17 May Supporting Women’s Shelter

When our organization co-founders were graduate researchers in a peacebuilding seminar between New York University and the University of Duhok (in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq), many of their research participants were women living at a shelter-of-last resort within the Kurdistan Regional Government’s established system to combat violence against women.

As a result of those findings, they felt called to do more. And so our organization was established as a jointly-connected US-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and a Kurdistan-local NGO.

A primary goal of our mission is, and has always been, to supplement the needs of the women currently living at the shelter who so warmly opened their doors to the co-founders as graduate researchers, and also to assist the professionals who work there every day 

Our ongoing efforts are pictured here, when co-founder Erika Bak Schulten recently visited the region to connect with the local organization members, along with co-founder Shilan Shawkat Almahmada! We are proud to have provided new clothing, toiletries, and meaningful gifts to every woman living there, and left a supply of the same packages for future residents. Additionally, we provided a large donation of children’s toys, art supplies, and outdoor equipment for the children who live there accompanying their mothers in the shelter. We also hosted a cake and beverage reception for the residents and staff to give a moment of solace and face-to-face empowerment.