- Vim Foundation
One Foundation,
Many Efforts
Vim Foundation, established in 2019 in Sulaimani/Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is an independent, non-profit NGO that works to identify critical gaps within society and responds to them with practical initiatives that help strengthen community development and create social progress.
The Foundation tackles everyday issues that matter to the community such as protecting the environment, human rights advocacy, animal welfare, and promotion of local culture. Through practical projects, skill-building workshops, training sessions, and public discussions, the Foundation empowers communities, contributes to sustainable development, and helps build a more resilient, fair, and vibrant future for Kurdistan and Iraq.
To achieve such objectives, Vim Foundation brings together several dedicated teams, each focusing on a specific area of the Foundation’s activities. The teams collaborate across different fields to make sure efforts are connected, effective, and responsive to community needs.
Vim Foundation supports Kurdish and Iraqi communities through practical initiatives that protect the environment, promote animal welfare, and promote local culture. By developing community-based programs and working closely with local partners, the Foundation contributes to a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future for people, animals, and the environment.
Vim Foundations envisions a society where local communities, especially marginalized groups, are not just beneficiaries of social and economic change, but active participants of such developments. We strive to build a future where everyone has equal opportunities to grow, local businesses thrive and strengthen the economy from within; gender equality is lived, environment issues are tackled with wisdom and responsibility; and animals are treated with kindness, dignity, and protection.
VIM FOUNDATION
Vim Platform
The Vim Platform is a publisher, translator, and organizer of cultural and educational events. In its first year, the Club published five books-fiction and nonfiction-to bring together works written in diverse Kurdish dialects and by a mix of established writers and emerging voices. Besides facilitating a series of reading groups across multiple genres, the Club is positioning itself as a growing platform, gradually expanding its scope to theatre, poetry, and broader cultural initiatives.
Vim Podcast
Vim Podcast is a multimedia series dedicated to exploring a wide range of social, economic, and scientific issues. Its first episode, released on 8 March 2023, addressed gender-based violence and domestic abuse, setting the tone for a program grounded in critical public discourse and awareness-raising. Since then, the series has expanded to cover diverse themes, including animal rights and environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, social relations, mental health, and related contemporary challenges. New seasons are released annually, each introducing new formats and thematic focus areas to engage new audiences. In addition to the Foundation’s YouTube channel, the podcast is also available on audio and visual streaming platforms.
Vim Media
As of 2026, Vim Foundation has published nearly one hundred investigative documentaries. Working under challenging and often high-risk conditions, the production team has documented underreported aspects of the country and has successfully brought to light material that is inaccessible to mainstream media, yet is essential for public understanding, NGOs, researchers, and international advocates. These documentaries, which capture issues that matter deeply to affected communities, go beyond storytelling; they are calls to action, evidence and testimony.
Artfrosh Project
We believe art should be accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few, and this principle lies at the heart of the Artfrosh initiative. This platform is established to support artists across Greater Kurdistan, Iraq, and the diaspora; incorporating various disciplines such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, and digital art. The project combines physical exhibitions with an online marketplace which enables artists to present and distribute their work to broader audiences. Over the past five years, Artfrosh has expanded to include artists from across Iraq, bridging communities and celebrating the country’s rich artistic culture. For many artists who have endured years of conflict and hardship, the platform offers hope and opportunity and reinforces the idea that artistic practice can be a career, not just a dream.
HUMANS OF KURDISTAN
Every face tells a story, and every story deserves to be heard. Through striking portraits and compelling narratives, Humans of Kurdistan highlights the rich social cohesion of the Kurdistan Region’s diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural communities. To date, the project has collected 400 stories from voices that are often underrepresented in historical and public discourse. Building on this archive, the initiative is now expanding into print publication, making these narratives and photographs accessible to a wider global readership and photography enthusiasts. The photographs gathered through this project constitute an archive of lived experience and document the human dimension of Kurdistan.
ONE FOUNDATION,
MANY EFFORTS
Commitment to developing our community.
We seek to take on each and every matter that effects our society.
Projects
50+
Over the years we have successfully implemented more than 50 community driven projects.
Our projects reflect the Foundation’s belief that meaningful change does not happen through ideas alone but through practical action. we start every initiative with a real need heard directly from our communities.
VIM Podcast
Vim Podcast is a multimedia series dedicated to exploring a wide range of social, economic, and scientific issues.
- VIM Podcast
- Vim Media
Vim Media
- Highlights
Kurdish Mobile FILM FESTIVAL
KMFF is an initiative supporting the development of arts and culture.
The festival shows that filmmaking can begin with nothing more than a mobile phone, giving emerging filmmakers a platform to turn everyday stories into cinematic works and contribute to the growth of Kurdish cinema.
Documentaries
Our Impact in Numbers
our projects are designed to create real, measurable impact in the lives of individuals and communities. We focus on practical, sustainable initiatives that address education, innovation, social development, and humanitarian needs.