women's empowerment programming

Young people around the world, but particularly those exposed to conflict, often feel confined by social expectations and cultural norms of how they should behave-- something that can be especially true around gender and gender expression. Youth Speak works with young people to identify ways that they can express themselves in safe and constructive ways that benefit their communities. 

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND SPORTS

Youth Speak partnered with Run and Madre Organization to train young female athletes from IDP and refugee backgrounds in Erbil on how to apply the leadership skills they have gained through sports to community initiatives. With a focus on advocacy and awareness raising, this program aimed to empower women and youth to take meaningful positive action to promote healthy communities.

RIDING FOR PEACE, FREEDOM, AND RIGHTS

Biking is common among young children in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, but once youth reach adolescence, most have given up on biking either as a pastime or as a mode of transportation. In partnership with IOM and 12 local organizations, this project granted young women increased access to public spaces, as well as access to exercise as a mode of psychosocial and physical wellbeing and the opportunity to meet young women from all different backgrounds during bike training and large community-wide biking events. To learn more about this initiative, click here.