June 11, 2024
News
A small bakery in the Iraqi city of Karakosh is busy in the morning hours. Three workers bustle around the small space, placing dough for traditional Iraqi bread to the hot walls of two ovens. Moments later, still hot, the bread is served to customers. The bakery is run by twenty-seven-year-old Saman. He fled his hometown because of the war with the so-called Islamic State and returned a few years later to pursue his dream of owning his own bakery. Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, he has succeeded.
Traditional bakery in a Christian town in Iraq
"I started working in the bakery when I was 15. I had dreamt of working as a baker since my childhood," says the young Iraqi inside his small business. He has only a few minutes to talk, apologising that they are busy and he does not want to leave their employees to work alone. Behind his back, the two bakers continue to prepare the dough, bake the bread and serve the customers who come to the counter one by one. Saman now has seven employees in total, but he also works in the bakery every day.
But Saman's life has not always been easy. When the self-proclaimed Islamic State invaded his hometown of Karakosh, one of Iraq's Christian centres, a decade ago, it drove young Saman from his home. "I fled to the safety of Erbil, where I stayed for four years," Saman recalls. After four years, he returned to Karakosh, which had been completely destroyed by Islamic State rule. Still, Saman was determined to fulfil his dream of owning his own bakery. He succeeded thanks to the support of Caritas Czech Republic.
"When I heard that Caritas Czech Republic in our city was encouraging locals to start businesses, I didn't hesitate to apply," Saman says. Caritas Czech Republic provided him with business skills training where he learned how to estimate demand and create his own business plan, budget and overall business strategy. "I learned how to run a bakery so that it would be successful," says the young baker happily. He also received financial support from Caritas Czech Republic, which he used to improve the bakery premises and the necessary equipment.
Slow recovery after the war with the Islamic State
When the city of Karakosh in northern Iraq was attacked by the self-proclaimed Islamic State, tens of thousands of Christians abandoned it, as did Saman. Karakosh is considered one of the Christian centres in Iraq. During their two-year rule over the city, ISIS fighters tried to erase all traces of Christianity - burning churches, destroying icons and religious statues. Today, the churches have been rebuilt, as have many of the houses to which their inhabitants have returned. But the destruction in the city is still evident today, most notably in the homes of Iraqis who have not returned to their hometown.
Residents who came back to Karakosh after the war still face a lack of employment opportunities. Caritas Czech Republic is therefore helping the Iraqis to get back on their feet, for example by setting up their own businesses. We organise business skills training and provide financial support, which has already led to a number of businesses being set up in Karakosh and surrounding towns. In addition to Saman's bakery, there is a bistro serving traditional Iraqi delicacies, a tailoring workshop or a carpentry workshop.
In the future, Saman would like to expand his bakery and offer customers other traditional pastries, not just bread.
"I love my job and I'm good at it, that's what makes me happy. I am very grateful to Caritas Czech Republic for allowing me to fulfil my dream," Saman smiles happily. On the way, he gives us a local speciality, a crispy bread sprinkled with sugar.
Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq
Caritas Czech Republic has been helping in Iraq since 2015, supporting people like Saman to get back on their feet through vocational training and financial grants so they can open their own businesses and support themselves and their families after the war. We have also provided shelter for displaced people who cannot return to their homes for security reasons.
In Iraq, we are also supporting farmers to rebuild destroyed farms and adapt to the climate change that is hitting Iraq hard. We are helping young people to enter the job market through internship programmes and training groups.
We are supporting Iraqis to set up businesses thanks to funding from the Czech Bishops' Conference.
