Ep:#62 The force of self-awareness in Iraq with Asmaa Ibrahim and Jiyan Foundation

Why is there so much trauma in Iraq? How was the war with ISIS so different to the other wars over the years? What is the reality on the ground for women in Iraq? Today I speak with Asmaa Ibrahim, co-head of Trauma Care and Health at Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights and assistant lecturer at the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology at the University of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq. We start this conversation understanding the history and the background to the country. Asmaa talks about the stories from when the war broke out in 2014. And what she has heard from the people that she helps. Then she explains what she does to help start the healing process. Asmaa tells us one of her favourite techniques that she uses to help people heal from trauma. We hear about how children were militarised and educated under ISIS. And then what she and the Jiyan Foundation are going to do to reintegrate these now young adults back into society. During this conversation Asmaa gives us a brief window into the life in Iraq. We talk about the culture. And she finishes explaining her anguish but also her hope. I was left so reflective after this. Talking to people in other places is so important. Perspective is such an incredible thing, and conversations like this bring us all closer together. There is a lot here. So grab that favourite beverage or throw on those running shoes, and enjoy this conversation with Asmaa. And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe. And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter