Meet Ismail and Shalal, our gardeners in the Azadi Community Garden
The Azadi Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is run by a small team of gardeners headed up Aveen, our Operations Manager.
We asked team members Ismail and Shalal (pictured below) some questions about their work in the garden and their favourite plants.
Ismail
“I’m Ismail, a Syrian refugee. I live with my family in Domiz 1 camp in Kurdistan.
I love the people who work in the Azadi Community Garden because we have become like a family here. Every day in the garden is interesting and full of activity and vitality. It’s a place where people can relax and I enjoy every single day I work here.
I love to grow everything! While there is little water, we have recently planted a pine tree and I like gori (rose) flowers because they smell beautiful.”
انا اسماعيل, لاجىء سوري اعيش مع عائلتي في مخيم دوميز 1 في دهوك.
انا احب الأشخاص الموجودين في الحديقة ازادي لاننا صرنا مثل عائلة و انا استمتع كل يوم في هذه الحديقة.
يومي في حديقه ازادي ممتع ومليء بالنشاط وحيويه وايضآ الحديقة تعطينا الراحة.
احب ان ازرع كل شيء, لكن الماء قليل, برغم من هذا هناك شجرة صنوبر زرعناها! احب أزهار الجوري لأن رائحتها جميله جدا.
Shalal
“My name is Shalal. I’m originally from Syria and now I live in Domiz 2 camp with my wife and daughter.
The thing I enjoy most about my work is pruning plants in the Azadi Community Garden and taking care of them until they grow and become ready to be distributed to our beneficiaries. I also enjoy watering the garden.
Starting my day with gardening activity gives me vitality. I like growing indoor plants at home and taking care of them with my family.
My favourite plant is the gori (rose), because it is successful when pruned and cultivated, and it has medicinal benefits.”
انا شلال لاجىء من سوريا, اعيش في دوميز 2 مع زوجتي وابنتي .اكثر شيء استمتع به في عملي تقليم النباتات الموجوده في الحديقه والاعتناء بها لتصبح نبته ناجحه وتوزيعها على المستفيدين .ابدا يومي في الحديقه بنشاط وحيويه واستمتاع بسقايه الحديقه .زراعه النباتات الداخليه في المنزل والاعتناء بها مع العائله .نباتي المفضل هو الجوري لانه نبات ناجح عند اثناء تقليمه وزراعته وله فواءد طبيه
Meet our other team members
Yesterday, team members Hamid and Othman led a women’s workshop in Hêvî Community Garden, bringing together beneficiaries to learn, share and grow in community. The session began with an introduction to the work of the Lemon Tree Trust, our vision and our ongoing efforts across refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps. In places where … Continued
Noora, originally from Damascus, Syria, cooks meals that remind her family of home, using fresh herbs and seasonal produce from her small garden in Gawilan refugee camp, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. “My mother taught me to cook. Now my children help me. I never give up on the recipes that remind me of home,” she … Continued
As we reach the halfway point of 2025, we are delighted to share some of the impact your support has made possible across our projects. Thanks to your support, our projects are creating meaningful change for forcibly displaced communities, improving access to fresh food, mental wellbeing, and opportunities for connection and belonging through community gardening. … Continued