Volunteer Programs in Iraq

Despite what we see on the news, parts of Iraq teem with life; mountain ranges, waterfalls, and the fertile lands between rivers all provide home to peaceful people who pride themselves on their culture and history. Kurdistan, a region that covers Northern Iraq and parts of Syria, Turkey, and Iran is one of the safest places to travel in the Middle East and offers glorious insight into an ancient culture.

Erbil is the mountain-encircled capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is heralded as one of the safest cities within Iraq and enjoys a culture unique to its non-Kurdish neighbors. Their relatively new government has changed the city’s way of life and with vibrant markets, giant mosques, a UNESCO World Heritage citadel, and dozens of sculptures throughout the city it is one of the more enriching ways to experience the Middle East.

Erbil may be the legal capital, but As Sulaymaniyah is the cultural capital in South Kurdistan. It has boasted great poets, writers, historians, scholars, and singers from its establishment in 1784—a culturally significant place for you to volunteer in Iraq. Two independently-run newspapers and political magazines are the hallmark of the city’s continuing commitment to creativity and free expression. Both men and women attend university and are vocal about their views.

As rural Kurds move to nearby cities, Dihok has grown to be one of the main cities in Kurdistan. It sits near the Mosul Dam along the Tigris River and is a center for the 18 refugee camps that surround the city. The city itself has several large universities, including the American University of Kurdistan, as well as one of the largest churches in the region, several amusement parks, zoos, and the Dihok Valley and Dam. Dolma-fueled picnics in the countryside are common, particularly during the festivals of Nawroz and Eid.