Stichting Help Kobanê strives to strengthen the society of Northern Syria through supporting initiatives focused on health and education in order to create a just and sustainable society for the future.
Stichting Help Kobanê serves as the initial point of contact for all other NGOs or foundations in the Netherlands who wish to conduct projects in Northern Syria.
Stichting Help Kobanê was founded in May 2015 in the Netherlands by a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting the people of North Syria in light of the destruction caused by the ongoing conflict. We focus on supporting women and children through initiatives that bolster healthcare and education. We operate as the official Dutch branch of the Kobanê Reconstruction Board.
We firmly believe a just society has at its foundation the pursuit of human rights for all people, regardless of gender, religion, age, ethnicity, or nationality. While based in the Netherlands, we have an international team with members from the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, Syria, Turkey, and more.
The city of Kobanê is located in the northern Syrian region — often referred to as Rojava — that declared local autonomy in 2012. The Kobanê Canton came under attack by the so-called Islamic State, and in September 2014 IS launched an intensive campaign to capture the city. The YPG and YPJ, along with other volunteers, defended the city despite being outnumbered. Kobanê became a symbol of resistance and was liberated in January 2015 at great human cost.
The city was left in ruins; estimates put the cost of the damage at around €3.3 billion. Despite the enormous cost of its defense, there has been a lack of outside help in reconstruction. The people of Kobanê have been hard at work to make the city livable again.
The revival of Kobanê depends on local, regional, and international solidarity. The Kobanê Reconstruction Board was established to facilitate and coordinate these efforts. Founded by the Democratic Self-Administration shortly after liberation, the Board studies the situation on the ground, plans future development, and coordinates the rebuilding efforts of local, regional and international partners — through funding, material assistance or knowledge.