01. Christian demography in Iraq declined to ratios threatening the existence and continuation of two thousand years of Eastern Christianity rich in its mission, heritage and identity. It is a warning alarm that the proportion of Christians to the general Iraqi people declined from 3% (1957), to 2.13% (1977), to less than 1% (2020). Whereas the restoration of this demography is almost impossible; The restoration, activation and enhancement of the Christian presence and role is vital on the one hand and achievable on the other hand through the Christian institutions present, effective and influential, in their area of competence, e.g., health, education, humanitarian, etc., serving the entire community regardless the religious, ethnic and cultural identity and background. CAPNI is an example and witness to this potential through its Christian identity and humanitarian mission serving all vulnerable and needy communities.
Is CAPNI Still Needed?
Based on what the organization has accomplished over decades of its work, growth and development, and taking into account the current and future reality of Iraq in general, and the vulnerable minorities situation in particular, CAPNI and its growth and ensuring the sustainability of its effectiveness is vital and important.
02. With the fact that the human suffering experienced by Iraqis is not the result of a natural disaster limited and known in size, period and effects, but is the result of a man-made disaster based on the targeting of population groups because of religious, ethnicity or cultural identity. And with the failure of the Iraqi state to plan and conduct a recovery program to deal with and fix the roots and consequences of the disaster, the catastrophe became an open end in terms of the time period and material and human requirements and mechanisms of action.
Hence, the need of Iraqi society, especially vulnerable minorities, for humanitarian organizations remain demanded.
03. On the other hand, the resources and activities of the international NGOs working in Iraq is diminishing.
The national NGOs are to play a long-term lasting effective role to fill the gap with the decline or withdrawal of international NGOs. organizations, especially as the national NGOs are more aware of the minorities and vulnerable communities and their challenges and needs.
CAPNI is the most effective local Christian organization to respond to the humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities.
04. On the other hand, the resources and activities of the international NGOs working in Iraq is diminishing.
The national NGOs are to play a long-term lasting effective role to fill the gap with the decline or withdrawal of international NGOs. organizations, especially as the national NGOs are more aware of the minorities and vulnerable communities and their challenges and needs.
CAPNI is the most effective local Christian organization to respond to the humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities.
05. CAPNI as local Christian faith-based organization which is active and present in the daily community life of the Iraqi diverse society in the geographical areas of work in Dohuk, Nineveh Plain and Sinjar has succeeded in investing in humanitarian programs to build bridges between the various components of the community.
CAPNI work with and for Yazidis, Shabaks and Kakai, made its programs a bridge linking these communities.
06. In the same context, as the human suffering of Iraqis is man-made which targeted the identity and dignity of vulnerable ethno-religious communities, these communities still need civil society institutions to grant them confidence and care for their identity, dignity and rights.
CAPNI is qualified to support these communities and address their needs because of its characteristic, identity and long experience of dealing with them.
The humanitarian activities and programs in times of crisis in general, and the crises experienced by the countries and peoples of the region in particular, go beyond the limits of providing different material and service needs. It is an activity that must be accompanied by the message of hope for the vulnerable communities to which these programs are directed, since the magnitude, nature, roots and consequences of suffering lead these communities to lose hope for the future and the sense of belonging to the homeland, that created despair of the future, which drives their generations to emigrate.
Hence, CAPNI as a local organization, is qualified to link the work with hope.
This is what CAPNI experienced in its years of work, where the hope was materialized in projects and its slogan was practiced and the beneficiaries felt in their lives that hope is kept alive.
07. CAPNI is a positive model of partnership between local and donor organizations, as well as a positive model of partnership between local organizations.
08. The distinctive qualities of CAPNI on the one hand, and with the continuing need for its role on the other hand, CAPNI possesses and seeks to adopt future prospects at the local, national, regional and international level. For example, CAPNI is the first and only Iraqi member of the (Act Alliance).
