News

The Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq continues to grow, both in greenery and in community impact. ‘Hêvî’, meaning ‘hope’ in Kurdish, remains a fitting name for this space, which brings people together to cultivate not only produce, but also connection, purpose and resilience. Gawilan camp is home to … Continued

Refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps are created quickly, out of urgent need. But many become long-term homes for the people who live there. Over time, these settlements evolve into what we might call accidental cities – dense, complex urban environments that are rarely planned for the long term. As Earth Day approaches, we’re … Continued

Since work began in December 2023, the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan camp has developed into a productive and well-used space, thanks to the efforts of camp residents, the Lemon Tree Trust team and ongoing support from donors and partners. A video filmed earlier this month shows how far the project has come in just … Continued

We recently invited our incredible community of supporters to share their thoughts on our work, impact and future direction. Your feedback has been insightful and inspiring, helping us shape our next steps.  Thousands of displaced people have found hope, healing and dignity through gardening, thanks to your support. But as we look ahead to the … Continued

Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters in 2024, the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan refugee camp has made remarkable progress. Named ‘Hêvî’, meaning ‘hope’ in Kurdish, this garden is now a busy hub, providing a vital area for people to reconnect and build resilience. Through your kindness, we received £9,207 GBP ($11,268 USD) to … Continued

Nisreen Riyad Abdo, a 20-year-old Syrian refugee, lives with her parents and three brothers in Domiz 1 camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She gardens at the Azadî Community Garden and won first place in our 2024 Annual Cooking Competitions in Domiz 1 for her standout dishes: Chicken Fatteh and Grape Leaves Fatteh. Learning … Continued