On October 21-23, 2018, The Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) hosted the first session of the Iraq Leadership Fellows (ILF) program class of 2018/19. The session was followed by two more sessions that took place in March and July, 2019.
The Fellowship was founded in 2017 in response to the growth of a generation of educated, politically and socially engaged young Iraqis who are keen to positively shape the future of their country. The ILF Program equips these young, engaged Iraqis with skills on campaigning, community organizing, and advocacy techniques through training workshops led by international instructors. Through the course of the Fellowship, the Fellows develop, refine and launch their own political or social campaigns with intensive mentoring and support. The Fellows also develop deep relationships within the Fellowship, equipping them with a diverse network of Iraqis with whom they can collaborate and continue to develop their movements. The Fellowship offers two tracks, one for social activists, and the second for future political candidates. The training for social activists focuses on building the skills needed to mount effective campaigns, while the training for future political candidates develops the skills that are needed to participate in the electoral process.
