- Improving Health and Environmental Awareness in the Mud Houses Area — Partner: Mercy Corps — Grant: USD 10,000 — Duration: 2011 — Sector: Peacebuilding — Location: Samarra (Mud Houses / "Hay al-Tin" area), Iraq. Overview: The project improved living conditions and public health in Samarra's informal Mud Houses (Hay al-Tin) neighborhood through hygiene and food safety education, community clean-up campaigns, and advocacy with local Health, Electricity, and Municipal Directorates. It closed with a town hall bringing together authorities, service directorates, community leaders, and residents to outline sustainable solutions to the area's service and infrastructure gaps.
- Improving Correspondents' and Journalists' Media Style for Peacebuilding — Partner: Mercy Corps — Grant: USD 20,000 — Duration: 2011/2012 — Sector: Peacebuilding — Location: Samarra District, Salah al-Din Governorate. Overview: The project trained 40 journalists and newspaper reporters in Samarra on objective, neutral, and conflict-sensitive reporting, covering skills in news writing, interviewing, information verification, and digital/blog publishing, reinforced through practical exercises and a dedicated news page launched on the SSDF website. The training strengthened participants' ability to cover events professionally and avoid language that fuels sectarian tension, while building the foundation for continued independent, peace-oriented media production beyond the project's duration.
7. Local Development / Community Participation
- Participatory Local Development — Partner: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) — Sector: Local Development / Community Participation — Duration: 2010–2011 — Location: Iraq. Overview: SSDF implemented Participatory Local Development workshops in Salah al-Din, Baghdad, Erbil, and Kirkuk in partnership with UNESCWA, promoting inclusive community participation and strengthening local capacities to identify priorities and contribute to local development planning. The initiative supported collaboration among local authorities, community representatives, and civil society actors to encourage participatory decision-making and locally driven development solutions.
2. Improving Correspondents' and Journalists' Media Style for Peacebuilding
Partner: Mercy Corps
Grant: USD 20,000
Duration: 2011/2012
Sector: Peacebuilding
Location: Samarra District, Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq
Overview: The project trained 40 journalists and newspaper reporters in Samarra on objective, neutral, and conflict-sensitive reporting, covering skills in news writing, interviewing, information verification, and digital/blog publishing, reinforced through practical exercises and a dedicated news page launched on the SSDF website. The training strengthened participants' ability to cover events professionally and avoid language that fuels sectarian tension, while building the foundation for continued independent, peace-oriented media production beyond the project's duration.
3. Civic Values and Life Skills
Partner: UNESCO
Grant: USD 41,200
Duration: June 1 – December 31, 2012
Sector: Education / Life Skills (social cohesion focus)
Location: Iraq (Salah al-Din Governorate – Tikrit, Samarra, and Dijail Districts)
Overview: Sorouh, with UNESCO Iraq, implemented the Civic Values and Life Skills Program across Tikrit, Samarra, and Dijail districts in Salah al-Din, training 100 youth, 20 media professionals, 15 NGO workers, 10 peer educators, and 100 teachers on civic values, peaceful coexistence, and community participation. Trained participants served as community ambassadors, extending the project's reach and promoting social cohesion and active citizenship among communities recovering from crisis and educational disruption.
5. Improving Correspondents' and Journalists' Media Style for Peacebuilding Partner: Mercy Corps Grant: USD 20,000 Duration: 2011/2012 Sector: Peacebuilding Location: Samarra District, Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq
Overview: The project trained 40 journalists and newspaper reporters in Samarra on objective, neutral, and conflict-sensitive reporting, covering skills in news writing, interviewing, information verification, and digital/blog publishing, reinforced through practical exercises and a dedicated news page launched on the SSDF website. The training strengthened participants' ability to cover events professionally and avoid language that fuels sectarian tension, while building the foundation for continued independent, peace-oriented media production beyond the project's duration.