Latest news with #RwangaFoundation
Shafaq News
18 hours ago
- Health
- Shafaq News
Rwanga Foundation rescues ailing Erbil Kolbar with furnished house
Shafaq News – Erbil The Rwanga Foundation in Erbil has donated a fully furnished home to a young Kolbar* suffering from kidney disease, honoring his resilience and daily struggle to support his family amid severe economic and health challenges. In a statement on Friday, the foundation said its team, under the direction of its President Idris Nechirvan Barzani, visited Aland Hamid Rashid, a young man whose story went viral this week after he appeared in a video speaking about the high cost of living and his fight against illness. Despite suffering from a serious kidney condition, Rashid works from 7 am until nightfall, earning just 5,000 Iraqi dinars (about $4) per day to help provide for his family. The foundation described Rashid as a symbol of 'hope, dignity, and strength,' and said the gift of a home reflects Rwanga's broader mission to support vulnerable Iraqis facing extreme hardship. 'This initiative embodies our core values of compassion, solidarity, and empowerment,' Rwanga said in its statement, reaffirming its commitment to uplifting individuals who demonstrate courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. Rwanga, a non-governmental organization based in Erbil, has been active since September 2013 and operates across Iraq in four main sectors: education, youth, environment, and vulnerable communities.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Rwanga: New initiative to boost young entrepreneurs in Kurdistan
Shafaq News – Erbil The Rwanga Foundation has launched a new initiative to support young entrepreneurs in the Kurdistan Region, partnering with ECHO and backed by the US-based Ideas Beyond Borders (IBB). In a statement, Rwanga clarified that the project combines research and roundtable discussions to identify major obstacles facing emerging business owners and to develop practical solutions for sustainable growth. The foundation also disclosed that it recently provided financial support to more than 305 entrepreneurs across the Region. Rwanga, a non-governmental organization based in Erbil, has been active since September 2013 and operates across Iraq in four main sectors: education, youth, environment, and vulnerable communities.
Rudaw Net
26-05-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Rwanga plants 20,000 olive saplings in Erbil
Also in Kurdistan $73 million in development projects approved for Halabja province Kurdistan people's livelihood not a tool for political leverage: KDP leader President Barzani says Erbil wants stronger ties with Japan US senators meet with Iraqi, Kurdistan leaders A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Rwanga Foundation on Sunday completed an initiative to plant 20,000 Spanish olive saplings in Erbil to promote environmental sustainability, in partnership with the German development agency (GIZ) and the agriculture ministry. 'We concluded the project of planting 20,000 Spanish olive saplings, which our institution, the Rwanga Foundation, undertook in partnership with GIZ and with the support of the German government and the agriculture ministry,' said Hassan Shekh Aladin, Rwanga's executive director, in a speech at the conclusion event. In 2023, Rwanga partnered with GIZ to implement development projects that created 250 job opportunities and supported 130 individuals in launching or expanding small businesses. The second goal of the partnership was to plant 20,000 Spanish olive saplings as part of an environmental sustainability initiative. 'We were able to complete the project within two years,' Aladin said, adding that 11,000 saplings were provided by GIZ. 'To complete the project comprehensively and fully, we had 9,000 saplings remaining. Thanks to the responsibility of the respected Idris Nechirvan Barzani, the other 9,000 saplings were also provided. Now we see that 20,000 olive trees have been planted here,' he stated. The planted trees can produce over 4 million liters of oxygen daily, enough for 9,000 people, and are expected to yield 120 tons of olive oil and 400 tons of olives annually, with the Spanish variety chosen for its faster two-year production cycle compared to Iraqi trees, according to Aladin. Agriculture Minister Begard Talabani hailed the project, saying that the trees will bring economic benefits and are also resistant to drought seasons. 'Instead of planting a tree only to give us oxygen and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, we want to develop those trees that have both economic benefit and can also withstand water scarcity during drought periods,' Talabani said at the event. Talabani explained that the project was established in a forested area that has served as a green belt for Erbil for over 30 years, expressing hope that, with support from all relevant Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) bodies, the area can be protected and developed as the "lungs of Erbil." The Rwanga Foundation is an NGO 'that envisages a world where quality education is accessible for all. Its mission is to provide services, build capacities, and design policies to ensure easy access to education for all and improve the overall educational standards in KRI [Kurdistan Region of Iraq], Iraq, and the greater global community,' according to the organization's website.
Iraq Business
23-05-2025
- General
- Iraq Business
Kulak Solar Village to Pioneer Off-Grid Renewable Living
By John Lee. Rwanga Foundation has unveiled plans for the Kulak Solar Village, Iraq's first fully off-grid, solar-powered community. Located southeast of Erbil, the pilot village will include 32 homes and house nearly 200 residents, serving as a model for rural climate resilience and energy self-sufficiency in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. Entirely powered by solar energy, the community will feature 24/7 electricity, solar irrigation systems, and training in regenerative agriculture. The project responds to intensifying environmental pressures in Iraqi Kurdistan, including desertification and extreme temperatures exceeding 50°C. Idris Nechirvan Barzani, Founder and President of the Foundation, described the initiative as " a bold vision for a different future ," turning Iraq's environmental vulnerability into a platform for sustainable innovation. The village forms part of the Foundation's wider Green Kurdistan campaign, which has planted over 200,000 trees since 2020, and its Empowering Sustainable Livelihoods programme that supports cooperative farming and training. Rwanga aims to have the Kulak Solar Village fully operational by the end of 2025, with plans to replicate the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030 in collaboration with regional authorities and international partners. (Source: Rwanga Foundation)
Iraqi News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq launches first fully solar-powered village
Baghdad ( – Iraq is making quick progress toward constructing sustainable solar energy infrastructure, despite the country's persistent electrical shortage, which has been aggravated by rising temperatures and growing demand. With limited fuel for power plants, renewable energy, particularly solar energy, has emerged as an important and sustainable answer. Iraq's first fully independent residential village powered by solar energy was launched this week, a step that coincided with the inauguration of a solar power plant at Baghdad's government palace, laying the groundwork for further usage of renewable energy on both the public and governmental levels. The Iraqi government intends to diversify power sources and relieve strain on the national system, which is plagued by chronic bottlenecks and government usage that consumes around 30 percent of total production of electricity. The Rwanga Foundation, a non-profit organization located in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, launched on Tuesday the country's first totally solar-powered village. The Kulak village, located in the Harir province in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, now has 195 solar panels that power 36 residences, as well as a mosque, school, and community center. The Rwanga Foundation, in collaboration with regional authorities and international organizations, intends to replicate the experience in other parts of Iraqi Kurdistan and central Iraq in the coming years. The project represents a practical model of the real solutions solar energy can provide for rural communities in Iraq. Despite recent advancements, achieving solar transformation in Iraq will need long-term commitment, investment-friendly regulations, and legislation that promotes the integration of renewable energy into the public sector. However, early signs suggest that solar energy in Iraq is becoming a crucial part of the country's effort to alleviate the electricity issue and offer a more sustainable environment for the next generation.
