The Steep Climb to Freedom
THE STEEP CLIMB TO FREEDOM
The Story of the Freedom Center
At the onset of the post-Saddam era in Iraq, the quest for freedom resounded in the heart of every Iraqi. Iraq was working hard to establish a democratic, representative government that protected the basic rights and freedoms of its multiethnic, religiously diverse society. They knew decades of oppression and tyranny, and longed for self-determination and autonomy. They wanted peace. They needed hope.
In 2005, Global Hope was invited into Iraq’s freedom story when a provincial governor asked us to work in his city. He said, “If you will come here, we will give you land, you can work here tax-free, and we will help you do whatever work you like.” The invitation possessed such potential, and we responded. We moved our lives to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and sought to understand what was at the core of this longing for freedom. With near unanimity, the people communicated a desire for education, professional opportunity, social connection, and ultimately, an enduring hope.
We envisioned a place where all of these things could find a home, and these longings could be fulfilled. The community center concept was a growing strategy in the region to equip and empower communities to recover from years of war, so we dove in. We began building a custom, holistic center designed to support a recovering community still largely overlooked by the needs of the region’s larger urban epicenters. We called this home the Freedom Center, and it sat next door to a vibrant university with more than 5000 aspiring students. With few public gathering places in the community, we envisioned the Freedom Center filled daily with hundreds of visitors studying English, learning computer skills, developing leadership capacity, and innovating opportunity. Our center could be the place where business and benevolence merged to offer sustainable, transformational solutions to local communities’ biggest needs.
Little did we know that the distance between the dream and its reality would be a climb far steeper and more relentless than we could have ever prepared for. The journey would require a faith and courage so resolute that we would be mandated to learn, at least in a small measure, the extraordinary cost of freedom.
In the years that followed, the Iraqi Kurdistan Region struggled with instability, political turmoil, corruption, and economic insecurity. These dynamics influenced and informed, at every turn, Global Hope’s journey to establish the Freedom Center…a journey, at times, that appeared so fragile against the enemies of freedom. Impossibility seemed to define every task and precariousness every relationship; yet surrender was never a viable alternative. Surrender never can be when freedom is at stake and people’s lives hang in the balance. So…the climb became our lot, and the hope of freedom’s rising light our sustenance.
The journey would require a faith and courage so resolute that we would be mandated to learn, at least in a small measure, the extraordinary cost of freedom.
Before long, while we plodded and fought for the summit, ISIS invaded, Iran bombarded, masses were displaced, and minorities were annihilated. Our dream seemed elusive as weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. The word of God’s good promise alone held as the anchor for our souls. “It’s only impossible until it’s done” became our mantra, and hope for the hopeless our anticipated reward. At times, looking for an exit ramp on this long climb to freedom seemed very appealing, but what then would be the answer to the Yezidi girl tortured by ISIS, the young woman contemplating suicide, the university student desperate for a promising future, or the refugee family in search of safe haven.
During these times of crisis, with only a shadow of the ultimate dream having been realized, the Freedom Center served as Global Hope’s hub for humanitarian aid distributions and compassionate care for those suffering across the region.
Then surprisingly, in a way and at a time we long hoped for but never could have expected, we reached the summit of our long climb. Last year, in the midst of a global pandemic, a country-wide lockdown, and a financial crisis, we completed the Freedom Center as it was originally envisioned – a place to advance hope and freedom among those who have been impacted by violence and conflict - through education, empowerment, advocacy and justice. The rooms were filled with tables and chairs, desks and white boards, sofas and coffee tables. We even secured the deed and title for the land on which the Freedom Center is built, an accomplishment that has been achieved by a foreign organization only once before in the history of Iraq. Finally, impossible was done.
Finally, impossible was done.
Today is a new day, but before we run on, we are taking a moment to stand at the summit and absorb freedom’s beautiful light and celebrate a hard-won victory. We will soak up the joy of overcoming and honor the servant warriors who sacrificed their all for the climb. Many of you have climbed with us. With exceeding gratitude, we welcome you to join the celebration.
And afterwards, together, we will get back to work, and continue chasing freedom with the people of Iraq and Syria, because this is only the beginning. Freedom still calls out for banner carriers who will brave the next steep climb and raise the flag at the summit, all while guiding many others to the top where they too can soak in the view.
Up there, it is more beautiful than we could ever imagine.
Through grit and grace, a firm foundation is now established for long-term, sustainable, locally-led freedom work; nevertheless, there is still much more to do. We are not done and we need your help.
Join us in this freedom work in Iraq and Syria.