about us
AMAR is an award-winning charity that builds and improves the lives and livelihoods of some of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged people.
It was founded in 1991 by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne in response to Saddam Hussain’s systematic attacks on his own people. The foundation strives to improve the lives of vulnerable individuals and rebuild societies affected by conflict, displacement, and other challenges. To date, the foundation has worked primarily in the Middle East, and especially Iraq, though it aims to ‘relieve poverty, distress, or suffering in any part of the world.
AMAR ICF provides humanitarian assistance to, and support for, communities.
- Healthcare provision: establishing medical clinics, mobile health units, and primary care centres, working to enhance infrastructure, providing essential medications, and delivering vital healthcare services to those in need.
- Education: recognizing the transformative power of education, the foundation promotes access to quality schooling, building, and refurbishing, schools, supporting teacher training programmes, and facilitating educational initiatives that empower individuals and promote long-term development.
- Women’s empowerment: actively promoting gender and women’s empowerment, improving women’s access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, providing vocational training and support programmes to enhance women’s skills, independence, and social standing.
- Psychosocial support: acknowledging the psychological impact of conflict and displacement on individuals and communities, addressing this by implementing psychosocial support programmes, providing psychiatry, counselling, trauma care, and mental health services to help individuals heal and rebuild their lives. AMAR is doing groundbreaking work with the use of singing in choirs for rape victims of ISIS, to restore their humanity and self confidence.
- Research and advocacy: highlighting the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and raising awareness of their needs through collaboration with governments, NGOs, and international bodies to influence policies and bring about positive change. Windsor dialogues website to be revived.
- Policy formulation: bringing together (through the ‘Windsor Dialogues’) government, faith, NGO, academic, and other leaders since 2016, developing long-term strategies for eliminating religious persecution as a driver of forced displacement, shifting global thinking about the global refugee crisis.
- AMAR’s significant record of achievement: Since its establishment, AMAR has played a crucial role in delivering essential services and implementing sustainable projects to address the pressing needs of marginalized populations, empowering women and children, fostering social cohesion. It delivers frontline emergency services to refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and other underserved populations suffering from the devastating effects of humanitarian disasters. It provides public and primary healthcare services throughout the Middle East, building on existing capacity to instil lasting and sustainable improvements to public health. It delivers a range of education and music projects to benefit both adults and children, generating lasting improvements in the ability of both individuals and communities to prosper and grow. Over ten million people in Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan have been able to benefit from the healthcare facilities made available through AMAR, with many more benefiting from the educational opportunities that AMAR provides.’ The Foundation’s internal dashboard covering the period 2005-2021 gives an indication of the foundation’s impact in Iraq alone.
OUR VISION
We believe in the power of collective action. Every day, countless individuals bear the brunt of war’s devastation. While the challenges are immense, the generosity and spirit of the British people can make a world of difference.
By effectively harnessing this support, the esteemed AMAR Foundation endeavors to guarantee that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, is enveloped in a sense of hope, dignity, and the assurance of a more prosperous tomorrow. Our noble aim is to galvanize the British community, elegantly translating empathy into impactful action.
Our Mission
AMAR Foundation stands as a beacon of hope for millions affected by conflict, persecution, and displacement. As an integral part of the AMAR Foundation’s global mission, we channel the compassion and generosity of supporters in the United Kingdom to bring about lasting change.
Established as a response to the urgent needs highlighted by AMAR’s on-ground efforts, we’ve been the bridge connecting British hearts to those in desperate need. Our purpose is to ensure that AMAR’s lifesaving interventions remain consistent and effective. Explore our journey.
JOIN OUR MISSION
Stand with AMAR ICF and let’s turn compassion into action. Your support can rebuild lives, restore dignity, and renew hope.