About ACORN
In 1993 ACORN emerged out of a bold pursuit to inspire, and support local communities of Northern Iraq to be the best that they can be. The following three decades have included a series of diverse, and exciting initiatives partnering with local communities, and the governments of Northern Iraq and Djibouti to see transformation among some of the most vulnerable sectors of society.
Our History
ACORN is a small, but determined Dutch NGO that has a rich history of supporting, and broadening the capacity of local initiatives, providing sustainable services with excellency.
Beginning in 1993, ACORN spent it’s first decade collaborating with, and working alongside various Paediatric Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centres, the Ministry of Education, as well as the Directorate of Health throughout Sulimanyia, Dohuk, Mosul, Kirkuk, Halabja, and Erbil.
Supporting the local development of essential services is at ACORN’s roots. These services include: medical diagnostic assessment, surgical consultation, occupational and physiotherapy treatment and training, orthopaedic technology, understanding child psychology, as well as ongoing training in the English language.
As the NGO matured, new projects grew: assisting marginalized, low-resource, and disenfranchised families in meeting their basic needs, operating with a focused attention on vulnerable children and youth, and supporting families of children with special needs. Additionally, ACORN’s creation and distribution of educational resources began, and continues today to bridge the gap between the vulnerable, and mainstream sectors of society.
In recent years, ACORN has expanded it’s projects into Pre and Postnatal Education and Care for Mothers and Infants, Speech Therapy, working with Incarcerated Children and Youth, Community Development through Experiential Outdoor Education, and providing training in Medical First Response.
In 2016 ACORN was pleased to grow the organization’s family as ACORN Djibouti was born, and currently consists of more than ten projects between the two operating locations.