In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, over one million displaced people live in camps that were built quickly, out of urgent need. Yet for many of the people who live in them, what began as temporary shelter has become a permanent home.

We propagate and distribute thousands of trees and plants each year to families across these camps, because we believe everyone deserves somewhere green to live, somewhere with shade, with life, with the dignity of a garden of their own.

Growing from the ground up

At our two community gardens, Azadî in Domiz 1 and Hêvî in Gawilan camp, we propagate thousands of seedlings each year in polytunnels. These are ornamentals, herbaceous species, shrubs and trees, all grown by the team before being distributed and planted within the camps or planted in host communities.

Across nine camps in the Kurdistan Region, our garden facilitators distribute trees and plants alongside practical knowledge and skills. Hundreds of tree saplings – citrus, pomegranate, cypress and ornamental varieties – are grown alongside flowers, herbs and vegetables, ready to go to families who want them.

Why green spaces matter in camps

There are over 1.34 million displaced people living in Iraq. Refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps are often created quickly and can evolve into dense, city-like settlements where green space is scarce. Trees cool the air, reduce pollution and restore soil. Flowers, shrubs and vegetables soften harsh edges, provide food and create places where people can pause and breathe.

Gardens offer something more, too: a reminder of home, a sense of sanctuary and the dignity of making choices about your own space. They support mental and physical wellbeing and strengthen social ties within neighbourhoods.

What we grow, and why it matters

What our gardeners grow at their home shelters is shaped by culture, climate and seed availability. Syrians have told us how important flowers are, not just for beauty, but for memory and identity. Others prioritise herbs, vegetables or fruit trees. Tomatoes, courgettes, broad beans, salad greens, carrots and leafy herbs like parsley and coriander sit alongside geraniums, petunias, snapdragons and lavender.

We encourage planting for pollinators and natural pest control. Our education workshops cover composting, mulching, seed-saving, water irrigation and pollinator care, helping residents build knowledge alongside their gardens.

Greening streets and shared spaces

Beyond individual home gardens, we plant trees, shrubs and ground vegetation along streets and neighbourhood spaces. These plantings establish tree canopies, ground cover and green corridors, connecting homes and communal areas across the camps.

They also create meeting points: places where people swap cuttings and seeds, share tips and begin to rebuild a sense of community after loss and displacement. Imagine shaded pathways, pockets of lush greenery and spaces where families and neighbours can pause, breathe and feel, however briefly, a sense of home.

Demand is growing and we need your help

More families want trees, plants and the means to grow food and create shade than we can currently support. Your donation will help us grow and distribute more trees and plants, creating home gardens that provide shade, food and sanctuary, and planting trees and shrubs along streets and neighbourhood spaces across the camps.