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Monday 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00 Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 Sunday 09:00 - 17:00

SPARK Iraq

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SPARK Iraq

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SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their conflict affected societies into prosperity.

Contact details:

Higher Education Services - KRI: +964 750 064 1123
Higher Education Services - Mosul: +964 751 030 9197
Networks Of Change: +964 751 172 0389
For stipends: +964 751 702 7549

Inspired by a lecture they attended as students at the University of Amsterdam, SPARK Directors, Yannick du Pont and Michel Richter began SPARK as early as 1993. Following a documentary they watched about the atrocities in the Balkans, and a presentation by an 18 year-old boy who spoke about his experiences in a detention prison camp, Yannick and Michel had little knowledge at the time that this would be a life changing moment. Deeply impressed by the story, Yannick and Michel took action by setting up a team of students and professors to form the ‘Youth in Solidarity with Yugoslavia’ (YSY) foundation. Aimed at retaining the fading attention for the war, the foundation sought to help their peers in the Balkans through improving the educational system and restructuring and reforming universities. Based in Amsterdam and with one field office in Pristina, YSY organised Summer and Winter universities, student and staff exchanges, curriculum development and English language programs. The highlight was the 1996 Tuzla Summer University in Bosnia-Herzegovina, that, despite a curfew, damp dormitories and no electricity, Croat and Serb students came together in solidarity and followed one of 26 courses.

15/10/2026

🎊We are thrilled to celebrate the successful completion of the NOCII Career Connect final events in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)

Over the past three months, 76 participants from Halabja, Ranya, and Chamchamal gained hands-on workplace experience, professional skills, and key competencies such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.

👉 Read how young talents are shaping the local economies in KRI: https://spark.ngo/turning-potential-into-professional-opportunities-76-young-people-complete-nocii-career-connect-internships-2/

Special thanks to the 22 host companies and institutes who received SPARK shields of appreciation for their outstanding mentorship!

10/10/2026

They know what matters to them. They should have a say in what comes next.

This World Mental Health Day, we recognise the power of giving young people a voice in the decisions and opportunities that shape their lives.

At SPARK, we support young people to build skills, start businesses and access employment, creating pathways to greater confidence, independence and agency.

Because having a voice, a sense of purpose and the ability to shape your own future matters for wellbeing.

08/10/2026

SPARK Iraq Country Manager Zhir Azad and SPARK Regional Programme Director Dina Almasaied welcomed a delegation from the Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security, led by Daphne van Dam, to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The delegation visited the University of Raparin and the SPARK Youth Hub in Ranya, where they met partners and young people taking part in the Networks of Change programme.

Through Networks of Change, young people who once took part in SPARK's training now lead initiatives, mentor their peers and give back the skills they have gained to their communities. The visit offered the delegation a first-hand look at this approach, and at how peacebuilding programmes can help address the root causes of irregular migration.

"When local and international organisations, government institutions, schools and universities work together, young people stop being beneficiaries and become partners in shaping their communities. The holistic approach of Networks of Change has successfully achieved that," said Zhir Azad.

The visit ended with a roundtable with SPARK's local partners to exchange experiences, strengthen coordination and discuss ways to support young people.

We thank the Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security for their interest in Networks of Change, a programme co-created with the support of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

23/09/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is out.

2025 demanded resilience from the communities we serve and from those working alongside them.

Across more than 12 countries, SPARK continued to work where opportunity is often hardest to access, supporting young people, women, entrepreneurs, MSMEs and local organisations to build stronger livelihoods, businesses and ecosystems.

From employability and entrepreneurship to green and digital transitions, our work goes beyond individual programmes. We bring people, businesses and local partners together to strengthen the systems that create lasting opportunities.

The 2025 report reflects a year of continued action, partnership and progress, and our commitment to building locally driven solutions that can endure in challenging contexts.

Explore the 2025 highlights and read the full report:
https://spark.ngo/spark-2025-annual-report-highlights/

#2025

12/08/2026

This International Youth Day, we're highlighting a simple truth: wherever they live, young people share the same hopes for dignity, decent work and a sustainable future. What differs is the opportunity to reach them.

At SPARK, we work alongside young people in some of the world's most fragile and conflict-affected places to turn those aspirations into opportunity.

Swipe to meet some of the young people driving change across our programmes, and visit our website to learn more.
👉 https://spark.ngo/

Happy International Youth Day 2026 💙

24/07/2026

English | کوردی

Everything we do at SPARK comes back to four pillars.

From a first training to a first hire, from a business idea to a growing company, each pillar supports a different step on a young person's path to success.

Learn more at https://spark.ngo

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هەموو ئەو کارانەی لە رێکخراوی سپاڕک ئەنجامیان دەدەین دەگەڕێنەوە بۆ چوار پایەی سەرەکی.

لە یەکەم ڕاهێنانەوە تا دۆزینەوەی یەکەم هەلی کار، لە بیرۆکەیێکی بازرگانییەوە تا کۆمپانیایێکی گەشەسەندوو، هەر پایەیێک پشتگیری هەنگاوێکی جیاواز دەکات لەسەر ڕێگای گەنجان بەرەو سەرکەوتن.

زیاتر بزانە دەرباری سپاڕک لە https://spark.ngo

15/07/2026

English | کوردی

This World Youth Skills Day, we're celebrating the young people learning the skills that will shape the future.

Here are 7 future-ready skills worth learning:
• AI Literacy
• Critical Thinking
• Digital Fluency
• Adaptability
• Problem Solving
• Communication & Collaboration

What skills did you learn this year, and what are you planning to learn next?

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لە ڕۆژی جیهانی کارامەیییەکانی لاواندا، شانازی بەو گەنجانە دەکەین کە خەریکی فێربوونی ئەو کارامەییانەن کە داهاتوو بنیاد دەنێن.

لێرەدا ٧ کارامەیی گونجاو و ئامادە بۆ داهاتوو دەخەینە ڕوو کە شایەنی فێربوونن:
• شارەزایی لە ژیریی دەستکرد
• بیرکردنەوەی ڕەخنەگرانە
• خوێندەواری دیجیتاڵی
• توانای خۆگونجاندن
• چارەسەرکردنی کێشەکان
• پەیوەندیکردن و هاوکاری

ئەمساڵ چ کارامەییەک فێربوویت، و پلانت هەیە لە داهاتوودا چی فێری بیت؟

30/06/2026

English | کوردی

Gashbin was a fresh university graduate from Ranya with no experience, until she saw a form for SPARK's campaign and decided to take the leap.

Over six months, she joined 21 campaigners across Ranya, Halabja, and Chamchamal, working with government, universities, and the private sector to make job access easier for young people like himself.

The campaign reshaped her skills, helped her step into his current job, and turned her into a trainer passing on what she learned to other youth.

Gashbin's message for youth is "Work on yourselves and your abilities. Learn languages and be as knowledgeable as possible. Then, work will come looking for you."

🎥 Watch Gashbin's full story in the video below.

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گەشبین دەرچووی تازەی زانکۆ بوو لە ڕانیە و هیچ ئەزموونێکی نەبوو، تا ئەو کاتەی فۆرمێکی بۆ هەڵمەتی سپاڕک بینی و بڕیاریدا ئەو بازدانە بکات.

لە ماوەی شەش مانگدا پێکەوە لەگەڵ 21 هەڵمەتکاری سپاڕک لە ڕانیە و هەڵەبجە و چەمچەماڵ، کاریان کرد لەگەڵ حکومەت و زانکۆکان و کەرتی تایبەت بۆ ئەوەی کار بۆ گەنجانی ناوچەکانیان بکەن و دەستڕاگەیشتنیان بە بازاڕی کار ئاسانتر بێت.

هەڵمەتەکە تواناکانی پێشخست و یارمەتی دا هەنگاو بنێتە ناو کارەکەی ئێستای کە بەرگدورییە و هەروەها بوو بە ڕاهێنەر تا بتوانێت ئەوەی فێری بووە بگوازێتەوە بۆ گەنجانی دیکە.

پەیامی گەشبین بۆ گەنجان ئەوەیە کە "کار بکەن لەسەر خۆتان لەسەر توناکانتان و تا دەتوان زمانزان و پڕ زانستبن ئیتر کار خۆی دەگەڕێ بە دواتاندا"

🎥 بینەری تەواوی چیرۆکی گەشبین بن لەم ڤیدیۆیەی خوارەوە.

29/06/2026

English | کوردی

Ahmed didn't plan on joining the "Work for Work" campaign. It started as a coincidence. But that one decision changed everything.

As an IT graduate and active community member in Chamchamal, Ahmed had never worked in media, campaign organising, or youth mobilisation before. The Networks of Change II (NoCII) programme became his first experience in all of it, and left a mark he carries to this day.

Together with fellow campaigners, he helped organise the first ever job fair in Chamchamal, proving that when young people unite around a common goal, nothing remains impossible.

"When young people unite and work together, obstacles shrink and change happens."

The campaign's reach surprised even Ahmed. Visiting other cities after it ended, he found that youth there already knew about their work. What started as a local campaign had become the voice of thousands.

Today, Ahmed is a trainer, delivering webinars in partnership with other organisations and sharing his hands-on experience with the next generation.

🎥 Watch Ahmed's full story in the video below.

*** *** *** ***

ئەحمەد پلانی نەبوو بەشداری لە کەمپەینی "کار بۆ کار" بکات. هەموو شتێک وەک ڕێکەوتێک دەستی پێکرد، بەڵام ئەو تاکە بڕیارە هەموو شتێکی گۆڕی.

وەک دەرچوویەکی بەشی تەکنەلۆژیای زانیاری و ئەندامێکی چالاکی کۆمەڵگە لە چەمچەماڵ، ئەحمەد پێشتر هەرگیز لە بواری میدیا، ڕێکخستنی کەمپەین، یان کۆکردنەوە و هاندانی گەنجاندا کاری نەکردبوو. پڕۆگرامی تۆڕی گۆڕانکاری دوو بوو بە یەکەم ئەزموونی لە هەموو ئەمانەدا، و شوێنەوارێکی وای بەجێهێشت کە تا ئەمڕۆش لەگەڵ خۆی هەڵیگرتووە.

لەگەڵ هاوڕێ کەمپەینەرەکانیدا، یارمەتیدەر بوو لە ڕێکخستنی یەکەمین پێشانگای هەلی کار لە چەمچەماڵ، بەمەش سەلماندی کە کاتێک گەنجان لە دەوری ئامانجێکی هاوبەش یەکدەگرن، هیچ شتێک مەحاڵ نیە.

"کاتێک گەنجان یەکدەگرن و پێکەوە کار دەکەن، کۆسپەکان بچووک دەبنەوە و گۆڕانکاری ڕوودەدات."

ئاستی گەیشتن و کاریگەریی کەمپەینەکە تەنانەت ئەحمەدیشی سەرسام کرد. کاتێک دوای کۆتاییهاتنی کەمپەینەکە سەردانی شارەکانی دیکەی کرد، بۆی دەرکەوت کە گەنجانی ئەوێش ئاگاداری کارەکانیان بوون. ئەوەی وەک کەمپەینێک دەستی پێکرد، ببوو بە دەنگی هەزاران گەنج.

ئەمڕۆ ئەحمەد ڕاهێنەرە، بە هاوبەشی لەگەڵ ڕێکخراوەکانی دیکەدا وێبینار پێشکەش دەکات و ئەزموونی پراکتیکی خۆی لەگەڵ گەنجاندا بەش دەکات.

🎥 بینەری چیرۆکی ئەحمەد بن لەم ڤیدیۆیەی خوارەوەدا.

28/06/2026

English | کوردی

From participant to changemaker, this is Vanya's story.
When Vanya Azad began her university studies, she was already searching for something more: a platform where she could grow professionally while making a real difference for young people in her community. She found it through SPARK's "Work for Work" campaign, part of the Networks of Change II programme in Halabja.

Alongside 21 young campaigners from Ranya, Halabja, and Chamchamal, Vanya worked to bridge the gap between youth and the labour market, engaging universities, businesses, and government institutions to tackle one of the region's most pressing challenges.

But the campaign gave her more than experience. Through training, coaching, and a Training of Trainers programme, she built the confidence and skills to lead, to teach, and to inspire others.
"Opportunities are created through effort. Don't be afraid to try new experiences, and focus on the fields you are good at. If you work on them, you will achieve strong results."

Vanya's journey is proof that when young people are given the right support, they don't just benefit from change. They become the ones who drive it.

🎥 Watch Vanya's full story in the link below.

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لە بەشداربووەوە بۆ گۆڕانکاریخواز، ئەمە چیرۆکی ڤانیایە.
کاتێک ڤانیا ئازاد دەستی بە خوێندنی زانکۆ کرد، هەر لە زووەوە بەدوای شتێکی زیاتردا دەگەڕا: سەکۆیەک کە بتوانێت لە ڕووی پیشەییەوە گەشە بکات و لە هەمان کاتدا جیاوازییەکی ڕاستەقینە بۆ گەنجانی کۆمەڵگاکەی دروست بکات. ئەوەی لە ڕێگەی کەمپەینی "کار بۆ کار"ی رێکخراوی سپاڕک دۆزیەوە کە بەشێکە لە پرۆگرامی تۆڕی گۆڕانکاری دوو.

ڤانیا شانبەشانی ٢١ گەنجی هەڵمەتکاری ڕانیە و هەڵەبجە و چەمچەماڵ، کاریان کرد بۆ پڕکردنەوەی بۆشایی نێوان گەنجان و بازاڕی کار، بەشداریپێکردنی زانکۆکان و کەرتی تایبەت و دامەزراوە حکومییەکان بۆ ڕووبەڕووبوونەوەی یەکێک لە ئاستەنگە هەرە زەقەکانی هەرێمی کوردستان، کە ئەویش بێکاری گەنجانە.

بەڵام هەڵمەتەکە زیاتر لە ئەزموونی پێبەخشی. لە ڕێگەی ڕاهێنان و ڕاهێنەرایەتی و پرۆگرامی ڕاهێنانی ڕاهێنەران، متمانە و لێهاتووییەکانی بۆ
سەرکردایەتیکردن و فێرکردن و ئیلهامبەخشین بە کەسانی دیکە دروستکرد.

"دەرفەتەکان لە ڕێگەی هەوڵەوە دروست دەبن. مەترسە لە تاقیکردنەوەی ئەزموونی نوێ، و سەرنجت لەسەر ئەو بوارانە بێت کە لێی باشیت. ئەگەر کاریان لەسەر بکەیت، ئەنجامێکی بەهێز بەدەست دەهێنیت."

چیرۆک و گەشتی ڤانیا بەڵگەیە لەسەر ئەوەی کە کاتێک گەنجان پشتیوانییەکی دروستیان پێدەدرێت، ئەوا تەنها سوود لە گۆڕانکارییەکان وەرناگرن، بەڵکو دەبنە داینەمۆی گۆڕانکارییەکان و سەرکردایەتی دەکەن.

🎥 بینەری تەواوی چیرۆکی ڤانیا بن لەم لینکەی خوارەوە.

Address

Tower A10-8 MRF Quattro, Erbil Kurdistan Region/
Irbil
44001

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Sunday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

http://www.spark.ngo/

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