Join us in enabling Indigenous Assyrians to gather, build, and prosper in Nahla.
Nahla Valley is an Assyrian region located 110 km north of Erbil city. Nahla currently consists of 8 (remaining) villages inhabited by Indigenous Assyrians. It is home to approximately 180 families, totaling 700 Assyrians, with its youth (ages 15-35) making up around 30% (200) of the population.
Despite the challenges Assyrians face in the valley, from Turkish airstrikes in the mountains, land grabbing by some of their Kurdish neighbors, and strict checkpoints entering the area, our people want to stay, build, and prosper in their indigenous lands in Nahla.
The Nala Organization for Development and Relief was established in 2021 with the aim of supporting Nahla’s existence by documenting, fundraising, and implementing projects for the region as needed.
With that in mind, one of the main pastimes of Nahla residents is playing and watching soccer at Nala Stadium, which was built in 2013, in the heart of Nahla, the village of Khalilaneh. The stadium is utilized by the Nala Football Club (men’s soccer team), Nala Ashur (the women’s soccer team), as well as children’s teams… However, when the locals gather at the stadium to watch their teams practice, or when fans of Nahla teams and visiting opponent teams attend tournament and league matches, they have to stand on their feet, sit on rocks, or bring chairs from home, as there is no designated seating area, only empty land. The situation discourages some friends and family from attending, and for those that do attend, it limits the time they spend at the stadium.
Therefore, Etuti Institute in collaboration with Nala Organization for Development and Relief aim to build bleachers for Nala Stadium for our people to gather comfortably and watch their athletic youth living their dreams.
In addition to the bleachers for the Nala Stadium, we aim to build 125 meters of the main water canal in the village of Belmend and 125 meters in the village of Kashkawa. The people of Nahla are dependent on this water canal that goes through the 8 villages for their agricultural lands, and it is also used as a source of energy for their Takhin factories.
Let's come together and help our people in Nahla stay in our ancestral lands, build up their needs and dreams, and prosper. Your support goes beyond dollars – it signifies a commitment to their resilience, nurturing dreams, fostering gatherings, and creating lasting change. Donate today, and let's kick off a brighter future together for Indigenous Assyrians in the Homeland.
Taudi, Basimeh Raba, and Thank You!
Please note that Etuti Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donations are tax-deductible in the USA and excess funds will be used for similar projects.
