The Lotus Flower
Change Her Story. Change The World.
Annual Report 2024
“The lotus flower is resilient and strong. It grows its roots in muddy water and blossoms into something incredibly beautiful. Our name was chosen to represent the amazing women and girls we work with who move through their struggles and rise up and bloom in some of the world’s harshest environments.”
Taban Shoresh, CEO and Founder
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on 2024 I feel incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved. This year has been a pivotal year of significant growth, resilience, and impactful service delivery, driven by our unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.
In a landscape marked by political instability, economic hardship, and the lingering effects of conflict, our work at The Lotus Flower has remained a beacon of hope. We have continued to face significant challenges such as proposed changes to the Personal Status Law in Iraq, legalising marriage for girls as young as nine. Closer to home, Far Right riots erupted in the UK, really highlighting how our peacebuilding efforts are needed now more than ever.
August marked the 10-year anniversary of the ISIS attacks on Yazidi communities in the Sinjar region of Kurdistan, reminding me of a period that changed everything for me. It was in 2014 that I gave up my City job and went back to the region to help with the aid effort, before going on to found The Lotus Flower when I returned to the UK.
Ten years on, I’m so proud of what The Lotus Flower has achieved in supporting the victims of those horrific atrocities. This year we have expanded our reach, supporting over 14,000 individuals through our work in camps, our community-based interventions, and awareness-raising initiatives. We also opened our UK Hub and launched our first UK programme with the generous support of Ancient + Brave, which felt like a landmark moment to celebrate, and we have enjoyed getting to know our local UK community.
I was fortunate to be on the road a lot in 2024 to network and connect with our team, communities, and key partners. Some highlights included attending the 68tth Commission for the Status of Women in March, the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June, an extended visit to see the local team in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI), and also a trip to New York for UNGA, where we hosted our first ever US event in partnership with UN Women.
On a personal level, I was thrilled to celebrate some opportunities and recognitions that included a visit to Buckingham Palace to receive my OBE for ‘outstanding services to refugees’. I was also honoured to be named a GQ magazine Hero in June, where I was recognised alongside other ‘heroes’ including Hollywood actors Russell Crowe, Anya Taylor-Joy and Emma Corrin. Delivering my first ever TED Talk in Paris was also an experience I won't forget, along with meeting The Princess Royal!
I’m so thankful to everyone who has helped us on our journey. As we step into 2025 we are undoubtedly facing significant challenges, especially with the escalating changes in the funding landscape, but I continue to be hopeful that the resources we need will present themselves with your continued support.
Taban
"We are proud to have achieved some outstanding results at The Lotus Flower this year in our work supporting thousands of women, girls, children and young people in Iraq and KRI. It has been a difficult year as we witnessed the phase-out of hundreds of organisations that, alongside us, supported these communities. I am, however, very proud of how the team has overcome these challenges and continued our efforts to support the communities we work with. As we step into 2025, we remain committed to strengthening our impact despite the evolving challenges in the humanitarian landscape."
Vian Ahmed - Regional Director, The Lotus Flower
2024 Regional Context - Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)
IDP Camp Closures in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) 2024
In 2024, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in KRI faced ongoing challenges, especially in the region of Sinjar. The Iraqi government's financial compensation programme encouraged many IDPs to return home, but when this programme was paused in September, the number of returns dropped sharply. Those who did return often found poor security, weak infrastructure, and limited services, forcing many to go back to camps and non-camp areas in KRI.
Our staff remained adaptive and responsive to these shifts, ensuring that our programmes continue to align with the immediate and evolving needs of these communities.
Amendments to the Personal Status Law
In 2024, Iraq proposed amendments to its Personal Status Law. The proposal faced strong opposition from human rights organizations, UN experts, and activists, warning of its potential to undermine women’s rights, increase child marriages, and entrench gender-based discrimination. Despite nationwide protests, the Iraqi Parliament proceeded with legislative steps, with the first reading in August 2024 and the second following in September, amid growing international concern.
What does this mean? The proposed amendments mean that girls as young as nine may be forced into child marriage. They also have a significant impact on child custody and divorce rights. Overall, this signifies a huge step backwards for the rights of women and girls in the region and for organisations like us, working on their behalf.
“The amendment to the Iraq Personal Law will unfortunately undo decades of progress on gender equality and women’s rights in Iraq.” - Vian Ahmed, Regional Director, the Lotus Flower
Prevention of early and child marriage is at the core of our mission at The Lotus Flower. We know that working with the whole community is central to addressing this problem, which is why we work to educate the men, boys, and religious leaders in communities, as well as the women and girls.
Our Manifesto
We’re here to support women and girls who have been impacted by conflict and displacement, and who refuse to be defined by their past. Who have seen the darkest days, the worst of humanity and who still focus on a better tomorrow. Women who, with every step forward, reimagine the future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
For us this is more than a mission. It’s a movement of peace and possibility. We’re creating spaces of safety and learning where women can heal, grow, and thrive. Through holistic programmes, we’re providing women with the tools they need to rebuild their lives into sustainable futures.
Our Work
Women and girl conflict survivors are often traumatised and extremely vulnerable. Many have lost loved ones and suffered rape or sexual assault, and in camps they are prone to further gender-based violence (GBV) and harassment.
Although many women are the head of their household, they have little or no income. There is also a critical lack of support services, such as counselling and legal aid.
Additionally, Iraq is also now the world’s fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, which causes drought, floods, wildfires and displacement. This in turn impacts livelihoods, access to services, and again, increases the vulnerability of women and girls to all forms of GBV, including sexual violence, human trafficking, child marriage and other forms of violence.
They speak and we listen. Community voices are central to shaping our solutions. By empowering the community to tell us what they need, we support long-lasting transformation.
Gender equality is at the heart of our work. We support women and girls by engaging the whole community, which includes men, boys and community leaders.
We create sustainable projects which equip women with the skills and tools they need to earn an income to support themselves and their families.
Our programmes are not based on what we assume women and girls need, but on what they tell us they need.
We provide support and awareness to help combat GBV, alleviate beneficiaries’ mental health problems and improve their human rights.
Our safe spaces in KRI and the UK, allow women and girls to collectively heal from past trauma, and grow in strength, confidence and self-belief.
The Lotus Flower started from local roots and has grown to be part of a strong and far-reaching global network since its inception in 2016.
We operate under three key divisions:
Our work in KRI and the UK focuses on the delivery of community-led solutions and projects.
We offer educational programmes, workshops, and training opportunities for organisations (NGOs, INGOs, corporates, schools etc) as well as individuals, to empower them through knowledge and development.
The Lotus Flower is a key influencer on matters of advocacy and policy to further the case for gender equality. We work with partners to implement solutions to big global problems, such as the link between AI and the rising dangers of Technology-Facilitated Gender Based Violence.
Our Impact
In 2024, we supported 14,107 beneficiaries across our programmes in KRI. Since 2016, The Lotus Flower has supported 99,100 beneficiaries.
Below, we highlight our direct impact over the past year. Keep reading as we showcase some of our key initiatives and share the inspiring stories behind the numbers.
Psychosocial Support and Human Rights activities: 11,806 supported
Education and Livelihoods initiatives: 1,384 supported
Mental Health Support: 698 supported
Climate Change projects: 219 supported
Beneficiary Spotlight: Meet Julia, a member of our Boxing Sisters programme in KRI
Julia is a 16-year-old Boxing Sister who has faced repeated displacement throughout her life. Originally from Sinjar, her family fled in 2014 and sought refuge in Derabon, KRI. She was just six when her family was displaced.
For Julia, displacement wasn’t just about physical movement, it meant having to start over again and again. “It was hard to make friends. I came to the camp and had to start from zero.”
Born in 2008, Julia only began school in 2016. “Many kids my age didn’t go to school because they left their land.” Due to the instability of her situation, she then lost two further years of education. Now, she’s in the 9th grade at Essyan Camp School and her favourite subjects are history and English.
Julia lives with her parents, siblings, and her grandmother—a family of seven sharing the challenges of camp life. “The biggest challenge is the heat,” she explains. “We lack water and electricity, and we can only turn on one air cooler because of the low power, even though we are seven people.”
Julia’s life began to change when she heard about the Boxing Sisters programme from friends in the camp. With few activities to do in the camp, she immediately signed up. “I didn’t have anything to do - only school and home. I came to boxing, and I love it. Boxing has made me feel stronger and more courageous. I met new friends here, and I feel comfortable. This centre is safe.”
Despite the difficulties of her displacement, Julia holds onto a powerful dream of becoming a heart surgeon one day and being able to help others.
In 2024, Our Boxing Sisters Project supported 44 women and girls like Julia in Essyan and Rwanga camps, in partnership with Medica Mondiale.
Programme Spotlight: Child Protection
As long-term partners of UNHCR, our leading Protection Programme in the region worked to protect vulnerable children from violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination. We provide the children and their families with access to necessary support services, as well as running awareness-raising sessions on early child marriage tailored for the whole community, including men and boys.
As part of the programme, we support refugee parents and caregivers through our Parenting Programme sessions focused on children's psychological wellbeing, emotional needs, stress management, and conflict resolution. As a result, 75% of participating parents reported a better understanding of their children's behaviours and communication skills. This sits alongside our capacity-building training programmes for government staff, and local partners and organisations on Child Protection measures.
As part of our commitment to strengthening local systems, we played a key role in supporting other local organisations, such as Nudem, with subgrants for service delivery. We also offered support through skills training, such as proposal writing and communications training, as well as training around the structures and resources needed to transition from a community-based initiative to a fully registered NGO.
In 2024, we supported 3,432 individuals through our child protection and psychosocial support activities within the Duhok Governorate.
We highlight some of the impact shared by the children who participated in our Children's Resilience Programme at the camps listed below:
|
Zakho |
Gawilan |
Akre |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
"I feel more capable of protecting myself" |
93% |
96% |
95% |
|
"I have a better understanding of my rights" |
88% |
100% |
91% |
|
"I feel that I know myself better" |
94% |
94% |
93% |
|
"I feel that I have greater self-confidence" |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Programme Spotlight: General Protection
Our General Protection (GP) Programme, implemented in partnership with CARE Iraq and funded by ECHO, responds to the urgent protection needs of displaced communities in Seje, Khanke, Sharya, and Derabon. These areas have long been home to people uprooted by conflict, many of whom have lost their jobs and face increased risks of GBV and mental distress. Our approach combines life-saving services with community empowerment, enabling individuals to address the barriers to protection.
We engage communities through dialogues focussed on GBV, child marriage, and girls’ education, conducted via home visits, school sessions, and public campaigns. Alongside this, we provide tailored case management and cash-for-protection support, ensuring at-risk individuals can access legal, medical, and protective services. Referrals to hospitals and GBV specialists strengthen this safety net. As a result of our clear referral pathways, 75% of referred individuals successfully accessed their needed services.
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is another cornerstone of the programme. Through both structured and informal activities, we support individuals in managing trauma, anxiety, and other forms of psychological distress, with 80% of participants showing improved psychosocial wellbeing. At the heart of our work are women’s committees established in The Lotus Flower's centres. These groups lead local awareness initiatives and play a crucial role in supporting survivors of violence to access vital services, and build trust and safety within their communities. In 2024, 65% of participants reported increased feelings of safety as a result of the support of our safe spaces, and 75% reported an increased willingness to seek help and disclose sensitive issues.
For over a decade, families displaced by conflict and economic hardship - and now further affected by the government's camp closure policies - have been left to navigate growing risks. Our General Protection Programme is a direct response to this. We collaborate with schools to educate families on their rights, and coordinate with hospitals to ensure survivors receive ongoing medical care. We also partner with the Directorate to Combat Violence Against Women and the Directorate of Labour and Social Affairs. Through CARE Iraq, these government entities receive advanced training in protection case management, and how to engage men and boys as part of broader protection efforts.
Project Spotlight: Climate Resilience through Cash-for-Work
In response to Iraq’s climate crisis and high unemployment, The Lotus Flower launched a Cash-for-Work (CfW) project in Duhok and the Ninawa Plain. This was run in collaboration with GIZ Iraq under the EPSI (Employment Prospects for Socioeconomic Integration) programme. The initiative provided vulnerable individuals with paid short-term employment through environmental activities such as afforestation, waste management, and heritage site restoration. A reported 75% of participants improved financial independence, using their earnings to cover essential expenses including healthcare, school fees, and food - with 90% of participants meeting basic household needs through CfW income.
As the world’s fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, the project included a campaign to raise awareness on the impact of climate change. We focussed on educating the public and instilling eco-friendly practices through targeted outreach activities, leading to 60% reporting increased knowledge and behavior change around local environmental challenges. Our afforestation campaign contributed to the restoration of green spaces and supported local biodiversity efforts, providing essential employment while enhancing the region's capacity to mitigate climate change. Over 5,000 trees were planted, with projections indicating a 90% increase in green space coverage over the next five years.
The introduction of an Ecobot system in Essiyan camp allowed IDP participants to engage in organic waste management. The project trained participants on waste separation, which led to the production of 1,000 kg of high-quality compost used in greenhouses.
The ‘Art can change climate change’ creative project also engaged artists to paint climate-themed murals across Duhok and the Ninawa Plain to raise climate awareness.
In partnership with the Directorate of Antiquities, we restored Kambalan and Dilbe Palaces, employing women and youth through a Cash-for-Work program. This project not only preserved two cultural heritage sites but also provided a platform for women’s empowerment, with plans to transform the palaces into museums, offering future job opportunities
And finally, we provided employment for recent graduates from Duhok University’s Agriculture Faculty. Working in public nurseries, they helped produce over 30,000 seedlings, which will contribute to urban green spaces and enhance the sustainability of the public agricultural sector.
Project Spotlight: Coding Sisters
Recognising the heightened risks of unemployment and online abuse faced by women in refugee settings, Coding Sisters, run in collaboration with UNHCR, aimed to empower participants with advanced tech skills, digital safety awareness, and a supportive community network.
Our project worked to address a critical gap in digital skills among women and girls in Domiz 2 camp, Duhok. Building on UNICEF's findings that a significant portion of youth lack essential digital competencies, and in response to community feedback requesting advanced training in coding and web design, we provided targeted Web Development training at both basic and intermediate levels.
This project also provided Technology-Facilitated-Gender-Based-Violence (TFGBV) awareness sessions to the wider community, reaching 500 individuals.
Results:
45 girls were trained of which*:
*Based on a sample size representing the group
Programme Spotlight: Women's Business Incubator
In collaboration with our 2024 partners - If! Foundation, SEZ, Ideas Beyond Borders, and the UN Trust Fund - The Lotus Flower's award-winning Women's Business Incubator (WBI) Programme continues to be a vital programme supporting women's economic empowerment in the region. Since 2019, we've been providing financial grants, business training and mentorship to women, focussing on practical skills like accounting, marketing, and business planning. In 2024, The Lotus Flower awarded 103 business grants and conducted 175 training sessions. This has enabled beneficiaries to either launch or expand successful businesses, including beauty salons, restaurants and retail shops.
"I have always loved flower design and event planning, but I never had the opportunity or the capital to start my own business. I didn’t want to work in something I didn’t enjoy—I wanted to pursue my passion, where I can express my creativity, interest, and love. Through this, I aim to generate income for my family and support my husband in providing for our household."
Beyond business skills, the WBI also addresses the broader needs of participants by offering psychological therapy, and awareness sessions on GBV and women's legal rights. This holistic support ensures women have the tools and resources to build stable businesses and improve their overall well-being. All profits generated by these businesses are directly managed by the women, empowering them to support their families and reinvest in their businesses.
Impact Spotlight:
Below, we show the impact of grants and business management training on women in three of the locations (Derabon, Khanke, and Sharya), with businesses including bakeries, tailoring, salons, crafts, and cafés:
- 79% used the grant to purchase equipment/supplies directly and 21% received in-kind support aligned with their business plans
- 87% reported an increase in monthly income whereas 92% noted improved financial stability
- 63% stated both the grant and training were equally beneficial in improving their business and financial outcomes.
Project Spotlight: Swimming Sisters
In a region where access to basic resources and opportunities are often limited, The Lotus Flower launched the Swimming Sisters project for 125 women from Duhok city, Sharia and Domiz 2 camp, in partnership with the TK Foundation. Beyond simply teaching a life skill, Swimming Sisters tackled deep-rooted challenges, including significant mental health struggles due to years of conflict and displacement. By combining swimming lessons with essential psychological support, we addressed both physical and emotional well-being.
"As I learned, my mental state improved day by day. Swimming is essential for everyone, mentally and physically. After this course, I will continue swimming, whether every day, once a week, or twice a week.”
By challenging patriarchal norms that often restrict women's participation in sports, Swimming Sisters promotes gender equality and creates a space for personal growth and empowerment.
Building on our proven model in KRI, we expanded Swimming Sisters to the UK with the support of Ancient + Brave, ensuring a culturally and contextually adapted approach for the programme. Launched in November, it will continue to support 72 participants in 2025.
The Lotus Flower UK Hub
In 2024, we officially launched the Lotus Flower's first hub in the UK.
The hub serves as a staff office, a key fundraising pillar selling handmade products by women in KRI, and a central operating space for our UK programmes.
This year, we've strengthened community ties through running workshops centred around our core pillars, reaching 198 community members. This included Climate Cafés for environmental awareness discussions, and creative workshops such as Collaging for Peace, for creative expression. Further expanding our community engagement, we launched skills-based workshops in zine-making, sewing, and video-editing for beginners.
Lotus Global
As a locally rooted, globally engaged organisation, advocacy and international engagement continue to be central to our work under the newly defined pillar of Lotus Global. Taban continues to share her experience and expertise to help shape and influence global policy through media appearances, awards, international conferences, and corporate speaking engagements.
Taban delivered two TED Talks this year, one for TEDxMontmartre in Paris, discussing ‘turning adversity into purpose’, and another at TEDxNishtiman in Kurdistan, focussing on ‘transforming pain into purpose’. Recognised as one of GQ Magazine's 2024 Heroes, Taban was also shortlisted as Charity Leader of the Year for the Benefact Group Charity Heroes Awards. We were also thrilled to be named Charity of the Year at the IMpower FundForum in Monaco.
As part of her global tour delivering keynote speeches and inspirational talks, Taban spoke at the UNHCR Consultations 2024 in Geneva, the Free Future 2024 conference in New York hosted by the Ford Foundation and Skoll Foundation, and the Hamburg Sustainability Conference.
The Lotus Flower also attended UNGA where we hosted our first US event with UN Women to discuss the rising dangers of AI and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). This engagement led to The Lotus Flower being invited to submit a statement to the White House for the UN Convention Against Cyber Crime.
And last but not least, at the end of the year Taban was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive her OBE from The Princess Royal for her ‘outstanding services to refugees’. We are all incredibly proud of her!
What Our Partners Say
“CARE Iraq has been a partner of The Lotus Flower for several years across various projects, including protection, climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods, income-generating opportunities, and mental health support. The Lotus Flower team is incredibly responsive, adaptable, and feedback-driven. Their strong awareness of community needs and commitment to addressing them through collaborative and locally grounded approaches has made them a truly valuable partner. In particular, it has been a joy to collaborate with Vian Ahmed, whose strong leadership, deep understanding of community needs, collaborative spirit, and openness to new ideas have greatly enriched our partnership—especially as we collectively adapt more intentionally toward the nexus approach.”
“As a new, entirely volunteer-based German NGO, we met Vian from TLF in 2018. A colleague had introduced us to TLF and the organization's work. Even today, after seven years, we continue to work together in a spirit of trust. We are impressed by the commitment to women and children, and by the determination and reliability of the staff. Here's to many more successful years of project collaboration!"
“The Lotus Flower has been a key and highly valued partner of Choose Love since 2017. Most recently, we were truly impressed with The Lotus Flower's holistic approach to programming both in the UK and of course Kurdistan, constantly expanding activities and reach through community centres and mobile teams to ensure that their projects respond to the most pressing needs. Over the past 8 years, the work of The Lotus Flower has gone from strength to strength, and we thoroughly look forward to continuing our work together.”
"Our partnership with The Lotus Flower has helped unlock employment prospects for refugees, IDPs, women and persons with disabilities - supporting their resilience and opening pathways to greater inclusion and self-reliance."
Ways You Can Support
With your support, we can continue creating environments where women and girls are free from violence, empowered to drive social and economic change within their communities, and equipped to build a future of hope and stability.
By investing in our work, you have the unique opportunity to help us address both the immediate and long-term needs of displaced women and girls living in some of the world’s most challenging environments through the creation of sustainable, community-led solutions.
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