To Earn a Living
We believe that restoring livelihood is the best way to prevent aid dependency and build peace.
Livelihood
Mercy Hands is committed to the belief that to facilitate better health outcomes, prevent violent extremism, build long-lasting peace, prevent aid dependency, reduce inequalities and improve quality of life most effectively, we must uplift populations out of poverty and improve livelihood opportunities.
Currently, there are approximately 2.3 million people in Iraq who are unemployed, translating to an unemployment rate of nearly 16%.
In the last ten years, Mercy Hands has completed 39 projects in which livelihood has been the main or secondary department.
These projects have included vocational training, cash-for-work, small business grants, entrepreneurship development, market analysis, and value chain strengthening, all tailored to meet the specific needs of conflict-affected communities and designed to maximize sustainable impact. Many have specifically targeted the most vulnerable populations, from women in domestic violence shelters and rural farmers to asylum seekers, returnees and vulnerable youth.
Most recently, we have been empowering women and girls through IT and coding training in Basra; providing leadership skills training to individuals from marginalised groups in Heet and providing sewing and crafting training to women in shelters in Baghdad.
