Social Media in the Middle East
Hannah and Colleen explore the difficult and sometimes humorous world of social media in Iraq. If you've never had a new Facebook friend go through all ten years of your photos and comments and like or comment on every single one, you should check this out! If you have… that's weird. But join us anyway [...]
Refugee Sewing Center Renovation Project
We're continuing to raise funds to finish renovating our new and larger Refugee Sewing Center. With your gift, we can empower more refugee women in Nashville with the skills and community they need to help them succeed. We’re getting close! The walls are framed in and new shelves went up just this past week. There’s [...]
Sew for Hope Volunteer Makes a Difference (with or without a pandemic!)
We are so grateful for the work and service of Darlette, one of our volunteers working with the Sew For Hope Program! She's been so helpful during this crazy pandemic season and will continue to be a great part of our volunteer team after we're able to meet together again! "My association with Sew for [...]
Sew For Hope – Graduates and Volunteers Sewing Masks
These days we are extremely grateful for this program that not only helps refugee women care for their families, but has also opened up opportunities for them to care for their communities. In this current crisis, we have graduates and volunteers sewing masks. These masks are being made from a non-woven droplet resistant fabric that is [...]
HospitaliTEA – Kurdish Hospitality Knows No Limits, Also, Lots of Tea
Between Iraq and a Hard Place - Episode 39 Hannah and Colleen talk about the beautiful extravagance of Kurdish hospitality and walk you through what it's like to go on a visit to a Kurdish or Middle Eastern home. Hospitality is a key cultural value and is both generous and overwhelming in Northern Iraq and [...]
Resources For Hard Times – Coronavirus 2020
Covid-19 Information in Multiple Languages: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16HWT0kQrnehwQFYICigsZe1D3b_H9FUO8EqOJ6XCdnE/edit For Those Facing Unemployment: https://www.nashvilleresponsefund.com/individualshttps://www.tn.gov/workforce/unemployment/apply-for-benefits.htmlhttps://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1678https://findhelp.org/ For Those Facing Hunger: https://www.thebranchofnashville.orghttps://news.mnps.org/mnps-food-delivery-sites-announced/https://findhelp.org/ For English Practice: This is my favorite. Short simple stories with pictures for context! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoFhY7OXDVTgoS_VD93tD30tG4E04c-lq This is good for lower levels. English for beginners, basic vocabulary practice. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhDf3-oR4mYiqV5cS0T017oqBaBcgafRn Good videos with lots of levels—more advanced. There’s a lot here [...]
Coronavirus Lockdown in Iraq — Easter is Coming
We've been in lockdown in my city in Northern Iraq for over week. These last few days I’ve felt both a liar and a failure. A liar because I’ve posted the pretty pictures, not the ones of my dry-eyed stare from watching hours of shows non-stop or the various chocolate wrappers from my I-don’t-care-anymore-and-I’m-bored munching. A failure because [...]
Crisis, Isis, and Corona Virus
Between Iraq and a Hard Place - Episode 38 Hannah and Colleen talk about how Kurdish people respond to different kinds of crisis. Some big, some small, some medical, and some military -- the Kurds have seen it all and we have gained some perspective from them as we face new kinds of crisis. Learn [...]
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
Between Iraq and a Hard Place - Episode 40 Hannah and Colleen talk about their experiences with cleanliness in Kurdish culture, the biggest compliment they ever received from Kurdish women, and how some of those things are already changing! Learn more on our Iraq Page! Ask questions about this episode or life in Iraq on [...]