unemployed
75 % Of Iraqis say addressing poverty is their most pressing need
23 % Of Iraqis live on less than $2.20 a day
VOICES OF AMAR, LEILA AMAR SEWING INSTRUCTOR IN BAHARKA
“
My house was beautiful. We built it ourselves. But when ISIS arrived one night, we had to flee and leave everything behind. They burnt down my house and all my neighbors’ houses immediately, we lost everything that night. Now I teach sewing to other women like me - women who have also lost everything. We create beautiful things out of our pain: clothes for our children, jewelry for our friends. It’s amazing to be helping people restart their lives while also restarting mine.
“
>
But having skills is not always enough to find work. Candidates also need to develop their confidence and business acumen. AMAR staff regularly organize employment workshops for trainees, inviting local business owners to provide advice on topics ranging from customer service to interview technique. Many course participants have succeeded in finding employment or in setting up their own businesses - enabling them to better support their families and decrease their reliance on foreign aid.
26.7 %
17
EVEN BIGGER
SOLUTIONS WHAT’S NEW FOR AMAR IN 2017
SPECIALIZED MATERNITY CARE IN BASRA In southern Iraq, infant and mother mortality rates have increased sharply because of a lack of maternal and child health services. In 2017, AMAR began the construction of a new, state-of-the-art maternity and pediatric hospital in Basra. Designed to serve up to 100,000 people living in the surrounding area, the hospital is due to open its doors in early 2018. TRAINING FEMALE SOCCER COACHES Strong women build strong communities. That’s why AMAR, together with British Football Association coach Sadiq Alwohali, has started training Iraq’s next top female soccer coaches. Over 25 women have taken part in the course, graduating with skills to coach and manage their own teams. EMERGENCY HEALTH NEEDS IN MOSUL ISIS' destruction of government buildings, schools, and health centers in Mosul and the wider Ninevah Plain has left the Iraqi government and leading NGOs facing a desperate race to reconstruct. Our Emergency Assessment team quickly identified a building in the city that could become a health center, with a special focus on disease prevention, first aid, and vaccinations. With planning for the new center underway, medical staff and Women Health Volunteers from the local area are now being recruited.
18
HEALTHCARE PROVISION IN ESSIAN CAMP When the Ministry of Health asked for assistance providing healthcare to residents in Essian Camp - most of whom are Yazidis displaced by ISIS - we immediately responded. The healthcare center was officially opened in 2017, and our dedicated medical team now provides medical and dental consultations, lab and pharmacy services, vaccinations, antenatal, and neonatal care. A NEW SCHOOL FOR BASRA’S ORPHANS In October 2017, work was completed on AMAR’s latest education project: a state-of-the-art Secondary School in Basra that will serve 500+ students. 10% of students enrolled will be orphans who will have the opportunity to receive a fantastic education completely free of charge. AMAR expects the percentage of orphaned children to increase over the next few years as the school becomes more successful. VITAL SUPPORT FOR BASRA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL In southern Iraq, rates of pediatric cancer can be as much as 8 to 10 times higher than in the U.S., and many patients are without essential medicines. In the spring of 2017, AMAR delivered toys, vital medicines, and equipment – helping to maximize the patients’ chances of recovery. CHESS PLAYERS MAKE A MOVE TO HELP IRAQIS
VOICES OF AMAR: SWAROMER AMAR NURSE IN QAYMAWA CAMP
“
“
>
Two of the world’s leading chess players traveled to Iraq in May 2017 to help displaced Iraqis overcome trauma. The two Grandmasters - Azerbaijan’s Farid Abbasov and Azar Mirzayev - visited several displacement camps to promote chess as a means to help victims of conflict recover from their ordeals. AMAR now has plans to expand chess as recreational therapy across the country.
It breaks my heart that so many people have had to flee their homes. I’m so lucky, and so this is why I have to help and feel that my work is so important.
19
WHAT AMAR MEANS TO ME... VOICES OF AMAR: KARMINA & NADA AMAR NURSES, KHANKE CAMP
“
For both of us, life is hard. We live in tents and sleep on the floor on very thin matresses. We don’t know what our futures will bring now. But thankfully AMAR has provided us with work, and gives us opportunities to train and learn new skills, and this helps us get through the day as we know we are helping others while helping ourselves.
“
VOICES OF AMAR: KHADIYA AMAR SEWING INSTRUCTOR
Ever since my home was bombed and my daughter badly injured, AMAR has stood by us. They have helped my daughter recover and walk again, and even assisted her in returning to school. I’m so happy to see her dreaming of her future again.
“
“
20
VOICES OF AMAR: HAMID BENEFICIARY IN BASRA
“
I would never be able to describe AMAR in just one word. It’s like a butterfly bringing color to our world by helping families recover and encouraging them to live happy and healthy lives.
“
“
AMAR built a football field near my house, so now I have somewhere to play with all my friends after school. One day I’ll play football for Iraq!
“
VOICES OF AMAR: NASIM AMAR STUDENT IN BASRA
Working at the INVEST Center, I realized how many women in Iraq are invisible. Most women don’t know about their rights. But AMAR helps them to the surface, and allows me to help them. I am so glad to be a part of it.
“
AMAR creates opportunities. Thanks to their education center in my village, I’ve been able to improve my literacy and numeracy skills. Since graduating, I’ve been promoted at work and my life is much easier.
“
“
VOICES OF AMAR: FADIL AMAR CENTER PARTICIPANT
VOICES OF AMAR: BATOUL AMAR SOCIAL WORKER IN ERBIL
“
“
VOICES OF AMAR: SAZGAR INVEST LEGAL CONSULTANT
To me, AMAR means psychological support. We don’t just put a bandaid on a problem, we heal people and help them recover.
21
“
SUPPORTERS IN ACTION Every year, donors and volunteers around the world amaze us by finding new and innovative ways to support our work. In 2016, we raised an amazing $518,123 through events ranging from poetry slams, races, and student parties, to annual gala dinners and fundraising campaigns. 2016 was one of our most successful years for public appeals. Our Escaping Darkness, Ramadan, Help Yazidis Home, Mosul, and Invest in Iraq appeals received significant public support and helped our teams deliver immediate relief to families in need. Meanwhile, thanks to the launch of our ‘My Baghdad Kitchen’ fundraising concept, our 2016 Ramadan Appeal was one of our most successful yet, raising enough for us to provide food parcels to over 900 displaced families in some of Iraq’s poorest and most disadvantaged communities.
>
VOICES OF AMAR: SARAH LARIBEE SULAYMANIYAH, IRAQ
“
“It was such a joy to do something so simple like running a race and asking our friends to join in the cause of loving the Yazidi people. We are so inspired by AMAR’s work and we were grateful for the opportunity to join in supporting the mental health of Yazidi women.
“
22
RUNNING TO REBUILD LIVES From New York to Erbil, hundreds of supporters laced up their shoes and ran the extra mile for AMAR in 2016. In Draper, Utah, AMAR joined forces with local refugee service organizations to pilot the first of several “Running2RebuildLives4Refugees” races – an event which saw huge support from the local community as runners raced to take part. HAFLA FOR HUMANITY Hafla for Humanity is a global network of belly dancers joining together to give back to communities with an enriching history of music and dance. In 2016, Hafla for Humanity chose AMAR to be its designated fundraising recipient. Groups of dancers and fundraisers all around the world, including locations in Indonesia, Zambia, the U.S., and London hosted events throughout the fall to raise awareness and funding for AMAR’s Escaping Darkness Program. Using the power of music and dance, these incredible women raised more than $10,000 in support for the project.
CROWDFUNDING FROM IRAQ Last October, in tandem with a 10K race in Erbil, Sarah Laribee and Susanna Johnson launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise support for AMAR. Both women live in Sulaymaniyah and teach English and literature at the School of the Medes and the American University of Iraq Sulaimani. They first learned about AMAR on Twitter and later saw AMAR’s work first-hand when they visited Khanke Camp in Dohuk. Recognising the great need for psychosocial support throughout the country, Sarah and Susanna reached out to friends and family, near and far, to raise funding for AMAR’s Escaping Darkness program. In just 3 weeks, they raised more than $8,300 from 80 donors, and Susanna placed 3rd overall in the race! STUDENT SUPPORT
COOKING FOR A CAUSE
VOICES OF AMAR: REEM FUNDRAISING FROM LONDON
“
“
>
Fundraising doesn’t have to be a solitary experience – it can be an activity enjoyed with friends! In Henley, a group of AMAR supporters teamed together to host regular social events including bridge nights, tennis tournaments, and a hugely successful golf day. Together, they raised an incredible $67,000 for our Escaping Darkness Appeal.
It was a privilege and pleasure to fundraise for AMAR. The atmosphere in the British 10k run was amazing, and I couldn’t have wished for a better way to raise funds and awareness of AMAR’s fantastic work!
Teaming up with British-Iraqi chef Philip Juma, we invited supporters to learn the art of some of Iraq’s most famous dishes while raising vital funds for our Ramadan Appeal. ‘My Baghdad Kitchen’ saw Iraqi fundraising dinners and iftars organized across the U.K. and U.S. – even in London’s Borough Market! – and helped feed hundreds of Iraqi families.
23
FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES * 90% PROGRAM SERVICES 9% MANAGEMENT & GENERAL 1% FUNDRAISING
TOTAL SUPPORT: $1,754,357
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS 71 % GOVERNMENT GRANTS 20% PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS 6% FUNDRAISING EVENTS 3% OTHER SUPPORT
* Functional Expenses are based on a 5-year average for AMAR U.S. ** AMAR ICF in London spent 90% on Projects, 8% on Management & General, and 2% on Fundraising, and also generated a total of £5,443,892 in financial support in 2016.
24
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW | AMAR U.S
AMAR strives to ensure every penny donated is spent where it is needed most - on projects that rebuild lives scarred by conflict, political instability, and natural disaster. Throughout 2016, AMAR continued to deliver ground-breaking work in the most cost-effective way possible.
$.10
the total cost to deliver 1 life-saving vaccination
$.75
the cost to give 1 maternal health consultation
VOICES OF AMAR: GENERAL PETER W. CHIARELLI FORMER VICE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE US ARMY
“
“
>
$.53
cost to send 1 child to kindergarten for 1 day
I think the thing that is probably the most important is that what AMAR built was sustainable - what we were trying to build was unsustainable. Everything was auditable. The Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction said that it was the best spent $2 million that they had seen.
25
IT’S ALL THANKS TO YOU!
Our work providing healthcare, emergency aid, and education assistance is only possible thanks to the generous support of our partners, sponsors and supporters across the world. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for their support in 2016. CORPORATIONS, TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS
UNICEF UNFPA
ZAIN BP/ROO Shell LDS Charities Hunt Oil VoLo Foundation Order of St. Lazarus VITOL Foundation Barbara Barrington Jones Foundation Penny Appeal Olive Group Weir Group Consolidated Contractors Rothschild Foundation St. James Place Foundation Gardaworld Basra Gas Company HWH SSH Clyde & Co. DWF SKA Central Park Control Risks
EVENT SUPPORTERS
INSTITUTIONS U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor Europeaid
ManSat The Savoy Hotel SIM Hamilton Partners The Iraqi Embassy to the UK Porta Communications The London School Of Economics Rag Society Brandenburg Choral Festival Towne Storage Borough Market Imperial College London Chatham House
Jane Evans Dr. Inas Dair Hussein Al-Alak John & Judy Niepold Bryan Bishop Haven & Quinn Barlow III Christian Hoyer Miller Traci & Derek Roberts Rosemarie & Richard Boothby Subhi Khudairi Philip Juma Joseph Hayat Siddik Bakir Charlie Ensor Mehreen Khan Mays Alsaad Reem Al-Saadi Sarah Taylor
INDIVIDUALS
EVENT SUPPORTERS CIRCLES
Hadi & Cihan Nezir John Gladwin Jillie & Stephen Drucker Haven & Amy Barlow II Clayton & Marla Foulger Gary & Kathy Free H.E. Mr. Frank Baker Obe Bruce & Jean Bingham James & Kathy Mcqueen Joseph & Kathleen Sorenson Doug & Kristelle Young
Jillie Drucker, Henley Cathy Nicholls, Henley Louise Hayes, Henley Pam Mansergh, Henley Stephanie Gibbons, Henley Jenifer Copeland, Henley Justine Kingham, D.C. Patricia Morgan, D.C. Gary & Kathy Free, Utah Sharlene Hawkes, Utah Louise Brown, Utah
Becky Briggs, Utah John Olson, Utah Rob Sautter, Utah Nada Al-Hussona, Dubai Nada Hassan, Dubai Colette Mccann, Dubai Zahra Nasralla, Dubai Nadine Akkawi, Beirut Joy Abi Habib, Beirut Rima Baasir, Beirut Jennifer Farhat, Beirut Nivine Maktabi, Beirut Lubna Mourabet, Beirut Rima Nawfal, Beirut
AMAR ICF DIRECTORS Dr. Hayder Hassan Damon Parker Dr. Theodore Zeldin Douglas Benedict The Rt Revd Dr. Alastair Redfern Canon Dr. Edmund Newell
AMAR U.S. DIRECTORS Chris Straub Missy Cascells-Hamby Chris Stott Jim Olson Dr. Roberto Nang Alison Hills Dr. Kazem Behbehani
“
“
A NOTE OF THANKS ARAB PROVERB
If you have much, give of your wealth. If you have little, give of your heart.
Thank you to all the incredible donors, volunteers, and advocates that worked tirelessly to support our work and promote our cause. You are helping to truly rebuild lives in the Middle East.
27
CONTACT AMAR U.S.
AMAR U.S. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit registered in the District of Columbia. EIN 27-1871182
HEAD OFFICE - WASHINGTON D.C. T E W
+1 (202) 638 0330 washingtondc@amarfoundation.org www.amarfoundation.us www.facebook.com/amarus @AMAR_ICF_USA
REGIONAL OFFICE - UTAH T +1 (385) 204 2006 E utah@amarfoundation.org
CONTACT AMAR I.C.F. Charity number 1047432
HEAD OFFICE - LONDON T E W
+44 (0) 207 799 2217 london@amarfoundation.org www.amarfoundation.org facebook.com/amar.ldn @AMARLondon
REGIONAL OFFICE - LEBANON E lebanon@amarfoundation.org W www.amarfoundation.org AMAR I.C.F. and AMAR U.S. are separate legal entities