2025 Annual Garden Competitions bring communities together
The Lemon Tree Trust 2025 Annual Garden Competitions have taken place across nine IDP and refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including Bersive 1+2, Domiz 1+2, Essian, Gawilan, Kabartu 1+2 and Khanki. Residents were invited to enter the competitions after receiving seeds and plants to start or continue growing their own home gardens. These gardens bring life and beauty to camp shelters, offer a sense of purpose, and support mental and physical wellbeing, while enhancing the local environment of the camps.
We held seven garden parties to announce the winners, where they received certificates, a small cash prize, and a packet of our hand-blended Sidra Tea (all ingredients are grown, picked, dried, and blended by hand in our Azadî Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp). The celebrations were full of smiles, cake (each party had its own cake commissioned from a local baker with a unique design), refreshments, and the joy of connecting with fellow gardeners.
Beyond the awards, the competitions encourage community connection, celebrate the creativity and dedication of participants, and support food security and the creation of greener living spaces. Each garden, whether ornamental or productive, reflects the resilience and energy of residents who are survivors of war, bringing hope and colour to their communities.
Our thanks go to the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) and Welat TV for their support with venues, judging and media coverage, and to our gardening teams and camp coordinators for ensuring the smooth running of events across all camps.
You can support this work by making a donation, sharing our story on social media, signing up for our monthly newsletter, or forwarding it to friends. Every garden planted and every person empowered brings us closer to our vision: a world where every refugee camp and community of forced migrants has access to gardens that provide hope, nourishment and connection. Learn more about our strategic aims and ongoing projects, here.
Aveen Ibrahem is Operations Manager at Lemon Tree Trust, overseeing our community gardening and cooking programmes across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Her work supports activities in Azadî Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp, as well as outreach and coordination across the nine camps where Lemon Tree Trust currently operates. Having lived in Domiz 1 … Continued
Inside the polytunnels at the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan refugee camp, Garden Manager Othman Qewas carefully selects fruit trees and flowering plants grown from seed. Joined by Hamid Abdullah, Lemon Tree Trust’s Horticulture and Landscape Consultant, the plants are loaded into the car before setting off to visit families across the camp. As part of our ongoing children’s outreach programme in Gawilan camp, … Continued
Bringing together residents to celebrate the home gardens they have grown, tended and transformed over the past year, Lemon Tree Trust’s 2026 Annual Garden Competitions have taken place across nine refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This year’s competitions introduced a greater emphasis on welcoming new participants alongside … Continued