Leveraging AI and Digital Media
for Empowerment and Sustainability
IRO in
partnership with Jasana Organization for Freedom of Expression and Media, and
ARAN Organization started an initiative as a network of organizations to focus
on AI in areas such as AI and journalism, environment and fighting climate
change, youth mobilization and community development. Understanding the
transformative power of AI and digital media, we have actively worked to
integrate these technologies into various sectors. We have conducted workshops
and training programs to equip youth with AI tools for job searching, supported
journalists in enhancing their work with AI-driven solutions, and explored AI
applications in environmental protection.
Key focus
Areas
We currently
focus on the following areas as pressing needs of the target groups:
Enhance
job opportunities for youth through AI-driven skill development and
entrepreneurship.
Empower
journalism by
integrating AI for fact-checking, content creation, and investigative
reporting.
Mobilize
youth for
civic engagement, digital activism, and advocacy using AI-powered tools.
Advance
climate action through AI applications in environmental monitoring, awareness
campaigns, and policymaking.
In order to reach our goals to this, we signed Memorandum of Understanding with several entities and foundations and recently we have partnered with Polytechnic University - Faculty of Media Technology and the Technical College of Informatics (TCI), delivering several activities to advance AI knowledge and practical applications. These initiatives have provided us with valuable experience and insights, guiding us to expand our efforts further. However, with donors’ supports, we aim to scale our impact, fostering innovation, digital inclusion, and sustainable development in our communities in the KRI.
Our Innovation Approaches
IRO integrates innovation into its
operations through leveraging youth leadership and community engagement by
utilizing technology and creative arts. One approach is the creation of a
platform that fosters interactive learning, enabling youth to access training
on their rights, advocacy skills, and civic responsibilities. The platform can
include and forums where young people share experiences, seek advice, and
mentor each other.
Through youth-led initiatives, community-based hackathons launched and social innovation labs that focus on addressing unemployment, poverty, and inclusion by developing tech-driven solutions. These initiatives can be co-created with private-sector partners to ensure resources, mentorship, and practical opportunities. The integration of AI, arts, and civic engagement creates a dynamic ecosystem that empowers young people as key agents of change while fostering a culture of innovation, sustainability, and equality.
IRO, as a community-based,
grassroots, and youth-led organization, places significant emphasis on
training, mobilizing, and motivating individuals to actively participate in
community actions, with a particular focus on climate initiatives aimed at
improving the environmental situation in the Kurdistan Region. The organization
recognizes the pivotal role played by these individuals as they form the core
of IRO's mission.
Primarily led by youth groups, these proactive members are involved in diverse
activities such as data collection, research, awareness campaigns, advocacy
efforts, and media production initiatives. The youth groups are instrumental in
shaping and managing a broad spectrum of projects that contribute to positive
environmental change.
Looking ahead, the youth groups aspire to broaden their impact by expanding
their activism to cover a wider geographical area. They plan to undertake more
extensive activities and initiatives, aiming for increased influence within the
community and a more significant contribution to environmental improvement
Youth empowerment
IRO addresses
youth unemployment in the KRI, particularly focusing on empowering girls. It
offers experiential learning opportunities and entrepreneurial support through
various methods to allow job seekers to submit their CVs and showcase their
skills, while opportunity providers can post vacancies, creating a centralized
hub for job matching. The complementary website further enhances accessibility
for both job seekers and employers. The program connects youth to capacity
development opportunities, including training on entrepreneurship, vocational
skills, and green business initiatives. By promoting gender equality and
providing tailored resources, the project builds a comprehensive ecosystem that
supports the career growth of marginalized youth in the KRI.
Our Focus Areas
Mobilize youth group to
focus on climate issues through capacity building and field observation. IRO
has been training and mobilizing youth groups and volunteers to be involved in community-based
activities to advocate for environment and climate issues.
In collaboration with organizations focused on media and journalism, the IRO Organization addresses environmental and climate change issues. This will be achieved through training young journalists, engaging social media activists, and conducting various related activities.
A Youth Hub will be
established to connect young people within and outside educational
institutions, facilitating their engagement with pressing issues in the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The hub will serve as a platform for youth to
collaborate, innovate, and develop solutions to the challenges facing their
communities.
Environmental awareness will be disseminated in basic schools (ages 6 to 15) through mobile interactive theatre performances. This initiative seeks to educate young students on the importance of trees and environmental conservation in an engaging and memorable way.
Digital Era and Youth
Underserved youth will be empowered through training in media and soft skills to bridge the workforce skills gap and enhance community resilience. This program aims to provide youth with the tools and knowledge necessary to become active contributors to their communities, thereby strengthening local capacities.
In collaboration with the Directorate of Education, the Eco-Clubs will be established in schools within and around Slemani city. These clubs will foster environmental stewardship among students, promoting sustainable practices and increasing awareness of environmental issues.
Asia-Pacific Climate Adaptation Actors Gather in Colombo for
Knowledge Synthesis Symposium
IRO Organization, as a member of the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), participated in the Asia-Pacific ARA-TLS Knowledge Synthesis Symposium from February 24-26, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Organized by Transition Research, the event brought together representatives from civil society groups across the Asia-Pacific region to collaborate and share knowledge on climate adaptation efforts.
The symposium provided a space for participants to share their experiences from ongoing climate adaptation projects and develop tools for assessing their impact and planning future initiatives. Through discussions and workshops, attendees explored ways to expand adaptation efforts and tackle the region’s increasing vulnerability to climate change. Read more.
