Yazidi Genocide

Yazidi Genocide

Hello, my name is Andy Williams and I am a professor of International Relations and Development and director of the Institute for Philanthropy at LCC International University (https://lcc.lt/research-at-lcc/institute-for-philanthropy).

I am collaborating with Marwan Tamo, a recent LCC alumnus, to raise funds for a project called Voices of Yezidi. This work consists of collecting many hours of filmed testimony of Yazidi survivors and others who lived through the horrific events of genocide. The funds we raise will pay for the completion of an archive of testimonies, which will serve as the basis for a documentary film scheduled for release by the end of 2024--the tenth anniversary of the genocide against the Yazidi people.

This work is dedicated to all the people who lost their lives, were taken into captivity, were displaced, and suffered as a result of ISIS's brutal attack against the Yazidi community.

Taylor Krauss, an award winning documentarian (see https://pulitzercenter.org/people/taylor-krauss), is producing the documentary. He has spent several years in the Sinjar region dedicated to this effort. Taylor's prior work on the Rwandan genocide is available at https://voicesofrwanda.org/

Several other civil society leaders have endorsed this project and our GoFundMe campaign:

1. Abid Shamdeen, Executive Director of Nadia's Initiative: Abid is a co-founder at Nadia's Initiative and a human rights activist. Abid has a unique understanding of the challenges faced by the Yazidi community, gained through his experience of 15 years of working in the humanitarian and development sector and community initiatives in Iraq. Since the 2014 genocide in Sinjar, Abid has been actively advocating for the Yazidi community and has played a significant role in bringing aid and projects to the region. Please see https://www.nadiasinitiative.org/ for more information about Nadia's Initiative and Abid's work.

2. Murad Ismael, Co-founder of Sinjar Academy: Murad was instrumental in providing intelligence that enabled the U.S. military to fight ISIS. Sinjar Academy is helping survivors of the genocide to rebuild their lives by providing high quality education. Details about the excellent work of Sinjar academy are available at https://www.sinjaracademy.org/

3. Naomi Enns, Director of the Center for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation at LCC International University: Naomi has spent decades promoting peace in the Middle-East and Europe. In the early days of the ISIS conflict and terror experienced by the Yazidi and Assyrian community, she worked in assisting local partners with relief and trauma care directly for Iraqi Yazidi refugees. Most recently, she has convened several international gatherings on peace-building. More information about her work and that of the Center for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation is available here: https://lcc.lt/research-at-lcc/dialogue-and-conflict-transformation

We would be honored to have your support in this effort!

With gratitude,

Andy

P.S. If you would like to connect with Marwan or myself, please send us a note through this campaign--GoFundMe does not allow us to put email addresses in this message.