Yazidi Community Archive – Preserving a Threatened Heritage

The Yazidi Community Archive by HÁWAR.help documents and preserves Yazidi history and memories by telling the stories of the Yazidi people through their own personal material – material that, due to centuries of flight and persecution, continues to be at risk of being lost. Our goal is to centralize unique material, preserve it, and make the stories of the Yazidi people accessible to future generations. 

Yet the Yazidi Community Archive is more than just an archive: It is a holistic project that combines various approaches to preserve and share the stories and way of life of the Yazidi community. In this project, we are actively working on: 

💻 Building a digital archival infrastructure to ensure the material is securely available in the long term. 

📸 Photography and editing workshops for Yazidis, empowering them to document their own stories and contribute directly to the digital archive. 

📂 Professional archivists in the field collecting and safeguarding photos, videos, and artifacts directly from the Yazidi community. 

🧠 Psychotherapeutic support for those affected by genocide, war, and displacement, helping them process their traumatic experiences. 

🌍 Traveling exhibitions in Iraq, Germany, and around the world to raise awareness and make the history of the Yazidis visible. 

A project by the Yazidi community, for the Yazidi community – and beyond.  

How your support helps 

Every contribution – big or small – helps preserve an endangered heritage. With your support, you help ensure that the culture of the Yazidis is preserved and made accessible for future generations. Thank you for being part of our mission! 

About HÁWAR.help 

HÁWAR.help e.V. is a human rights organization founded on the ashes of the Yazidi genocide. We raise our voice when human rights crimes are committed. Today, we implement development and education programs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, as well as international awareness-raising and education initiatives and political work – including on the freedom movement in Iran. Our projects are always designed and implemented on a multi-ethnic and multi-religious basis.