Twenty Young Iraqi Professionals Complete Workshop on Results Framework and Business Model Canvas in Hiroshima, Japan
13 February 2018 – Workshop III of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office Iraq Fellowship Programme came to a successful conclusion in Hiroshima. Twenty-four Fellows and Coaches, including 12 women, participated in the workshop. Over the week, the Fellows engaged in interactive training sessions, designed to improve their skills and knowledge to develop effective project proposals. By the end of the workshops, Fellows had incorporated the findings of their needs assessment with mentorship and guidance from Coaches, Resource Persons, and UNITAR staff.
The workshop began with a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Memorial Park. Fellows showed keen interest in Hiroshima and were inspired by the fast-paced recovery and reconstruction of the city. Ms. Shanya Mohammad Saeed, a Fellow representing Un Poonte Per, an NGO in Iraq, said, “Learning about the history of destruction was heartbreaking, but at the same time I was amazed to see the transformation of Hiroshima since then. I am honoured to have witnessed this magnificent city, and I will be taking back the message of peace and forgiveness.”
On the third day of the workshop, Fellows visited the Soar Service Inc. office in Hiroshima. Ms. Gorai Chizuru, an entrepreneur and president and representative director of Soar Service Inc. delivered a presentation on the history and work of Soar and her journey toward becoming a successful entrepreneur. While sharing her insights and experience, Ms. Gorai advised Fellows to believe in themselves and their dreams. Mr. Hassan Ramz, a Fellow representing Ardunic Inc. said, “Visiting this place has motivated me immensely. I have learned that thinking outside the box can lead to successful ventures. The way Ms. Gorai could succeed in realizing her dream despite all odds shows that it is good enough to have a dream and belief that you can achieve that dream.”
UNITAR Hiroshima Office Head Mihoko Kumamoto commented, “These young Fellows are already leaders and role models in Iraq. Their attitude, behavior and energy will impact other members of their community, so it is important that they continue to grow and inspire people.”
Workshop III concluded with the Fellows presenting their polished and completed project proposals, which address contemporary issues in Iraq, ranging from creating employment opportunities for young graduates, to developing projects to increase women’s involvement in security dialogue within community policy programs, to developing learning camps for fulfilling the education needs of children, to developing various learning and training programmes for staff. Their final presentations showed how far they had come since the beginning of the programme.
About the Fellowship
The UNITAR Hiroshima Office Iraq Fellowship Programme aims to cultivate the social entrepreneurship and project-development knowledge, skills, and attitudes of selected Iraqi professionals and features a blended learning methodology and includes asynchronous and online training, coupled with two international workshops. Each workshop is linked by participant-led projects examining challenges and opportunities, as they exist in Iraq today.
For more information, please contact:
At the UNITAR Hiroshima Office
Shamsul Hadi SHAMS (Mr.) | E-mail: shamsul.shams@unitar.org | Phone: +81 82 511 2424
At the Embassy of Japan in Iraq
Maika Fukada (Ms.)
E-mail: maika.fukada@mofa.go.jp | Phone: +964 (0)770 444 8206
Photos: (top) The Fellows in Hiroshima; (bottom) A Fellow in the UNITAR Hiroshima Office