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British-Kurd sends 20,000 books to Iraqi
Kurdistan
12.7.2012 |
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July
12, 2012
SULAIMANIYAH,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', —
Laween Atroshi has made a number of philanthropic
contributions to the Kurdistan Region, including
introducing the concept of electronic patient
healthcare and helping to nominate the Sulaimani
Autism Center for the prestigious United Nations
Award.
But it is his most recent endeavor that has the
potential to impact tens of thousands in a more
direct way: by putting books in their hands.
“I always look for new ways to contribute to my
ancestral roots and set a good example,” Atroshi
said. “I always want to find methods and channels to
promote education.”
A British-born Kurdish health professional, the
23-year-old partnered with U.K. charity Healthy
Planet, which specializes in salvaging books
destined for landfills, and arranged to have 20,000
books sent to the Kurdistan Region to promote a
culture of reading and education.
“I called [Healthy Planet] and told them about my
idea to promote education in a region that needs it,
and assured them that I would raise funds for
transportation and logistics,” he said.
The donation includes 4,000 children’s books and
16,000 adult books in a myriad of genres. Working
with the Kurdish Cultural Center in London and the
Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Culture
and Youth, who financed the delivery of the books,
Atroshi has arranged for the books to be sent to a
central location in Sulaimani to be organized and
shipped.
“I feel the first line of defense is education
because with it you are able to indulge in
diplomatic dialogue rather than resort to violence,”
Atroshi said. “The leaders of tomorrow are the youth
who are engaged in education.”
A graduate of the University of London, Atroshi
studied biomedical informatics to explore how
medical technology can transform developing
societies like the Kurdistan Region.
Atroshi’s expertise in the healthcare technology
industry led to multiple visits to the Kurdistan
Region to consult with business and government
officials on how the healthcare system could be
“revolutionized.” As a result of his initiatives,www.ekurd.net
he was awarded the Ambassador for Peace Award by the
Universal Peace Federation, a non-governmental
organization focused on conflict resolution.
But, Atroshi noted, his satisfaction comes from
personally contributing to the Kurdistan Region. “I
did this at my own expense because I feel I have an
ambassadorial, moral, and ethical duty to my
ancestral region,” he said.
Every Kurd, whether in the Kurdish Region or abroad,
has a responsibility to promote Kurdish interests in
their specialized area of expertise, Atroshi
suggested.
Most importantly, he believes people need to put
together a plan for translating ideas into action.
“More can be done, especially by the Kurdish
diaspora who are abroad. This initiative was a way
to set the benchmark, break the iceberg and show
people that nothing is impossible,” he said.
“My aspiration is to inspire other youth and
professionals to give their talent to Kurdistan.
Whether it's academic, comedy, art -- we all have
different talents and these should be utilized and
encouraged,” Atroshi said.
“The world is changing, and through such initiatives
we open a box of hope and prosperity.”
Laween Atroshi,
UK Health Informatician & Ambassador For Peace (UPF).
Laween Atroshi is not affiliated with any political
party or organisations. Views and opinions are
solely his own and do not reflect any organisation
whom he has a direct or indirect affiliation with,
either through employment or honorary. Laween Atroshi
is a regular contributor to Ekurd.net.
Tweet Laween Atroshi www.twitter.com/laweenatroshi You can find
Atroshi's website at www.laweenatroshi.com
By Christian Chung - Rudaw
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author or news agency,
rudaw.net
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