Introducing an IPYG Affiliate Organization – Iraq ‘Together for Human and Environment Association’

 

 

Iraq’s ‘Together for Human and Environment Association’ (hereinafter referred to as The Association) is gaining attention as a key player in global peace action beyond local communities. Established in 2005, The Association is a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) officially registered with the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. It is currently active throughout Iraq, centering around its Erbil headquarters and Baghdad branch.

The Association has obtained the ISO 9001:2015 certification, an international standard for quality management systems, establishing a transparent and systematic organizational management system. It also holds a network of more than 300 registered members and over 1,000 volunteers nationwide.

The activities of The Association focus on five core areas: education, environmental protection, health and sanitation, youth and women empowerment, and peacebuilding. Through online and offline learning hubs and large-scale awareness campaigns, it actively supports children and youth to grow into social leaders.

 

 

The core slogan of The Association, ‘Investing in youth as future leaders who will drive innovation, peace, and sustainable development in Iraq,’ aligns deeply with IPYG’s vision that youth must become the leaders who protect and create peace themselves. This shared vision became a decisive factor for the two organizations to build a strong solidarity.

Through practical cooperation, the two organizations successfully co-hosted various cultural exchange events and formed a solid sense of unity by participating together in the Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC).

The Association also works closely with prestigious international organizations such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Oxfam, and Save the Children.

 

 

Major ongoing projects include the ‘Masarouna’ project, which provides reliable health information to more than 6,000 young people, and the ‘Thrive Space’ program, which creates climate-resilient learning environments in Baghdad and Erbil. In addition, through innovative platforms such as the ‘Hack4Dev Science Hackathon 2026’, it combines science, technology, health, and environmental responsibility to help young people build the capacity to solve real social problems.

Despite regional conflicts and environmental crises, ‘Together for Human and Environment Association’, which has led positive changes through YEPC and cultural exchanges with IPYG, is delivering a message of hope and solidarity to youth around the world.

The Association emphasized, “Young people worldwide must become confident learners and responsible citizens who proactively drive positive transformation within their respective communities.” They also stressed that youth are not passive observers simply waiting for the future, but wise innovators who responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology, explore astronomy and space science, and protect humanity and the climate.

The Association shared its commitment, “When the footsteps of global youth unite across borders for peace and sustainable development, a safer and more conscious world will truly be realized.” They encouraged everyone never to shake and to boldly move forward ‘Together’ for a better tomorrow.

Ms. Saadia Alsalhy, President of Together for Human and Environment Association, delivered the following message to the youth of the world:

“Today, the world needs young people who lead with knowledge, compassion, creativity, and courage. Youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are partners in shaping today. At Together to Protect Human & Environment Association, we believe that protecting people and protecting the planet are one shared mission. Through our work in youth empowerment, environmental education, peacebuilding, and community action, we seek to build a more sustainable and inclusive future.

The President of The Association then added the following regarding the cooperation with IPYG:

“In this spirit, Together Association is proud to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with IPYG, strengthening cooperation for peace, youth leadership, cultural exchange, and global understanding. To the youth of Iraq and the world: let us work together beyond borders and cultures. Our challenges are shared, and our solutions must be shared too. Choose hope over fear, dialogue over division, and action over silence. The future is not something we wait for. It is something we create together.”