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