ASK

American Society for Kurds

Building Bridges - 2004
One of ASK's major projects for 2004 was a project called "Building Bridges". It's purpose was to bring together NGOs from Northern Iraq with NGOs from Central and Southern Iraq. The point of this gathering was so that the newly founded NGOs from the Center and South could benefit from the experience and know-how of Kurdish NGOs who have been around for a few years and have been receiving funding from International sources.

In coordination with its partners in Baghdad and Sulaymania, the Iraqi National Organization for Human Rights Coordination (INOHRC) and the Badlisy Cultural Center (BCC), ASK selected eleven newly formed NGOs in central and south-central Iraq and fourteen NGOs in Sulaymania to participate in the first workshop. ASK organized a five-day capacity building workshop (June 15-19, 2004) in Sulaymania.

An article entitled "Building Bridges in Iraq" was written by Dr. Salah Aziz, and can be seen here.

The Following Organizations Participated in the Sulaymania Workshop June 15-19, 2004
Hosting Organizations	Visiting Organizations
Civil Development Organization	The True League For Peace, Baghdad
Kurdistan Children Nest	The Society For Free Spirit, Baghdad
Kurdistan Economic Development Organization	The Student Society For Human Rights, Baghdad
Hamun Organization	The Institute For Educational Knowledge, Karbala
Kurdish Institute for Elections	Organization For Women Dignity, Dywania
Badlisy Cultural Center	The Society For Intellectual Advancement, Karbala
Khanzad Organization for Society and Culture	The National Constitution Society, Karbala
Islamic Sisterhood Union in Kurdistan	The Civil Gathering For Democracy, Karbala
Asuda Organization for Women	Zeinab Center For Women Rights, Karbala
KVRA Organization	Society For Human Rights Monitoring, Karbala
Hana Society for Children	Independent Iraqi Women Gathering, Baghdad
	The Iraqi Organization For Human Rights Coordination, Baghdad

The second workshop was initially planned to be held in Baghdad, but the lack of security made it impossible. Therefore, ASK held the second workshop in Arbil from July 10-11, 2004. A total of 11 Civil Society Organizations from Central and Southern Iraq, 5 from Sulaymania, 3 from Arbil, and 1 from Kirkuk participated in the second workshop.

The Following Organizations Participated in the Arbil Workshop July 10-11, 2004
Civil Development Organization, Sulaymania
Khanzad Center for Women, Arbil
Kurdistan Economic Development Organization, Sulaymania
Institute of Ronahi Charity, Arbil
Kurdish Institute for Elections, Sulaymania
Badlisy Cultural Center, Sulaymania
Organization for the Development of Peace and Tolerance, Kirkuk
Dialog for Democracy for Iraqi Women, Baghdad
Asuda Organization for Women, Sulaymania
Khat-to-Zeen Center for Social Affairs, Arbil
Center for Protection of Environment, Fallujah
Center for Democratic Studies, Fallujah
Society For Human Rights Monitoring, Karbala
The Iraqi National Society for Human Rights, Hillah
Organization for Civil Society, Baghdad
Organization for Iraqi Society, Baghdad
The Institute For Educational Knowledge, Karbala
The Iraqi Organization For Human Rights Coordination, Baghdad

Part Three of the Building Bridges project was held from December 27-30, 2004. A total of 22 Civil Society Organizations from seven cities in Central-, North-, and South-Iraq participated in the third workshop.

The Third workshop was held in the facilities of the Civil Development Organization (CDO). In coordination with its partners, the Iraqi National Organization for Human Rights Coordination (INOHRC) in Baghdad, and the Badlisy Cultural Center (BCC) in Sulaymania, the American Society for Kurds (ASK) successfully completed the third part of this workshop.