Fall 2021 Newsletter

Village of Maye Water Project 

In our last newsletter we informed you of Keystone Commercial Real Estate's water fundraiser that took place in August. There is plenty of water in the village, however, there is no way to get it to people's homes. We are happy to report the project is now complete! Water has been restored to the homes of the village for the first time in 13 years! 

Football (Soccer) League

We are very excited to announce a brand new initiative for the Shlama Foundation. Our volunteers are working to develop a Football (Soccer) League where teams from our villages can compete with each other to see who can call themselves champions. We are beginning to accept sponsorships to help the teams take part.

Garmawa is Saved! 

There is no greater energy than hope. Every single one of you who believed we had a chance of saving Garmawa was the reason we made it happen.  The people of Garmawa have never been happier. They now own their village, which almost slipped away from them despite having lived there for over 100 years. 

Saint Francis Pastoral Group Fundraiser

Shlama proudly contributed to the كروب مار فرنسيس الرعوي Saint Francis Pastoral Group fundraiser, which was held earlier in the week in Baghdedea. During the event, volunteers come together to raise funds for disadvantaged families with medical bills. We wish them the best as they serve the town of Bakhdeda! For more information visit the link below.

About five years ago, Shlama Foundation was fortunate to welcome Attorney Ronita Bahri, who joined our team as Legal Director. Ronita was inspired by the grassroots movement and transparency of Shlama and wanted to join an organization that embodied its mission statement. She came to the United States as a refugee and learned English in elementary school. Right before the ISIS invasion in 2014, Ronita and her mother were planning a trip to Iraq so her mom could see her mother and sibling, whom she had not seen since 1997, and to visit Ronita's father’s grave. Unfortunately, that trip did not come to fruition because of the invasion of ISIS. To add insult to injury, ISIS destroyed the historic cemetery in Tel-keppe where her father is buried. Shlama is truly very lucky to have her legal expertise. She has been practicing at Goodman Acker for 6 years as a personal injury attorney, doing what she finds the most passion in, advocating for others.  

Miss Iraq heading to Miss World 2021! 

Maria Farhad from Baghdeda will be representing Iraq for the first time in Miss World 2021, which will be the 70th Edition of the Miss World pageant to be held on December 16, 2021 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Chaldeans in Iraq to set up museum with manuscripts saved during IS occupation

Chaldean bishops in Iraq have decided to set up a Christian museum, collecting old manuscripts and books saved from destruction during the Islamic State occupation. The museum will be built in Ankawa in a building adjacent to the institute. The initiative will see the direct participation of the local Dominicans who have long been committed to the preservation and study of ancient books and manuscripts.

Iraqi Elections

  Iraq held its parliamentary election on October 10th, after 2 years of protest demands for an early election. Of the 329 seats, 5 were reserved for the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac minority candidates. However, due to the election law not speculating who is able to vote for the reserved minority seats, the results were a disappointing one for the Christian community, as 4 of their 5 reserved seats were won by a party affiliated with pro-Iranian Badr Organization, leaving them with little representation in the next government.