Peshraw Baker Hussein was born in the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq where he endured the 8 year Iran-Iraq war, the chemical attack on Halabja, the Kuwait war and the massive Kurdish exodus during the first Gulf War. Peshraw now volunteers full time seeking to help create change and improve the lives of others who are suffering. Since 2015 he has been COO of the Bring Hope Humanitarian Foundation (BHHF), helping the 2 million refugees and displaced people in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Since the ISIS incursion, Peshraw has assured delivery of 2.5 million medical treatments and 160 consignments of humanitarian aid, including medical equipment and supplies. He has also worked in partnership with international organisations in initiatives designed to give hope and dignity back to those impacted by the conflict. He has focused, in particular, on the following four projects.:
- Sewing Hope: sewing instruction which empowers refugee women to generate income. BBC coverage here.
- Healing Project: song, dance, meditation and further creative activities used to relieve stress and help people being to heal internally. More details here.
- Football Project: the universal language of football used foster joy and even unity among refugee youth, supported by a former UK professional player. More details here.
- Letter exchange: Letters of empathy and encouragement sent to refugees/IDPs in Iraq. More details here.