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Mahmood Hassan Mahmood and his wife Sima, pictured in our photo, live with their four children in the Domiz-1 camp for Syrian refugees where Peace Winds operates in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The family comes from Qamishli, Syria, but war and economic hardship forced them out of their home in 2013. After waiting in a bread distribution line for two days, the family rented a donkey to help carry their belongings and walked four kilometers (2.5 miles) to the Iraq border. When they arrived, they had a tent to live in but no water or electricity.
“I was working as a carpenter,” Mahmood said, “so I got some money when I worked here to build my shelter. I didn’t get any assistance from anyone until Peace Winds came and helped me upgrad our shelter and complete our rooms.” Mahmood and Sima participated in Peace Winds’ Cash-for-Work program, which involves refugees in the construction of their own homes, providing them wages as well as construction skills they are able to use for income generating opportunities to support their families.
“My wife and I worked together to earn the money that was provided by Peace Winds,” he said. “We are very happy with [our home] now. We have two rooms; one will be for my kids.”
Sima says now she’s just hoping for an upgrade to her kitchen. “Maybe we can extend it enough to put my sewing machine there.”