At the southernmost point of Iraq’s land borders and the beginning of its coastline, the participants of the “With Dialogue We Endure and Rise” camp arrived at Khor Abdullah, in the far south of Iraq.
This marked their fifth stop in Basra Governorate, where the Citizenship Education Camp on Dialogue and Understanding Others began its activities exploring the city, its components, and its landmarks.
They were welcomed by Mr. Muslim Abdul-Sayed Al-Kaabi in one of his flourishing orchards, where the participants had breakfast under the shade of fruit-bearing palm trees.
In the orchard, the campers learned about the history of the city, the significance of its geographic location, the challenges faced by its residents, and its ethnic diversity, which is historically linked to foreign trade, as the city has long served as a hub due to its ports and border crossings.
Mr. Al-Kaabi highlighted the main challenges faced by farmers, particularly soil and water salinity, which affect the quality and quantity of agricultural production, noting the lack of government plans to address these issues.
The campers also observed the cultivation of henna plants, a crop for which Al-Faw is uniquely known.
The camp includes a select group of youth from Sinjar, Baghdad, and Basra, and is implemented by Masarat Foundation for Cultural and Media Development in partnership with KAICIID and the House of Coexistence.
The program represents the launch of an experiential initiative in peaceful coexistence, where participants engage in dialogues, receive training, visit religious, educational, and media institutions, and meet with cultural and religious figures, community leaders, and policymakers in these cities. The initiative aims to strengthen dialogue as a mechanism for peacebuilding, rejecting hate speech, and fostering understanding of others
