THE CHOMAN SKI CLUB

Formed in 2017 with a few skis from Iran and a lot of moxie, the Choman Ski Club celebrates backcountry skiing by joining together international skiers with local Iraqi Kurds to regularly ski the Zagros mountains around Choman — the club’s home base. The aim of the ski club is to spread a new sport throughout the area, help attract outside investment for new lifts and routes and offer a new perspective on the region, other than one associated with long-term war. The club’s founding members are Kurds who have been trained by outside professionals in skiing and other mountain sports in the past few years. The club also holds a lending library of ski equipment and offers weekly training sessions.

To donate money, go to the Darashakran Run Club Just Giving Page or contact Adrian Brune at ambrune@gmail.com for a donation of lightly used running shoes, clothes and other gear.

PESHMERGA PARK TENNIS TEAM

For most people who pick up a ball and a racquet, international politics is the last thing on their minds. Until one bright May 2006 day in Baghdad, when idealism and extremism landed near the courts of the upmarket Alwiyah Club.

By all accounts, Davis Cup coach Hussein Rashid, 35, and promising players, Nasser Hatem, 28, and Wissam Adel Audal, 25, were dropping off their laundry after practicing at Alwiyah. A car quickly cut them off, followed by a squad of Al-Qaeda hit men who jumped out and shot the three men to death.

More than 15 years later, junior players around Iraq gather anywhere they can find a court to hit, form partnerships and try to fill the shoes of the men and women who came before them. It’s a tall order in a country still recovering from warfare of one kind or another since the former dictator Saddam Hussein seized power in a military coup in 1979. And even though women regularly play tennis in Iraq, the country has not been able to support a Billie Jean King cup team since before the U.S. occupation in 2003.

Photo by Carlotta Cardana

The Peshmerga Park Tennis Team — founded by American journalist Adrian Brune, as well as local coaches, Faris Ayed and Mahmood Nasser — would support youth who want to advance in tennis and possibly field Davis and BJK Cup teams again. Beginning with a modest amount, the Club would supply players from age 7 to 18 with fresh tennis balls, modern tennis racquets, uniforms and tournament travel money to neighboring countries. At the same time as using funds from individuals, the Peshmerga Park Tennis Club is seeking grants and equipment from foundations, clubs and other Western associations until Iraq's own tennis association is able to support its players again.

To donate money, go to the Peshmerga Park Tennis Team Just Giving Page or contact Adrian Brune at ambrune@gmail.com for a donation of lightly used tennis balls, racquets, shoes and clothing.

THE DARASHAKRAN RUN CLUB

The Darakshakran Run Club is a running club established in the Darashakran Refugee Camp by members of the community and the founded of the Erbil Marathon to help girls and boys improve their fitness, teach them dedication to a discipline and provide them with something to do between school and home.

Photo by Carlotta Cardana

More than 10 years after the end of the U.S. troops’ disastrous 11-year occupation and five short years following the defeat of the Islamic State, or ISIS (Da’esh to these kids), these kids have to decide whether to be devout or secular, leave their education to either work and help their families survive or pursue university, or stay and help their countries rebuild after 20 years of conflict or leave for hopefully better circumstances.

The Darakshakran Run Club provides clothes, shoes and competition fees to keep them in sport and pursuing the right track in life.

To donate money, go to the Darashakran Run Club Just Giving Page or contact Adrian Brune at ambrune@gmail.com for a donation of lightly used running shoes, clothes and other gear.

Photo by Carlotta Cardana

THE ERBIL MARATHON FOR PEACE + LOVE

The Erbil International Marathon was established in 2013 as an international sport event to establish love, peace and non-violence in Iraq, and to inform the world that there is a strong community of leaders of civil society in Iraq who are committed to peace and nonviolence.

The marathon was established by the Erbil Marathon Organization for Sport & Peace, a non-governmental sport organization founded officially in April 2015 under Iraqi Kurdistan Region laws. The Erbil Marathon Organization for Sport & Peace, in addition to the marathon, also organizes shorter runs and other sport activities throughout the year to engage people in spreading peace, love and non-violence in a community still recovering from 15 years of war and insurgency.

Photo by Carlotta Cardana

THE IRAQI FOUNDATION FOR SPORT + PEACE

is a UK-founded and UK-registered charity that raises money to:

1. Supply sporting goods to schools, refugee camps and recreation centres with money equipment such as footballs, racquets, balls, boots and track shoes to engage youth in sports, specifically tennis, football and long-distance running.

2. Support new facilities as they are built and engage international expertise in ensuring the highest possible standards are achieved.

3. Provide first class international coaching to a variety of coaches in the Kurdistan Region.

4. Increase organisational capacity and the delivery of sports throughout Iraq by helping to organising tournaments and competitions.

Photo: Carlotta Cardana