As part of our ongoing commitment to building active citizenship and strengthening grassroots networks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, our local partners have continued to push forward with vital initiatives in media accountability, environmental protection, and legal literacy.
By Shatoo Kameran and Isis Eligbali, 05.06.2026
(Picture: Media Training, Source: Wadi)
Our partners have also been working to strengthen their own connections as a network and their technical capacity by participating in a two day media training. All of this incredible work took place in the very difficult context of the Israel-Iran War, closed airspace, rising fuel costs, drone attacks and closed businesses and schools. Although partners felt these pressures acutely, those that were able to safely operate, chose to find innovative solutions to continue their work. Other partners due to their location near the Iranian border were unable to safely hold activities, but they did work on online platforms, and through WhatsApp channels.
KirkukNow: Amplifying Voices, Accountability, and Human Rights
Our media partner KirkukNow continues to excel in human rights journalism and environmental reporting, gaining well-deserved recognition for their impactful work. Kochar Aziz was recently honored with an award from the Kurdistan Environment Protectors Organization for her dedicated environmental coverage. Additionally, Layla Ahmed, operating in the Garmiyan area, secured first prize for the best human rights reporting of 2025, following her vital feature uncovering the growing threats of cyber violence against Iraqi women. These incredible awards are truly well deserved and especially highlight the vital role of women in media and in changing the perception of women’s agency.
Beyond investigative reporting, the KirkukNow team has continued to actively champion minority rights and civic protections. A major success story emerged from their sustained follow-up on the case of Evelyn Joseph and her husband, Sami Butrus. The family successfully won their legal battle in court after the government initially refused to issue a national ID card unless she converted to Islam from Christianity, a victory accelerated by KirkukNow raising public awareness and engaging directly with relevant officials.
KirkukNow also shed light on systemic administrative hurdles facing marginalized groups, documenting how hundreds of Ezidis in Shingal and the Nineveh province must travel 170 kilometers and spend over 100,000 dinars just to complete essential legal documentation. Furthermore, their reporting has captured the nuances of local governance, analyzing the polarized community reactions and social media tensions following a controversial new directorial appointment on May 6. Through community awareness campaigns, particularly around International Women’s Day, KirkukNow has fostered critical dialogue on how local fuel shortages, electricity outages, and climate change intersect with broader economic pressures, keeping citizen engagement alive despite ongoing budget disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad.
WOLA: Legal Literacy, Student Engagement, and Capacity Building
In the legal and civic education sphere, our partner WOLA (Women’s Legal CSO) has made significant strides in making legal frameworks accessible to the next generation. WOLA conducted collaborative legal awareness sessions across regional schools. Utilizing interactive and simplified approaches, their legal experts engaged directly with youth, breaking down complex statutory topics into easily understandable themes.
A cornerstone of this effort was the launch of the Combat Records Committee on April 1, 2026. This specialized student committee allows young participants to actively explore legal procedures, ask detailed questions, and contribute their own perspectives on civic responsibility and justice.
Because regional schools were closed in response to the ongoing conflict and recent drone attacks in Erbil and Sulaymaniah, WOLA adapted its approach. Parallel to their classroom-based initiatives, the organization shifted its focus toward institutional sustainability by targeting legal professionals. They hosted specialized training workshops dedicated to capacity building and robust organizational growth, primarily targeting legal professionals and social workers during the month. Participation was facilitated through partnerships with the Bar Association and the Social Work Students Training Course.
Amidst these challenging regional dynamics, a dedicated team of twelve core volunteers, led by Shaz Noor and Shokhan Hamarash, spearheaded community-level initiatives designed to familiarize citizens with legal protections and mechanisms to prevent gender-based abuse. By equipping local communities with legal knowledge and fostering self-organization, WOLA continues to build the foundations for long-term democratic participation and accountability.
Strengthening the network: Media management and digital security workshop
May 5-6-7, 2026.
Our partners completed 18 hours of intensive training regarding “Media Management and Digital Security.” Organized by Wadi as a part of the citizenship program. Before this workshop, the citizenship network held a meeting for their most desired topics for the next training; this topic was chosen by the network after a careful and collective selection.
This training is also a part of a continuous strength-building strategy, where the partners are encouraged to learn new skills and keep up with the fast-paced digital train! These workshops not only provide information but also strengthen the connections in our network and create a friendly environment were information flows naturally.
For organizations, one of the important tools is their media presence. That includes branding, media platforms, websites, documentation, marketing, storytelling, digital campaigns, awareness raising, archiving activities digitally, cybersecurity, and…AI.
(Pictures: During the Media Training, Source: Wadi)
With no prior digital background or training, this can get tricky very soon. Media managers are responsible for controlling the type of information that is exposed and disclosed on the organization’s platforms. They are responsible for the NGO’s media persona, and this persona should be consistent, truthful, and active. Eventually, for an NGO, to function, you need to keep both public opinion and funders satisfied. And what witness do the organizations have for the outstanding work they do besides their media?
That’s why such training is essential for aligning fieldwork with media and vice versa. This workshop was prepared by Mr. Sarbast Najmadin, a media and cybersecurity specialist with a BA in computer science and numerous experiences in ToT trainings regarding media and cybersecurity.
The workshop was divided into three days, each day focusing on a different aspect of media, filled with interactive activities and an energetic environment.
After understanding the platforms on the first day of training, the participants should now learn to create the product they want to showcase. You can know all there is about media management, but without the actual “medium,” you have nothing to show. Therefore, you have an empty platform.
News channels, influencers, TV programs, and organizations, they all have a story to tell. They turn these stories into content that attracts people and hooks the audience.
For that, one must be a great storyteller, but what is a storyteller?
“A storyteller is someone who preaches a message in the form of a story that sticks in the minds of people and moves their emotions,” said Mr. Sarbast.
The third day was focused on cybersecurity in all of its aspects, not just in terms of account security but also organizational and personal security of staff.
In one of the activities, the participants sat in a circle and shared their experiences with cyberbullying, cyber-attacks, scamming, hacking, and any problems they faced due to a lack of digital security knowledge. Later, the trainer addressed each of their issues and how to make sure it never happens again. All of the apps in the previous days were covered in terms of digital security. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
At the end of the training, participants received their certificates and expressed their gratitude for the increase in knowledge but also in building deeper connections with the partners and to strengthen the new network.
The Active Citizenship Program is supported by the
Wadi 
