USA Springs of Hope Foundation

The Hope Centre functions as a community education hub with classes that include Computer Science, English as a Second Language and Geography, ranging from beginning level skills through University Level online courses.
The Music and Art School provides instruction from both skilled local teachers and international volunteer working musicians, artists and teachers. Trauma-Responsive art therapy, movement therapy, and music therapy are provided, both in clinical settings and through the practice of creating art and music.
The Therapeutic Healing/Rehabilitation program provides a continuum of services to encourage individual and community restoration. Services include basic needs provision, psychological education, medical care, employment skills and readiness, trauma-responsive counseling, play therapy, art and music therapy, and education.
The Sports Training program provides intensive sports training in football, gymnastics, track and volleyball through courses including game introduction and rules, strategy, skill development, nutrition and physical fitness.
The Sewing Hope program provides a sewing and design program teaching skills and providing a supportive community and path to employment and self-sufficiency. This program combines active counseling and empowerment for women survivors and rescuees.
The Hope Medical Centre, is a privately sponsored, public-access medical clinic addressing both the significant need for culturally sensitive/representative and trauma-responsive medical and psychological care for victims of sexual assault and trafficking as well as the need for primary medical and dental care for children, youth and women. Services are provided at no charge to the patients.
The Garden in Shariya Camp provides organic, fresh vegetables, mushrooms, and fruit, grown and tended by the women, children and youth of The Hope Centre.
The Rainbow Zone: The Rainbow Zone serves as a gathering place, basic needs distribution center, and kindergarten and youth-focused educational hub.
In 2020, SOHF distributed food and clothing to more than 11,000 beneficiaries. In 2020, 336 students graduated from 24 Art courses in Painting; 56 students graduated from 6 Music courses; 74 students graduated from 5 English as Second Language courses; and 172 students graduated from 11 Computer Science courses. Additionally, 160 students completed the courses of Sports Training, with 2240 participating in Sports Days.

Our Needs

The Springs of Hope Foundation (SOHF) through the Horses for Hope Program seeks to create a beautiful and functional horse property and facility to house 4-5 horses for the purposes of:
Providing opportunities for equine-assisted learning and animal care.
Providing opportunities for trauma-responsive counseling with equine-assisted psychotherapy and counseling.
Providing opportunities for therapeutic riding for persons with physical and developmental disabilities.

The program has been developed to roll out in a series of three phases, with focus on different groups to be served as the levels of training and experience of staff and horses increase over time.
Phase One will serve the Yezidi children, youth, and women currently receiving services through the Hope Centre.
Phase Two will expand the program to include Kurdish Syrian War refugees receiving services though the Rainbow Zone.
Phase Three will further expand the program to include Peshmerga (Northern Iraq Army) Veterans who sustained severe and disabling physical injuries while fighting in the Iraq war against ISIS. Many of these war veterans are experiencing PTSD symptoms and have few financial resources and limited access to physical or mental health therapies.

Horses for Hope seeks to build a safe environment for participants using a team-approach, with both a trauma-responsive counselor and a skilled horse instructor. Participants, counselors, and instructors will incorporate riding and groundwork with horses, such as grooming, feeding, and ground exercises to create relationships with the horses. Typical talk therapy is transformed into a hands-on and experiential process with the inclusion of a horse. Horses serve as a mirror to participant emotions and can allow participants to learn about themselves and discuss feelings, patterns, and behaviors. Interacting with a horse can provide a low-risk opportunity for participants to practice experiencing emotions, connection, and empathy.

Facilities and infrastructure will include a fenced horse property located a few miles from the Shariya Camp, in the Old Shariya village. The property will contain a barn, round pen, and covered arena. The initial pilot program will serve the children, youth, and women from the Hope Center and the larger community of the Shariya Camp. Participants will gain tangible therapeutic benefits as well as an opportunity to learn animal care skills, build relationships, and develop horse training experience.