Hardwired

Educators in Erbil, Iraq are preparing to bring Hardwired’s lessons to teachers across the Kurdistan Region. Through Hardwired’s immersive ‘Fruitopia’ simulation, 24 official trainers from six KRG Directorates of Education were trained in the foundational concepts of pluralism and human rights. During the training, one teacher shared an important realization: “We think we live together, but the reality is we live knowing of each other. We’ve never delved into our common humanity, and this was out of inherited ideas we were raised on.” Through Hardwired’s program, trainers like this discovered new ways to train teachers to build a culture of respect for the nation’s vibrant history and diverse communities through greater respect for human rights and understanding of others. This training marks the beginning of a transformative journey for these educators who are doing the work to change the culture of the classroom and bring innovative lessons on human rights to teachers and students alike. The teachers walked away from their experience with a crucial learning: ‘Rights are born with us; laws protect them.” Hardwired believes that education is a crucial first step to reinforcing human rights for all people and we look forward to continuing this pursuit in Iraqi Kurdistan. #HardwiredGlobal #IraqiKurdistan #PluralismInEducation #WeGrowTogether #DiversityInSchools #EducationThatTransforms

This May in Fushë, Kosovo, Hardwired-trained educators organized a community-wide performance of “We Grow Together – Life as Fruit.” Led by teacher Edona Duhani of Mihal Grameno – Annex 2 and staged at Hivzi Sulejmani High School, the event was a resounding success! After the performance, Idriz Murtezi, father and representative of the local Roma community, shared: “This drama raises its voice for a vital truth that every parent needs to hear: children should be raised with the belief that regardless of color, fair or culture, we are all equal and should live as such. It’s truly moving to see how such deep values can be conveyed so beautifully through a drama!” One student was moved to tears, speaking to the community about how this performance gives him hope that his future will be different and that he will be respected no matter his beliefs. This play teaches students fundamental lessons in pluralism and unity through difference, which truly resonated with the audience in Fushë. Hardwired is honored to have worked in coordination with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MASHTI) and the Directorate of Education in Fushë, Kosovo to bring this event to fruition. We look forward to broadening the scale of our work in Kosovo and creating a forum for future discussions about justice and human rights in pursuit of positive peace! #FusheKosoveEducation #HardwiredGlobal #PluralismInEducation #WeGrowTogether #DiversityInSchools #MihalGramenoAnnex2 #PowerOfArt #EducationThatTransforms #Fruitopia

Hardwired was honored to host representatives of the Stirling Foundation in Iraqi Kurdistan to visit Hardwired-educated trainers at the Shamiram Assyrian School in Soran. When reflecting on their work, Hardwired trainers, school staff, and students expressed how Hardwired’s Fruitopia activity was a successful analogy for a central challenge they face as a community—reconciling differences in nationality and religion. One student remarked, “the important lesson I learned was respecting others’ rights and the right to free expression.” Through this exercise, students learned the value of reconsidering their assumptions about others, seeking to understand people better, and learning to plant seeds of respect for all people that they can carry into the wider community. We are grateful for the Stirling Foundation’s support, which has allowed us the opportunity to support the Assyrian community’s understanding of their rights and ongoing witness in the community. #HardwiredGlobal #IraqiKurdistan #PluralismInEducation #WeGrowTogether #DiversityInSchools #EducationThatTransforms

This spring, Hardwired has planted after-school clubs in 8 schools across Kosovo, reaching 236 students, 117 teachers, and 1260 community members in a mission to model respect for human dignity, equality, and individual freedom! This engagement has taken shape through numerous activities undertaken by the Human Dignity Clubs as well as the performance of Hardwired’s Fruitopia play, “We Grow Together – Life as Fruit,” in several schools. In reflecting on the experience, one student shared how the Human Dignity Club taught them the importance of respecting others, regardless of their background. Parents in these communities echo the significance of our work, expressing a distinct hope for a better future: “We want our children to grow up without fear.” Hardwired is thrilled to continue working towards this aim in Kosovo! Stay tuned for upcoming Kosovo program spotlights! #HardwiredGlobal #PluralismInEducation #WeGrowTogether #DiversityInSchools #PowerOfArt #EducationThatTransforms #Fruitopia

Hardwired has been hard at work in Iraq. This spring, our team launched a new partnership with the Ministry of Education, working with official Ministry trainers in six cities through an intensive training that will support lessons on pluralism and human rights in schools across the region. In addition, thanks to a newly established partnership with the Union of Islamic Clerics, we have also been fortunate to engage with a cohort of 20 Imams dedicated to bringing lessons on human rights and pluralism to children in their communities. Hardwired looks forward to continuing this work in Iraqi Kurdistan! Stay tuned for training updates and highlights from our work with these amazing leaders as they share Hardwired’s lessons with teachers and students! #HardwiredGlobal #IraqiKurdistan #PluralismInEducation #WeGrowTogether #DiversityInSchools #EducationThatTransforms

In recent months, Hardwired-trained teachers in Lebanon integrated our peace-building lessons into classrooms and brought them to the community through student-led performances. These plays reinforced crucial concepts of pluralism and mutual respect, ensuring that students not only learn about peace—but actively practice it. Hardwired is transforming education in conflict-affected regions like Lebanon, where we’re training teachers to foster pluralism, dignity, and peace in the classroom. Want to hear firsthand how our programs are shaping the next generation? Sign up for our newsletter today! hardwiredglobal.org/newsletter-sig… #iamhardwired #lebanon #pluralism #humanrights #educationforpeace

This spring, in Milosheva and Kacanik, students performed Hardwired’s Fruitopia. The play is a key aspect of our educational program, culminating powerful lessons learned into a community event that explores these concepts by mirroring real-world struggles of division and discrimination. Families, educators, and officials witnessed the power of human dignity and understanding as students worked together on stage. One parent shared: “It felt like the message was meant for all of us, not just the children.” This is the future we’re building—one where respect and unity overcome fear and division. #BuildingPeace #educationforchange #PluralismInAction #InspireChange #BuildingBridges #humanrightseducation #Kosovo #RespectAndUnderstanding #GlobalService #CriticalThinking

In many villages we reached through our program in South Sudan this winter, we saw communities began to consider how they could protect the rights of women in the future election and constitution, especially since many villages had strong dowry practices, restrictions on women being educated, and taboos on women speaking in public or holding leadership roles before men. The lessons we’re sharing across South Sudan are transforming communities and how they treat their neighbors, and they are important for the future peace and stability of the country. #SouthSudan #CivicEngagement #EmpoweringWomen #HumanDignity #RuleOfLaw #EducationForChange #PeaceBuilding #Pluralism #CommunityImpact #FutureLeaders

Hardwired provides professional development opportunities for educators who are looking for alternatives to DEI training or CRT curriculum.  Through our programs, we help educators foster respect for the dignity and rights of all people, including those who disagree with them, through lessons that teach the values of freedom of speech, expression, religion, and more. Our research-based approach has been implemented in the U.S., Canada, and several countries, with proven results featured in several publications including the Journal of Social Science Education. Our programs equip and inspire teachers and students to better understand their rights and the rights of others, engage in critical thinking and civil dialogue without compromising their values and beliefs, respond to bullying and intolerance, and support the social integration of refugees and migrants into their community. Ready to empower and inspire? Learn more about our approach: hardwiredglobal.org/professional-d…

In South Sudan, where more than 80% of the population is illiterate and uninformed about their role as citizens and the upcoming election, Hardwired’s education programs are working to fill a critical gap, equipping communities with the tools they need to safeguard their rights, recognize the value of civic engagement, and promote a culture of respect for human rights. Currently, our training has reached rural villages across the country with the help of student leaders from eight universities who have been trained through Hardwired programs. These leaders are empowering others to build a culture of mutual respect and understanding, justice, peace, and respect for the rule of law. #CivicEngagement #HumanRightsEducation #HardwiredGlobal #EmpoweredCommunities #JusticeAndPeace #RuleOfLaw #MutualRespect #SouthSudan #EducationForChange #BuildingBridges

This winter, we witnessed the incredible impact of Hardwired's programs in Millosheva, Kosovo, where teachers and students brought to life lessons of human dignity and freedom of belief through a community performance of Fruitopia. Students took the stage to share the powerful lessons they had learned from our training, inspiring their community of over 150 attendees, including parents, teachers, community leaders, and government officials to embrace respect for diverse perspectives and beliefs, human dignity and equality for all, and fostering unity. One parent shared, "The part where they gave advice to the other fruits about how not to harm one another was so touching. It felt like the message was meant for all of us, not just the children." This event is a testament to the transformative power of education that promotes dignity and respect for human rights across different cultures, faiths, and beliefs. The impact prompted local government officials to discuss expanding the program to other regions. Këtë dimër, ishim dëshmitarë të ndikimit të jashtëzakonshëm të programeve të Hardwired në Milloshevë, Kosovë, ku mësuesit dhe nxënësit sollën në jetë mësimet mbi dinjitetin njerëzor dhe lirinë e besimit nëpërmjet një drame e quajtur Fruitopia. Nxënësit dolën në skenë për të treguar mësimet me ndikim të fuqishëm që kishin marrë nga trajnimi ynë, duke frymëzuar komunitetin e tyre me mbi 150 pjesëmarrës, përfshirë prindër, mësues, përfaqësues nga komuna, për të pranuar dhe respektuar perspektiva dhe besime të ndryshme , për të mbrojtur dinjitetin dhe barazinë e të gjithëve dhe për të promovuar unitetin. Një prind u shpreh: “Pjesa ku u jepnin këshilla frutave të tjera për të mos lënduar njëri-tjetrin ishte kaq prekëse. Dukej sikur mesazhi ishte për ne të gjithë, jo vetëm për fëmijët.” Ky aktivitet është një dëshmi e fuqisë transformuese të arsimit që promovon dinjitetin dhe respektin për të drejtat e njeriut në kultura, fe dhe besime të ndryshme. Ky ndikim i madh i shtyu përfaqësuesit e komunës të diskutojnë zgjerimin e programit në rajone të tjera të Kosovës. #HumanDignity #HardwiredImpact #KosovoImpact #RespectForAll

As we approach the holiday season, this insightful article by Margie Warrell reflects on navigating familial discourse by embracing courage and empathy to engage in meaningful dialogue. She shares, “At a recent event celebrating the work of Hardwired Global and a documentary by The Good Road about the impact of their work promoting pluralism in conflict zones, a young Yazidi boy from Mosul shared this simple but profound truth: 'Just because people think differently doesn’t make them an enemy’.” Read how Hardwired’s approach can steer American political discourse away from cancel culture and inspire us to “practice pluralism in our own backyard.” forbes.com/sites/margiewa…

نظمت @IraqinUSA ، فعالية ثقافية استضافت فيها @HardwiredOrg ، التي قدمت برامج تدريبية لنشر ثقافة التعددية في مدارس المناطق المحررة من #داعش الأرهابي. الفعالية تضمنت عرض فيلم وثائقي عن رحلتهم إلى #الموصل. للمزيد زيارة الرابط iraqiembassy.us/node/8577

Today, on the International Day of the Girl Child, we recognize the unique challenges girls face worldwide. At Hardwired, we are committed to empowering the next generation to stand up for the equal rights of women and girls who are often doubly persecuted in the midst of religious conflict. From the Yezidi girls who were sexually enslaved by ISIS in Iraq to college students imprisoned by “morality police” on the streets of Khartoum, Sudan for wearing jeans, women are one of the worst victims of religious oppression globally. Through our work, including within all-girls schools, our programs are paving the way for a better future—one where every girl is treated with dignity and respect. Students who have participated in our lessons on pluralism and human rights have overwhelmingly embraced respect for girls and helped end discriminatory treatment of girls in their communities. #InternationalDayOfTheGirl #EmpoweringGirls #EqualRights #EndReligiousOppression #HumanDignity #RespectForGirls #StandUpForWomen #BuildingABetterFuture #HumanRightsEducation #PluralismInAction #HardwiredImpact #GirlsDeserveRespect #EndingDiscrimination #GlobalEmpowerment #DignityForAll

Today, Hardwired’s Kosova Director, Brikene Krasniqi, participated in a panel discussion hosted by Mercury One for the 2024 International Ministerial Conference on FoRB in Berlin, Germany. Brikene shared Hardwired’s work in the Middle East and Kosova to promote respect for pluralism and human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) of all people. "In post-conflict areas, communities face challenges in rebuilding inclusive societies, especially when conflict arises from religious, ethnic, or other divides. People often isolate themselves for protection, leading to intolerance and fear. and bias. While peacebuilding promotes tolerance, it often overlooks the root causes of conflict. True reconciliation and rebuilding require pluralism, which involves actively engaging with each other, especially on disagreements. We as Hardwired with our program have bean able to change this and empower the societies to respect one another and have long lasting peace." - Brikene Krasniqi #FoRBConference2024 #FreedomOfBelief #PluralismInAction #BuildingInclusiveSocieties #PeaceThroughEngagement #HumanRights #PostConflictRebuilding #ReligiousFreedom #RespectForAll #Hardwired #hardwiredimpact #pluralism #EmpoweringCommunities #LongLastingPeace #BerlinConference #MercuryOne #LYNC #TRT

We are excited to share about the communities we are empowering in Kosovo! This month, we hosted a powerful two-day training at the House of Hope in Millosheva, near the divided town of Mitrovica. With 16 dedicated volunteers participating, we explored how understanding identity and pluralism can help build stronger, more cohesive communities. One participant shared, “It felt like a real war,” as they faced the struggles of defending their identity and rights. By the end of the training, the group shifted from seeking isolated solutions to embracing collaboration and understanding. These trainings are vital steps toward fostering peaceful coexistence in regions marked by division and past conflicts. We are proud of the resilience and dedication shown by these volunteers with the House of Hope as they work to create a more inclusive and peaceful future for Kosovo. Jemi të lumtur të ndajmë për komunitetet që po fuqizojmë në Kosovë! Këtë muaj organizuam një trajnim të jashtëzakonshëm dyditor në Shtëpinë e Shpresës në Milloshevë, afër qytetit të ndarë të Mitrovicës. Me pjesëmarrjen e 16 vullnetarëve të përkushtuar, ne eksploruam se si kuptimi i identitetit dhe pluralizmit mund të ndihmojë në ndërtimin e komuniteteve më të forta dhe më kohezive. Një nga pjesëmarrësit tha: “Ishte si një luftë e vërtetë,” teksa përballeshin me sfidat e mbrojtjes së identitetit dhe të drejtave të tyre. Në fund të trajnimit, grupi kaloi nga kërkimi i zgjidhjeve të izoluara te përqafimi i bashkëpunimit dhe mirëkuptimit. Këto trajnime janë hapa të rëndësishëm drejt nxitjes së bashkëjetesës paqësore në rajonet e prekura nga ndarjet dhe konfliktet e së kaluarës. Jemi krenarë për qëndrueshmërinë dhe përkushtimin që kanë treguar këta vullnetarë në Shtëpinë e Shpresës, teksa punojnë për të krijuar një të ardhme më gjithëpërfshirëse dhe paqësore për Kosovën. #EmpoweringCommunities #KosovoHope #BuildingPeace #InclusiveFuture #HouseOfHope #Mitrovica #FosteringUnity #PluralismInAction #IdentityAndCommunity #PeacefulCoexistence #CollaborativeSolutions #ResilienceInAction #CreatingChange #HardwiredImpact #KosovoVolunteers #CommunityEmpowerment #WorkingTogetherForPeace

We are incredibly grateful to The Good Road and the Richmond International Film Festival for featuring Hardwired's work in Iraq. It was an honor to share our mission of promoting human dignity and pluralism with the Richmond community. Film is a powerful medium to highlight the work being done in communities affected by conflict worldwide. Through The Good Road, we were able to showcase how our programs are building bridges and fostering understanding in some of the world’s most challenging environments. A heartfelt thank you to our panelists—Ben King, Craig Martin, and moderator Daniel Gade for leading a thought-provoking discussion, and to everyone who joined us for the screening. Your support and engagement are critical as we continue this important work. We look forward to keeping this conversation going. To learn more about our documentary episodes and how you can support our mission, check out The Good Road on PBS and visit us at hardwiredglobal.org. Stay tuned for more screening events! #RichmondInternationalFilmFestival #RIFF #TheGoodRoad #HardwiredGlobal #Iraq #Pluralism #FilmFestival #DocumentarySeries

Join us tomorrow for the Richmond International Film Festival for a powerful screening and discussion you won’t want to miss! We’re honored to feature two incredible American veterans on our panel, both of whom have dedicated their lives to serving their country. After the premiere of a new episode from the PBS Emmy-nominated series The Good Road, highlighting Hardwired’s impactful work in northern Iraq, we’ll host a special panel discussion featuring: Daniel Gade: A retired lieutenant colonel and former Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Daniel has been a leading advocate for veteran disability policies that promote self-reliance and recovery. Ben King: An Iraq War Veteran and Operations Director at the Virginia War Memorial, Ben is a champion of veteran support through mindfulness and leadership training, drawing from his own experiences with PTSD and mental health recovery. These distinguished veterans, along with Hardwired Founder Tina Ramirez-Lee and The Good Road co-host Craig Martin, will dive into the critical work being done by Hardwired to promote peace and pluralism in communities around the world. Join us in this important conversation and be inspired by stories of resilience and hope from those who have served on the frontlines, both in the military and in the mission of peace. Film Screening - Tuesday 3:30 PM Tickets are going fast—secure yours now: riff.eventive.org/schedule/66b12…