The Bridge
We build bridges — between people, cultures and generations.
Our Story
Our Bridge is an apolitical, non-denominational aid organisation committed to the protection, shelter and schooling of orphans, half-orphans and children with disabilities in the crisis regions of Northern Iraq.
In August 2014, the so-called Islamic State committed a genocide against the Yazidis in the Shingal region. Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled into the mountains and later into refugee camps around the lake of Mosul.
In the UN reception camps and unofficial camps everything was lacking: drinking water, food, medical care. Winter storms, dehydration and lung diseases claimed many lives.
A few weeks after the genocide, Our Bridge was founded in Oldenburg by German-Kurdish students — with the clear promise to be a bridge between Germany and the people of Northern Iraq.
The sponsorship programme
The sponsorship programme is the foundation of Our Bridge. Founder Paruar Bako registered affected families on the ground and issued "Our Bridge Passports". In parallel, we launched a sponsorship programme in Germany allowing citizens to sponsor a child.
Our Bridge thus began to supply registered children's households in the UN camps and unofficial camps with drinking-water packages in summer and heating in winter.
Our Team
The team is made up of permanently employed teachers, voluntary office holders, and volunteer interns.
Sozdar Coskun
Head of Social Media
Lisa Weller
Head of Social Media
Organisational structure
10 members in Germany and 30 staff in Northern Iraq form the bridge of Our Bridge.
