This summer marked the tenth anniversary of the invasion of towns and villages across the Nineveh Plains by the so-called Islamic State. As a result, thousands were forced to flee their homes, and of those who stayed many were taken captive by IS - some of whom remain missing today. 

A decade on, the region stills grapples with the lasting effects of the conflict. The scars of war run deep, and communities continue to struggle to rebuild and heal from the trauma inflicted upon them.  However, as we mark this sombre milestone, there are also stories of hope. This summer we celebrated the successful launch of our latest Nineveh SEED project: a community cafe in the Christian town of Teleskof. 

Awatef is a widow with four children. She encouraged her daughter, Sally, to take part in the project. Sally already ran a small cake-making business from her home to help support her family. Awatef explained how her daughter was nervous at first:

She practised and practised the cakes at home in front of us multiple times and they tasted delicious!

Awatef told us how important the cafe project is for the community: since the destruction of the town by ISIS, people have had to travel to Duhok or Mosul to buy such products, which is too expensive. 

We have faith, and hopefully this project will grow bigger and bigger.

Through our Nineveh SEED projects, Mosaic is commited to promoting economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods which are proven to foster hope and resilience within the community. By supporting local entrepreneurship, vocational training, and job creation initiatives, we are standing alongside the people of Teleskof, who are determined to rebuild their economy and create a better future for themselves and their families.

While progress has been made, the journey towards recovery is ongoing. External factors such as political instability and economic uncertainty continue to pose challenges, 

As we reflect on the ten-year mark since the invasion by ISIS, we are acutely aware of the need to continue supporting projects such as the community cafe in Teleskof. Such initiatives serve as an investment in peace by providing economic empowerment and security where there has been displacement and destruction.

The community cafe project in Teleskof is run in partnership with the Chaldean Church of St George, and religious leaders and project participants prayed together at the opening of the cafe.