Arbat Brighter Future continues to uplift Syrian youth through education — and 2025 marks our biggest milestone yet!

We are overjoyed to share that this year we celebrated our largest graduation class since the Arbat Brighter Future Scholarship Program began in 2018. Just a few months ago, five of our top scholarship recipients proudly walked across the stage at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS). Their futures are bright, their accomplishments impressive, and their gratitude profound.

Thanks to your generosity, nine students have now graduated — from the 24 full scholarships awarded to the highest-performing high school students in Arbat Refugee Camp. Degrees earned to date include Civil Engineering, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Information Technology, and more. These young men and women represent resilience, excellence, and hope for an entire community.

We are equally proud to share that the story of Arbat Brighter Future is gaining recognition around the world. Our documentary, Restoring Lost Hope: An Artist Uplifts a Refugee Camp, has now been selected by 12 international film festivals and received four awards, including Outstanding Excellence for Human Spirit and Best Documentary Short.

While conditions in Syria have improved marginally, the region remains unstable. This continued uncertainty has led many refugee families to stay in the camp, even as available services diminish. The need for long-term, sustainable solutions — like access to higher education — remains urgent.

As we enter a new year, we want you to know that 100% of your donation directly supports Syrian youth. Our program operates without overhead and is volunteer-run, with AUIS subsidizing much of the academic and institutional support needed to make these scholarships possible. Every dollar you give truly changes a life — not for a moment, but for a lifetime.

Your generosity has opened doors that once seemed unimaginable for these deserving students. With your continued support, we can ensure that more young people leave the camp with a degree, a profession, and the ability to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Thank you for standing with us, believing in the power of education, and making this life-changing work possible.

With gratitude,

Florence Robichon

Founder, Arbat Brighter Future

Jill Derby

Former Chair, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) Board of Trustees

Andrea Saliba

Member, American University

of Iraq Foundation 

Board of Directors