Stories of hope and reconstruction in Iraq

In the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh, terror and war have shaped the lives of many people for years. Following the occupation by the so-called Islamic State (IS), numerous families returned to destroyed cities – without functioning infrastructure, often amidst the deep mistrust that terror and war had left behind between communities. From 2020 to 2025, the programme “Strengthening Resilience in Dealing with Crises and Conflicts in Nineveh (SRN)” by GIZ, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Society for International Cooperation), promoted social cohesion, rebuilt public infrastructure, and supported the creation of economic opportunities.

On behalf of GIZ, flmh made these changes visible: through videos and a brochure published in German and English, which recounts the successes in 14 stories. These stories illustrate how the SRN programme has tangibly improved the lives of people in Nineveh. For the interviews on which these stories are based, flmh collaborated with four local journalists who, like photographer Abdullah Rasheed Al Bakri, had learned their craft within the GIZ programme. The photos themselves were produced based on a briefing and a shot list provided by flmh.

For the four video stories included in the brochure, flmh traveled to Iraq alongside videographer Yasir Ahmed Salim – also a GIZ programme participant. The brochure presents, in both text and video format, personal stories and accounts of individuals whose living situations have significantly improved through German development cooperation.