FYF speaks at social entrepreneurship event
FYF’s Country Director Hewan Omer was pleased to speak at the event sponsored by the United States Embassy – Baghdad and United States Consulate – Erbil, held at the University Kurdistan Hawler. The event focused on social entrepreneurship and private sector development, where FYF emphasized importance of women’s participation and the value of business initiatives for Yezidis and other minorities.
For many years, the Yezidi population in Iraq has suffered from discrimination and marginalization in large and small ways. One result has been the economic and educational exclusion of Yezidi life in Iraq, with many negative consequences. One solution to this is for international aid to focus not only on reconstruction but also provision of training, education, and skills so that the next generation can build better and more sustainable economic platforms, instead of bare subsistence farming. To do this, Yezidi business and organizations can serve as incubators and hubs, with international support, to make sure our young leaders have skills, experience, and are empowered to grow and to lead.
By empowering local community members, including participation of women, social entrepreneurship initiatives andprivate sector support can be a forward-looking way to strengthen vulnerable communities. We thank the US government for their continued support to the Yezidi community and for including Yezidi women’s voices in this event.
