WHO WE ARE
American KURDS is a humanitarian, non political, non profit and non governmental organization based in Washington DC, USA and in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq. Founded to work and serve the public interest, American KURDS was established with a scientific and engineering focus to develop rural areas specifically in Kurdistan and generally in all parts of Iraq, Turkey and Syria. KURDS NGO was founded after having its first conference in 1991 on the basis of transparency, accountability and cost effective policies by specialists in the fields of agriculture, engineering, geology and social & civil society. The American KURDS branch of KURDS NGO was established to represent the needs of the Kurdish community to the US humanitarian aid community and US partners . Representation in both countries allows American KURDS NGO to collaborate, coordinate and cooperate closely and honestly with the Local Authority Departments, humanitarian NGOs and UN Agencies quickly and easily.
The original KURDS NGO was formed in 1991 after the establishment of the safe haven territory in Northern Iraq to assist with the process of returning diaspora, refugees and IDP’s from Iran and Turkey as they returned to their homelands. American KURDS assists by providing focused and designed reconstruction programs for viable and sustainable communities for IDPs and returnees. American KURDS has successfully implemented more than 1500 projects in all districts and sub-districts of Duhok, Erbil and Sulaimaniya Governorates since being established and has provided services to approximately 3000 villages in the field of reconstruction, water and sanitation, agriculture, irrigation, productive projects, agriculture extensions, advocacy and development programs for rural women, improving the environment and de-mining. Furthermore, American KURDS has contributed extensively in the development of rural communities over all Iraqi Kurdistan and has participated in monitoring all election processes for establishing the Democratic Federalism Government, Governorate Councils and Municipal Councils.
On Jun 16th, 2008 in an official ceremony under the sponsor of His Excellency (H.E. Nechirvan Barzani) the Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region Government (KRG), KURDS NGO awarded with a (Civic Award) in an assessment and evaluation campaign for local NGOs in Kurdistan, organized and conducted by Ministry of Civil Society Affairs - KRG. Out of 46 Local NGOs in the Kurdistan region, only seven NGOs have been awarded this honor.
Mission Statement
American KURDS is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-political, non-profit and an independent community based and public utility organization. American KURDS NGO was established in 1991 as an Iraqi NGO with the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) to respond to natural or man-made disasters and to address its vital objectives: reconstruction of destroyed areas during the arbitrary wars and internal conflicts and the development of targeted communities by highlighting diverse issues of awareness programs regarding health, education, women’s social and political rights, violence against women, gender equality rights and duties and capacity building programs. Simultaneously American KURDS aims to develop the socio-economic conditions and the environment of targeted areas by coordinating amongst National & International agencies and targeted communities in terms of raising the needs and requirements to provide transitional development, emergency responses and relief assistance nationally to the beneficiaries.
