August 7, 2024
News
Anas is a young tile setter from the Iraqi city of Karakosh who ran away from the invasion of the self-proclaimed Islamic State with his family to Erbil for several years. He did not have the financial resources and conditions to restart his business to support himself and his family. Today, Anas is working as a successful tile setter and and he is able to run his own business thanks to Caritas Czech Republic.
He left home overnight
Anas was born in Karakosh, a Christian town in northern Iraq. Before ISIS, he studied at an electrical engineering institute, which he successfully completed with a diploma. He also helped out in the family tile business by the side of his father, who taught him the craft from childhood.
But in 2014, Karakosh was hit by a massacre. Just a short distance from the homes of tens of thousands of residents, ISIS jihadists stood ready to destroy the entire city. Anas and his family, with only a few of their things, fled ISIS to Erbil, where they spent about 3 years. In Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Anas started working as a construction worker specialising in paving.
When he came back home, the city of Karakosh was liberated, but living conditions were not ideal. "When my family and I returned to our hometown, we were shocked by what we found. We found the remains of burnt houses and the town resembled a minefield," Anas recalls sadly. But he did not give up and started a business selling and cutting alabaster and helan stone. Thanks to financial support from Caritas Czech Republic and the Czech Bishops' Conference, he has opened his own shop.
Caritas Czech Republic helps displaced people to support themselves and their families
After returning to Karakosh, Anas had to start from scratch. He did not have enough money or the necessary equipment to run his business fully. That is why Caritas Czech Republic gave him a helping hand.
He participated in a 40-day management skills training programme organised by Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq and, together with other participants, received a financial grant. Thanks to this, he was able to equip his shop with a warehouse and buy the necessary machinery for cutting stone and tiles.
Today, Anas works as a successful tile setter, cooperating with other tile setters in the area. For some of them, he cuts tiles and stone and others order tiles and materials based on Anas' samples. His work earns him enough per month to live a happy life and to be able to support himself and his family. In October 2022, he was happily married, and as his thanks, Caritas Czech Republic appeared on the guest list.
Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq
Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq helps people get the work and shelter they need to get back on their feet. We also support local farmers to rebuild their destroyed farms with new modern equipment and special training programmes.
In Iraq, besides Anas, we have helped for example Mujahed, who has rebuilt his carpentry workshop so he can provide for his family thanks to our support.
