www.unponteper.it/en

ANNUALREPORT

2017

WHO WE AREUn Ponte Per ... is an association for international solidarity born in 1991 immediately after the end of thebombing on Iraq. From the very beginning its aim has been the promotion of solidarity initiatives for the Iraqipopulation affected by the war. Originally called “Un Ponte Per Baghdad”, the association later became simplyUn Ponte Per… after expanding its work into Serbia, Kosovo and various Middle Eastern and Mediterraneancountries.The purpose of the association is to prevent the outbreak of new conflicts, particularly in the Middle East,through advocacy campaigns, cultural exchanges, cooperation projects and civil peace interventions. Un PontePer… considers solidarity interventions to be indivisible from the commitment to building links between theItalian civil society and the civil societies of the countries in which it operates.

WHAT WE DOIn Iraq, for over 25 years, UPP has implemented health, cultural and educational projects while supportingpeace and human rights. This has been possible thanks to the many supporters in Italy and in collaborationwith UN agencies and the European Union. The work was carried out during the entire period of the embargoto Iraq and then through the 2003 war with the implementation of emergency interventions in the most af-fected areas. After that conflict, Un Ponte Per ... launched initiatives in support of the Iraqi civil society. Thesewere committed to protecting cultural heritage, human and environmental rights, minorities rights, freedomof expression and association, and the culture of nonviolence. UPP has also been active in the recent Iraq con-flict with emergency interventions, first response and constant aid distribution, also including peacebuilding.The long-term commitment to the Iraqi and Kurdish people and their rights has always been at the base ofour humanitarian work.In Syria, UPP has been operating in the north-east of the country since 2015 by sending humanitarian aid andsupporting the important work of the Kurdish Red Crescent in response to the health emergency caused bythe conflict. At the same time, a program to support the Kurdish municipalities was launched. Since 2011, UPPhas been carrying out an extensive program of assistance to refugees in neighbouring countries.UPP has been active in Jordan for 11 years, working with local organizations that support the rights and pro-tection of women and minors, with specific projects for the schooling of Syrian children and the assistance ofwomen victim of gender based violence. The first experimentation of the Civil Peace Corps, launched in 2017,was also included in this framework.In Lebanon, UPP intervenes with solidarity actions in support of the Palestinian and Syrian refugees in thecountry. Since 2016, it has started a National Civil Service program abroad, sending young volunteers involvedwith the local schools and recreational centres managed by the local partners. Additionally, in 2017 the as-sociation sent more volunteers as part of the first experimentation of the Civil Peace Corps.In Palestine the association is engaged with “Civil Peace Interventions” and solidarity delegations, as well asthe promotion of awareness campaigns.In the Balkans, where UPP has been active since 1999, the association collaborates with the displaced Serbiancommunities in the area, and particularly in Kosovo to support the families most in need.Until 2010, UPP’s campaign in Turkey, ‘Un Ponte Per… Diyarbakir’ actively promoted and supported therecognition of rights for the Kurdish people.In Italy, Un Ponte Per ... works closely with schools, universities, social communities and trade unions to buildbridges of peace and knowledge with the countries in which it intervenes. It promotes campaigns for peaceand disarmament, the defence of the common goods and the reception of migrants and refugees. UPP isengaged in actions of institutional advocacy for the protection of human rights activists and defenders of allthe countries in which it operates.

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THE RECONSTRUCTION AFTER DAESH

IRAQ

With the liberation of Mosul, in July 217, and thewithdraw of the Daesh (Islamic state) militia from alarge part of the Iraqi territory, Un Ponte Per…(UPP)has initiated a wide programme to accompany the mi-norities communities in the gradual return from therefugee camps to their homes. In the same areaswhere it was working in 2011 to promote dialogueand social cohesion, UPP has immediately intervenedto reconstruct the scholar and healthcare facilitiesdamaged by the conflict, offering psycho-social sup-port to families returned home. Specifically, in Nineveh’s plain UPP has started theMa’an Na’ud project ( come back together) to assurepsychological support and reproductive health pro-tection to the thousands of families that were comingback to the devastated villages of Bashiqa, Qaraqoshand Bartella, in the complex context of the reconstruc-tion of towns and villages devastated by the conflict,through the rehabilitation of health clinics and thestrengthening of psychosocial support abilities of thesocial workers, teachers and psychologists in theschools. From September the polyfunctional healthcentre in Bashiqa has been rehabilitated and has as-sisted over 200 women in 3 months. While the battle to free Mosul was still ongoing, UPPwas among the first international organization to re-turn to Qaraqosh and the surrounding villages, thanksto the strong connections with the Christians and

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Yazidi local communities. UPP has immediately inter-vened to respond as its best to the population needs:beside the distribution oh humanitarian aids for 842families in 12 villages, a school able to welcome morethan 1000 children was restored. Meanwhile, UPP hassupported a group of local artists, Colour Fingerprint,in their commitment of covering the messages ofdeath left by Daesh with colourful murals containingmessages praising peace and life on the walls ofQaraqosh.In the first half of the year, Un Ponte Per… hasdistributed water, food and sanitation kits, reachingthousands of people fleeing the military operations:the Darna program (“our home”) has provided as-sistance to the displaced families; meanwhile a spe-cific team of female doctors and social workers of theZhyan project (life) has monitored, through a mobilehealthcare clinic, the state of reproductive and mentalhealth of the women that reached the Debagarefugee camp (Erbil). At the same time a team ofMass Communication project operators was involvedin guiding displaced families. Finally, thanks to theAhlein III (Welcome) project, operators and psy-chologists monitored the health status of displacedchildren from Mosul in the surrounding camps,identifying the most serious cases and the type ofintervention necessary to alleviate the traumasthey suffered. A commitment continued even after

SYRIAN REFUGEESIN IRAQUn Ponte Per… has worked on the border betweenSyria and Iraq since the beginning of the Syrian crisisin 2011, welcoming and guiding people fleeing theconflict, distributing basic necessities.

In the first six months of 2017 have been held trainingcourses for doctors, social workers, volunteers, edu-cators and psychologists working in mental healthcentres. This was possible thanks to the Psycho-socialand orientation support program active for threeyears in all the camps that welcomed Syrians in theErbil and Dohuk areas. Protected spaces for childrenand play-therapy activities have also been created.4,293 were the assisted persons who had access tomental health services during the project, while 948were outreached through the awareness and advo-cacy activities based on a community approach.Donors: OCHA, UNHCR.

Moreover, during the year UPP was able to work,through the Taleem Lil-Jamie project (Education forall), to improve the educational conditions of theSyrian minors and the host communities in the Sulay-maniyah area. This was done in close synergy with theteachers of the schools involved through training andnon-formal education activities. Throughout theproject it was possible to hire one minibus to accom-pany 210 Syrian children to school, to organizetraining on resilience groups for about 100 educatorsin five schools of Sulaymaniyah and to create a YouthCentre in the Syrian refugee camp of Barika to ac-commodate daily 350 boys and girls aged 12 to 19,involving them in recreational and educationalactivities.Donors: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation- AICS, private donations, Veneto Region, Municipalityof Mogliano Veneto.

On page 4Church destroyed by Daesh.

Iraq. Qaraqosh, July 2017Photo by Massimo Mucchiut.

On page 5A boy from the group of Iraqi artists "Colour Fingerprint"

working to erase writings left by Daesh.Iraq. Qaraqosh, February 2017

Photo by Marta Malaspina.

the liberation of the city, with the launch of psycho-social services in 25 schools in the east of Mosul.

Donors: UNHCR, UNICEF, Italian Agency for De-velopment Cooperation - AICS, Waldensian Church,Autonomous Province of Bolzano, private donations,CCFD-Terre Solidaire.

A central theme in the commitment of Un Ponte Per...is supporting young people as real actors of change.In this direction, UPP launched a three-year programin 2015 with the aim of facilitating dialogue, social co-hesion, mutual knowledge and reconciliation throughthe opening of five youth aggregation centres in IraqiKurdistan, dedicated to all minority communities. TheYouth Across Ethnicities program has seen the cre-ation of the Centres in Dohuk, Sulaimaniyah, Zummarand Erbil, where in 2017 only were held 164 social,cultural, musical, sporting and aggregating activitiesinvolving about 6,800 young people. Worth of men-tion is the creation of the comic book "Kurdistan,dispatches from the Iraqi front", published by Becco-Giallo, in which the author Claudio Calia tells the sto-ries of the young Iraqis, Syrians and Kurds whoanimate these Centres. As a result of a musicalworkshop created with Italian artists and young localmusicians in the Centres it was also published the CDnamed "Walking Sound" .

With the same objectives also a new communityCultural centre was opened in Sulaymaniyah, in theArbat district. Here members of the different commu-nities (Iraqi, Syrian and Kurdish) work together to pro-mote gender-sensitive outreach activities, languages,after-school courses for children, cooking classes, and

SUPPORT FOR THE YOUTHspecific focus activities on the management and me-diation of inter-community conflicts. Over 4,300people were involved in the activities.Donors: UNDP, European Union, CEI, WaldensianChurch, Autonomous Province of Bolzano.

Un Ponte Per ... also leads Fursa (Opportunity), an im-portant program of social support and developmentaimed at young people in Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey,with particular attention to Syrian refugees. During2017 several activities involving 6,890 boys and girlswere organized to encourage social development andsocial cohesion with the aim to promote greater au-tonomy for young people in the Syrian community.Moreover, two community radio stations (in Erbil andSulaymaniyah) have been created and managed di-rectly by the boys and girls. These broadcast self-pro-duced programs in Kurdish, Arabic and English onvarious topics ranging from human rights to social co-hesion, awareness, advocacy as well as music.Donor: European Union.

In the same perspective was conceived the YallaShebab project in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate,aimed at fostering social cohesion and building trustbetween the Syrian refugee community, the displacedIraqis and the hosting Kurds through professional

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PROTECTION OFWOMEN AND MINORS

training courses and work placement programs. A vo-cational training centre was set up in the Deir Maryamal-Adhra Monastery, which organized training coursesfor 50 girls and boys for a total of 150 hours of theoryand 350 hours of practice in local companies. Thesame Training Center also gave birth to "Dwrman wDarzi" (Needle & Thread): 24 Iraqi, Syrian and Kurdishwomen attended a sewing workshop to get goingagain, proposing to local companies their own modelsof working clothes.Donor: Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI).

As part of the Program for the protection of minors inconflict zones, with the second phase of the projectIbtisam (Smile) Un Ponte Per ... was able to ac-company 3,185 displaced Iraqi students and Syrianrefugees attending 13 schools in Erbil. This preciouspath of psycho-social support was run during the2016-2017 school year. At the same time 157 trainingcourses were held for teachers and social workers, inaddition to 696 parents involved in resilience groups.Donor: Caritas Switzerland.

In the same context took place the third phase of theAhlein! (Welcome!) project. During 2017 the at-tention was focused on 25 Iraqi schools in theliberated areas of Mosul east, Tel Kaif and Bashiqa,as well as refugee camps where thousands ofdisplaced Iraqi families found refuge. Approximately6,000 boys and girls comprised in the age group 5-17years have been involved since June, while family re-silience groups have been organized for 1,944 people.Donor: UNICEF.

On the other hand the triennial Zhyan (Vita) projectfocused on the Erbil Governorate. It delivered threeclinics specialized in reproductive health which haveprovided assistance to over 20,000 Iraqi, Kurdish andSyrian women. In particular, in 2017 a mobile gynae-cological clinic was purchased and subsequently man-aged by specialized personnel who providedassistance to women and children in the receptioncamps created to welcome the new families comingfrom the Mosul area. At the same time 9,947 womenhad access to reproductive health services betweenclinics and home visits. The project also guaranteedaccess to psychological support services for 1,272women and adolescents. At the end of the year, theclinics were handed to the Health Department of theGovernorate of Erbil in order to ensure continuity ofthe valuable work carried out in recent years.Donors: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation- AICS, private donations.

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Three years of occupation of Daesh have left deepwounds in the Iraqi communities, exacerbating theinter-communal tensions already present, increasingdistrust and mutual resentment. In order for the ef-fects of violence not to become new outbreaks of con-flict, Un Ponte Per ... has always supported a responseto the humanitarian emergency with a broad in-tervention aimed at strengthening social cohesionand community participation in peacebuildingprocesses, with a strong focus on young people andwomen. Such activities have intensified after themilitary defeat of Daesh.

Paths of coexistence in Mesopotamia and the MiddleEast is an important program launched at the begin-ning of 2017 with the aim of overcoming the funda-mentalisms induced by Daesh. It endeavours to builda path of trust among the communities involved, de-velope their sense of belonging to a common culturaland environmental heritage (Mesopotamia) andfavour the participatory management of the territoryand supporting coexistence practices and pacts. EightIraqi cities are involved, as well as a Syrian and aTurkish city, all along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.Thanks to the precious work of many young activistswere organized local social forums able to mobilize

PEACEBUILDING AND CIVIL SOCIETYover 6000 people in events and campaigns, with theaim to rebuild ways of peaceful coexistence.Donor: Fondation Assistance Internationale (FAI).

At the beginning of 2017, Un Ponte Per... launchedthe triennial program Mesopotamian Youth forDemocracy, social cohesion and reconciliation inIraq, to strengthen the participation of young peoplein political and peacebuilding processes. This wasdone by supporting the two local platforms of theIraqi Social Forum (Baghdad) and the Kurdistan SocialForum (Erbil) that bring together networks, associa-tions and trade unions throughout the country.Parallel working groups of the two forums work onissues such as social justice and human rights, pro-tection of displaced communities and minorities, pro-motion of peace journalism and tolerance in themedia, environmental rights, protection of culturalheritage and participation of women in the processesof policy-making. Young activists meet in a social cen-tre opened purposely in Nassiriya. Through the yearUn Ponte Per... supported the respective nationalevents of the two forums that saw the participationof over 5,400 activists and volunteers, as well as a uni-fied conference at Sulaymaniya to strategically unitethe campaigns, overcoming the political division be-

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tween Kurdistan and rest of Iraq.Donor: European Union.

The Road to Nineveh: social cohesion, peace andcoexistence program was eventually concluded.Thank to this project, local teams of mediators andpeace workers were formed in four districts of theNineveh Governorate, allowing them to work withspecial citizen committees on reconciliation andreparative justice among displaced communities. Atthe end of 2017, with some of the same partners, anew similar program was opened in the enclaves ofChristian, Yazid and Shebak minorities in the NinevehPlain. It began by carrying out a detailed analysis ofthe dynamics of the conflict and adopting a genderbased focus in all activities. These programs havebeen enhanced during advocacy meetings with theEuropean Union in order to promote an increasedcommitment to reconciliation in Iraq within the newstrategy of the European External Action Service.Donors: UNDP, GIZ.

Since 2009, as part of its work with Iraqi civil society,UPP has supported the Iraqi Civil Society SolidarityInitiative (ICSSI) — a coalition of Iraqi and interna-tional civil society organizations. ICSSI holds an annualconference which brings together hundreds ofactivists, journalists, trade unionists, women’s asso-ciations, and representatives from NGOs from all overthe country. UPP supports ICSSI’s advocacy andawareness-raising campaigns by relaunching them inEurope. Among the most important are: Shahrazad(women’s rights); Save the Tigris and the IraqiMarshes; Save Iraqi Heritage; Workers’ Rights; Free-dom of Expression, Press and Information; theBaghdad Marathon.UPP also supports the activities of the Iraqi SocialForum, and is committed to protecting Iraqi WomenHuman Rights Defenders (WHRDs). In 2016, in col-laboration with Iraqi WHRDs and the Iraqi Women’sJournalist Forum, UPP opened a centre in Baghdadwhich provides legal aid and protection for activists.At the national level, Un Ponte Per.. has activated a"digital clinic" to provide informational assistance tothe threatened activists on the web, or to those whowant to protect themselves against data theft anddefamatory campaigns. Both services have helpedover 50 WHRDs in one year to defend themselvesagainst attacks and threats.Donors: Fondation Assistance Internationale – FAI,Karibu Foundation, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, Governmentof the Federal Republic of Germany.

On page 6The boys and girls of the Erbil Youth Centre.

Iraq. Erbil, September 2017.Photo by Arianna Pagani.

On page 7An excerpt from the comic "Kurdistan. Dispatches from

the Iraqi front "by Caludio Calia.Published by BeccoGiallo, December 2017.

On page 8Annual conference of the Iraqi Social Forum Solidarity Initiative.

Iraq. Sulaimaniyah, December 2017.Photo by Un Ponte Per...

On page 9Ninos, a Christian from Qaraqosh, and Ali, a Shiite from southern

Iraq, involved in one of our peacebuilding interventions.Iraq. Qaraqosh, December 2017

Photo by Un Ponte Per...

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SYRIA

HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCYAfter more than 6 years, the war in Syria does notstop. US military operations for the liberation ofRaqqa from Daesh saw a massive use of weapons,which caused an unprecedented number of displacedand wounded, as well as civilian casualties. In thenorth-east of the country Un Ponte Per..., active since2015, has intensified its commitment in collaborationwith the Kurdish Red Crescent to guarantee health as-sistance to the victims of the conflict.

In 10 months, thanks to the second phase of the Safeproject, humanitarian loads of medicines and medicalequipment were delivered to cover the needs of33,982 people. These allowed the supply of sixKurdish Red Crescent Clinics and guarantee the ac-cess to free treatment for 88,273 patients, including20,957 women in gynaecology wards and 20,398 inpaediatric wards. Sanitary kits for 600 families havealso been distributed.Donors: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation- AICS, Waldensian Church, private donations.

During the siege of Raqqa, Un Ponte Per... set up 2Centres for the stabilization of the wounded which in

5 months gave assistance to 5,232 people. A thirdclinic was set up in the refugee camp of Areesha, of-fering throughout 4 months internal medicine,paediatrics and gynaecology services to over 42,800displaced Syrians, with peaks of 400 patients a day inthe month of October alone. 15 ambulances werepurchased to allow specialized medical teams to movearound the city, across the front line, and rescue thecivilian victims. After the liberation of the city, thehealth care assistance was moved to the surroundingrural areas, where ambulances and mobile clinics con-tinued to operate. At the same time, training wasorganized for 60 doctors and nurses of the KurdishRed Crescent on psychological first aid (PFA)techniques, on the management of civilian casualtiesin places of conflict, on decontamination proceduresin case of chemical attacks and on procedures to betaken in mined areas.Donor: European funds.

After the liberation of the areas of Raqqa, Ras El Ainand Tabqa from Daesh, Un Ponte Per... started aproject to guarantee Integrated Reproductive HealthServices to women who needed assistance during

Immediately following the launch of the offensive toliberate Mosul at the end of 2016, UPP started ahealth care assistance program for Iraqis seekingrefuge in Syria, primarily in the Al Hol (Hasakeh) camp.A health centre structured in 3 clinics (generic,gynaecological and paediatric) has been set up inorder to offer through the year free treatment toabout 70,000 people, of which 25,000 are minors.Donor: UNHCR.

IRAQI REFUGEES IN SYRIA

On page 10Rehabilitation of a hospital used by Daesh as a base.

Syria. Tabqa, October 2017.Photo by Alessio Romenzi.

UpPharmaceutical Dispensary of the Kurdish Red Crescent.

Syria. Gerke Lege, December 2017.Photo by Linda Dorigo.

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maternity. In a few months, 3 hospitals previouslyused by Daesh as military bases and partiallydestroyed were rehabilitated. In the facilities 1,292children and girls were born in safety condi-tions. Furthermore, in the same hospitals, havebeen created 3 new intensive care units for the new-borns, surgical rooms used for caesarean sections,supplementary consultation services for children'shealth and consultation for women's health. Over26,500 women were assisted in total. Never ne-glecting the information and prevention processes,particular attention was paid to reproductive health,sexual and gender violence through informative ses-sions and health education programs.Donor: UNFPA.

To broaden the intervention of Un Ponte Per... in thenorth-east of Syria, a program was launched at theend of the year to increase the governance capacitiesof the Kurdish municipalities of Iraq and Syria, thusfavouring better management of territories and localrealities. This was possible thank to the strengtheningof the direct dialogue between the Italian and Kurdishcivil societies, and through the communication andshared planning between the respective municipali-ties.Donor: ANCI.

JORDAN

OPPOSING SOCIAL EXCLUSIONSince the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Un Ponte Per...has been active in Jordan with support, guidance, pro-tection and assistance programs for refugee families.During 2017 UPP's work was focused on supportingchildren and combating social exclusion.

Thanks to the projects Marasati Ahla (My mostbeautiful school) and Ibtisam (Smile) it was possibleto intervene in 11 schools of Amman and Irbid wherein addition to removing the existing architecturalbarriers to facilitate access to students, teachers andstaff with disability, UPP worked to create more wel-coming and inclusive environments. 421 teachers and30 technicians from the Jordanian Ministry of Educa-tion have been trained on psycho-social pathologiesand on the inclusion of children with disabilities. Atthe same time continues the collaboration with "SheFighter" - the first women self-defence centre in theMiddle East - with the organization of meetings andpractical workshops on the main techniques of pro-tection from gender violence dedicated to teachersand students.Donor: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation -AICS.

Our support to people with disabilities continues inthe project Adreen (We can), targeting people withphysical or mental disabilities –both congenital andcaused by the conflict – among Syrian refugees andthe most vulnerable categories of the Jordanianpopulation. The intervention enabled access tohealthcare, psychosocial support and mobility aids(such as prostheses, crutches, and wheelchairs) forover 640 people including women, girls, men, andboys. The project includes an important trainingcomponent on rehabilitation, proper usage ofmobility aids, and improvement of autonomy forpeople with disabilities. Donor: OCHA.

The attention to vulnerable communities also leadsthe program Bina’a Jusour (Building bridges), whichpromoted the launch of a cafeteria managed bypeople with psychiatric conditions, the training ofIraqi refugees in pizza-making, as well as the supportto production of mobility aids for the physically chal-lenged. The intervention also targets the youth ofrefugee and host communities thanks to a program oftraineeships in several humanitarian organizationsoperating in Jordan.Donor: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation -AICS.

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The Jordanian mission also hosts the Civil Peace Corpspilot program, which brought 4 young Italianvolunteers to Jordan with the aim of promotingsolidarity and tolerance between the host populationand the refugee community from Syria. The initiative,called Ahlan! (Welcome), promotes psychosocial sup-port and recreational activities, nonviolent conflictmediation, education, and formation in the mul-tifunctional centres and social spaces of the partnerorganization Jordanian Women Union in Amman,Irbid, and Zarqa, monitoring the needs of the localcommunities. Donors: Department for Youth and Civil NationalService, Fondation Assistance Internationale – FAI.

Page 12Activity in schools with Claun Pimpa

Amman, Jordan. July 2017.Photo courtesy of Marta Malaspina

RightOpening event of the pizzeria run by Iraqi refugees.

Amman, Jordan. October 2017.Photo Un Ponte Per… (TBC)

LEBANON AND PALESTINE

PROTECTION OF MINORSFor years, UPP has been present in Lebanon with itsChild Sponsorship program, Family Happiness. Thisprogram offers support from a distance to Palestinianand Syrian-Palestinian children who are refugees inLebanon. In 2016, UPP launched the National CivilService program abroad, Education without Borders,which brought four Italian volunteers to Lebanon until2017. After receiving specialized training in Italy, thefour young volunteers have been involved in non-formal education tracks targeting Palestinian,Lebanese and Syrian children. The courses are activein Shatila and Bourj el-Barahneh camps, wherevolunteers teach English for pre-schoolers and forkids attending remedial classes in the afternoon,alongside recreational activities. Donor: National Civil Service Abroad.

The mission in Lebanon also hosts a pilot programwith Civil Peace Corps, four young Italian volunteersinvolved in the project Dealing with the Future,which aims at supporting and enhancing the effortsled by local organizations towards social inclusion andmediation in Beirut with young Palestinian and Syrianrefugees, and young Lebanese activists.Donors: Department for Youth and Civil NationalService, Fondation Assistance Internationale – FAI.

UpActivities with Palestinian children and girls as part

of the "Education Witout Borders" projectLebanon. Beirut, March 2017

Photo by Giorgio Lentini.

CIVIL PEACEKEEPINGINTERVENTIONSThe presence of Civil Peace Corps and internationalvolunteers, especially in rural areas of the West Bank,is considered an effective tool for reducing the vio-lence inflicted by settlers and abuse by the army.Since 2010, UPP has been a partner in this project,and has contributed a group of young volunteersevery October, when olives are harvested in Palestine.Once back to Italy, the groups prepared the materialnecessary for the harvest, organized awarenessraising events and started a blog: raccogliendolapace.wordpress.comDonors: private donations.

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SERBIA AND KOSOVO

THERE IS A CHILDIn the summer of 2017 the volunteers of the UPPSerbian branch organized a summer stay for about 50Serb children coming from Kraljevo, Metohija andKosovo. The program for hosting Serbian refugeeminors in Italian accommodation facilities and fami-lies has continued from 1999 to 2012. In recent years,the children have been hosted in some cities ofGreece and Montenegro. The initiative was organizedin collaboration with the Red Cross of Kraljevo. Donors: private donations.

SOLIDARITY TRIPSAlso in 2017, in collaboration with the ItalianGeographical Society, the usual trip to buildsolidarity and increase knowledge took place inSerbia, Kosovo and Metohija, accompanied byUPP volunteers in Serbia. These regular tripsprovide an opportunity for local families tomeet Italian families who participate in thedistance support program called Svetlost.Donors: private donations.

SOLIDARITYGREENHOUSESThanks to contributions from many supporters, in2017, UPP was able to donate 11 greenhouses for thecultivation of fruits and vegetables to needy familiesin the distance support program Svetlost.Donors: private donations.

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SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

FAMILY HAPPINESSThe project Family Happiness supports school at-tendance for Palestinian youth in Lebaneserefugee camps. Primary attention goes toorphaned children, or those who struggle withserious social or health conditions. The project isimplemented in collaboration with the PalestinianNGO, Beit Atfal Assomoud, which has been activein the camp since 1974, and which also works toprovide health and social support in 10 of the 12other camps in Lebanon. In 2012, the city ofNaples, though the project, ’Smiles’, supported 5Palestinian youth in refugee camps, and organizeda day of awareness-raising for some high schoolsin the city. Since 2013, the program has expandedto reach Syrian children and adolescents, as wellas Syrian-Palestinian refugees in the country, withdaycare and nurseries, temporary classrooms,trainings, and healthcare services.Donors: private donations.

FARAH The project, Farah (Joy), aims at supplying medicalassistance and care, and follows the treatment ofIraqi minors suffering from chronic or seriousillnesses. The program provides support from adistance for minority children living in the country,and is carried out in collaboration with theKurdish-Iraqi organization, Yaum al-Hurriyya.The medicine provided is purchased locally, andlocal partners ensure its distribution to families.The children who participate in the projectgenerally reside in small vil lages in thearea, particularly those which are more re-mote, far from the main hospitals in the region.Donors: private donations.

SVETLOSTThe project, Svetlost (Illuminating InvisibleChildren), aims to provide support to displacedfamilies from Kosovo, both in southern Serbia andto those returning to Kosovo, as well as to familieswho are not refugees but are still struggling withpoverty and hardship. In 2010, the projectwas relaunched, thanks to the book and DVD,‘The Scream from Kosovo’, which, through power-ful testimonies and videos, describes the livingconditions of refugees from Serbia and Kosovo 10years after the conflict in 1999. Since the begin-ning of 2011, in collaboration with the Monasteryof Decani, the project has also extended to theSerbian communities in Kosovo.Donors: private donations.

ITALY AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

Simultaneously, Un Ponte Per ... promoted in Romethe activities of the project The Sound Routes. Houseconcerts and jam sessions in the city's premises wereorganized to foster the meeting of young artists andmusicians - migrants, refugees and Italians - in orderto facilitate the mutual exchange of knowledge andintegration as well as to break down common stereo-types.Donor: European Union.

SUPPORT FOR MIGRANTSSince the beginning of 2015, UPP has been activelycommitted to welcoming migrants to Italy and en-couraging mutual recognition, increased understandingand cultural exchange. Across the country, this sup-port has been strengthened and realized through theimplementation of micro-projects run by local com-mittees of UPP, dedicated to welcoming migrants,refugees and asylum seekers.

In 2017 support continued for the S.T.A.M.P. project,a mobile help desk aimed at migrants, asylum seekers,refugees and transit workers in the urban area ofRome. The project was conceived by "ResistenzeMeticce", a network active in the capital for manyyears. S.T.A.M.P. makes available for free someservices and tools useful to support the transit ofthose who want to continue their journey, at the sametime it improves the reception conditions and thepossibility of autonomy of those who have decided tostay in Italy, or have been forced to do so. The projectcovers three areas of intervention: l inguisticorientation and basic information on transports, of-fices and documentations; legal assistance and freehealthcare orientation; a free Wi-Fi area and computersequipped with headsets and microphones for Skypecalls.Donors: Waldensian Church, private donations.

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On page 14The children of the Al Tahira school, renovated by Un Ponte Per...

Iraq. Qaraqosh, March 2017Picture from Un Ponte Per...

UpOne of the "The Sound Routes" project house concerts.

Italy. Rome, May 2017.Photo of Marmorata 169.

BUILDING PEACE, STARTING FROM SCHOOLSThe training and peace education programs that UnPonte Per ... carries out on the national territory offerevery year, to boys and girls, the tools to becomerespectful citizens of different cultures, starting fromthe schools as privileged places for the constructionof tolerance and integration.

In 2017, the Peace Education Group of the as-sociation focused its efforts particularly in the re-gions of Campania, Lazio and Tuscany thanks to theinitiative of the respective local committees. Pathsdedicated to numerous issues have been organized inthe schools: from human rights to overcoming stereo-types and prejudices, from nonviolent managementof conflicts to adolescence and the expression ofone's own emotions. In total there are 24 schools inwhich the Un Ponte Per ... volunteers worked duringthe year.

Special attention was also given to the creation of

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school twinnings between Italian students and theirpeers in the countries where UPP operates, such asIraq, Lebanon and Jordan. Through the exchange ofvideo presentation, skype calls and e-mail, theseyoung people have the opportunity to get to knoweach other, overcoming stereotypes and confrontingthemselves in tackling common problems.

Finally, training courses were held involving 169teachers from primary and secondary schools on thethemes of nonviolence, active listening and peaceeducation.Funding: private donations.

UpOne of the children involved in the "Imagine the future"

workshop, where primary school students were stimulated to invent creative solutions to everyday problems.

Italy. Rome, December 2017.Photo by Benedetta Sanna.

CAMPAIGNS

IN DEFENSE OF...During 2017, Un Ponte Per ... has continued itscommitment in defence of human rights activiststhrough the network In Defence Of - For humanrights and those who defend them, which the as-sociation has strongly contributed to build. In thisdirection, in January 2017 the first major successof the network was the approval by the ForeignAffairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies ofa resolution on the issue that incorporated somerequests from the network. Furthermore, in May,a series of events was organized with Michel Forst,UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders.Donor: Fondation Assistance Internationale – FAI.

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DISARMAMENT, PEACEAND “SBILANCIAMOCI”In Italy Un Ponte Per ... is an active part in the initia-tives of the Rete della Pace (Network of Peace), theTavolo Interventi Civili di Pace (Civil Peace Inter-vention Table) and the Rete Disarmo (DisarmamentNetwork) for the promotion of Civil Peace Corps, civilpeacebuilding, disarmament and arms control, as wellas the Sbilanciamoci campaing (Commit Ourselvescampaign) for an economy of justice and a differentmodel of development. Among the initiatives of 2017stands out the experimentation of the Italian CivilPeace Corps to be sent to conflict zones, consistentwith the demands of the "Another Defence is possible"campaign, which collected over 52,000 signatures fora proposed law of popular initiative delivered to theItalian Parliament.At the same time, UPP collaborated with the DisarmamentNetwork and the Milex Observatory to the drafting ofthe dossier “Iraq. 14 years of Italian military expendi-tures”, and to the report “Commit ourselves! How touse public spending on rights, peace and the envi-ronment” of the “Sbalanciamoci” campaign.Donors: Waldensian Church, private donations.

UpThe Other Parade, the flash mob organized on the occasion of 2nd

June by Un Ponte Per ... along with other pacifist associations.Italy. Rome, June 2017.

Photo by Matteo Nardone.

ITALIAN-KURDISHSOLIDARITY NETWORK

WORLD SOCIALFORUMUPP identifies with the aims and processes of theWorld Social Forum, which organizes periodic inter-national and regional meetings in support of socialmovements, ultimately grounded in the convictionthat another world is possible — one based onsolidarity, on social and environmental justice, andin opposition to neoliberal globalization. In 2013, theaxis of this project shifted from South America to theMediterranean and the Maghreb, in order to providea sense of continuity and resilience to the impulsebehind the Arab Revolts within local civil society.

UPP supports the Italian-Kurdish SolidarityNetwork, and participates in related initiativeswhich take place in Italy, as well as in activitiesthat seek to disseminate information and raiseawareness.

BDS CAMPAIGNThis initiative supports the academic and culturalboycott of Israeli institutions — not individualcitizens of Israel — and the boycott of Israeliproducts, starting with those from settled areaswithin the Occupied Territories. This form of non-violent resistance takes a stand against the viola-tion of human rights as established by the GenevaConvention and UN resolutions. The campaign,originally launched in 2005 by a majority of organ-izations within Palestinian civil society, was inspiredby the movement against Apartheid in South Africa.It was relaunched in Italy in 2009, with strongbacking from UPP.

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THE TRUTH ABOUTGIULIO REGENIUPP endorses and participates in the campaign,launched at both the national and internationallevel, to discover the truth about the death of theItalian researcher, Giulio Regeni, killed in Egypt onJanuary 25, 2016. UPP took part in days of mobi-lization, and promoted activities to gather informa-tion related to the campaign.

OBSERVATORY IRAQThe purpose of this project is to promote and dis-seminate accurate information about the situation inIraq and in the Middle East and North Africa moregenerally, through the website, www.osservatorioiraq.it.Founded in 2004, the site — now a key resource forregistered journalists — is continuously updated withnews and reports. In 2012, the project was re-launched with new editors and new graphics,achieving high standards, and successfully publishing anoriginal study on the post-revolution situation in theArab countries. Since 2013, Observatory Iraq has beenindependent of UPP, though they still support oneanother, and their initiative. In 2014, together theycompleted a book entitled: La crisi irachena. Cause edeffetti di una storia che non insegna (The Iraqi Crisis:The Consequences of Our Failure to Learn fromHistory) on the emergency that broke in Iraq(published by: Edizioni dell’Asino). In 2016, UPP andthe Iraqi Observatory jointly edited another book,Rivoluzioni Violate. Cinque anni dopo: attivismo ediritti umani in Medio Oriente e Nord Africa (ViolentRevolutions. 5 Years Later: Activism and Human Rightsin the Middle East and North Africa), Edizioni del-l’Asino. During 2017, the editorial staff continued topresent the book in many Italian cities.

INFORMATIONSOfficial Name: Associazione Un Ponte Per… (UPP)Year of establishment: 1991ONLUS: Recognized by the “Anagrafe delle Onlus” AGEDRLAZ Prot. n° 0022455 del 27/03/2015 NGO: Recognized by AICS - the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (Decreto n°2016/337/000281/5)VAT numbert: 04734481007Fiscal Code: 96232290583Framework Partnership Agreement con l'Ufficio della Commissione Europea degli Aiuti Umanitari (ECHO)International Partners: UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, European Commission, ECHO, UNDP, UNOPS,OCHA, CARITAS Switzerland, Swiss Cooperation, AICS - the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development,Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.Italian Local Autorities: 10 Regions, 20 Provinces, 50 Municipalities.Annual Budget 2016: € 5.351.191

ON LINE

www.unponteper.itwww.sostegniadistanza.unponteper.itFacebook: @unponteper Twitter: @ponteper Instagram: @unponteperYouTube: www.youtube.com/user/unponteper

DONATIONS 

Bank current account:Account name: Un Ponte Per...Bank name: Banca EticaIBAN: IT52 R050 1803 2000 0000 0100 790 SWIFT: CCRTIT2T84A

Online: https://fundfacility.it/unponteper

Produced by Un Ponte Per... in March 2018.Translated by: Clarissa Rossetti, Marco Basile, Olimpia Romana Sermonti.

STRUCTURE

UPP ITALY

HeadquarterPiazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 13200185, Rome, ItalyTel: +390644702906Fax: +390644703172 info@unponteper.it

Pisa OfficePiazza Giuseppe Garibaldi 3356124, Pisa, Italytoscana@unponteper.it

Italian committees:Bergamo: bergamo@unponteper.itMonza e Milano: monza@unponteper.itTorino: torino@unponteper.itPadova: padova@unponteper.it Toscana: toscana@unponteper.itUmbria: umbria@unponteper.itRoma: roma@unponteper.itNapoli: napoli@unponteper.it

UPP IRAQ (KRG)

Erbil Branch Qasil Rustum st. n. 240/8/520 Ainkawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraqerbil@unponteper.it

Dohuk Branch KRO road, close to Sheelan Hospital, Shirin Street n. 2Dohuk, Kurdistan Region of Iraqdohuk@unponteper.it

Sulaymaniya Branch Sulaymaniya city, Ashti 106, Alley 59, House No. 10 (KR I)-Iraq sulaymaniya@unponteper.it

Baghdad BranchKarrada, Baghdadbaghdad@unponteper.it

UPP JORDAN

Amman Branch Jabal Alweibdeh, Kullliat Al-Sharia St. 46 Amman 11191, Jordan - P. O. Box 91061amman@unponteper.it

UPP LEBANON

Beirut Branch Furn al-Shebbak, Antoine Saad Farah Building 757Beirut, Lebanonbeirut@unponteper.it

UPP SYRIA

Derik Branch Al-Malikiyah, DerikSyria