As part of the invited international programme of the London Festival of Architecture 2021, the Iraqi Embassy in London in collaboration with UNESCO and the Al-Kindi Society of Engineers are organising this webinar to introduce the "Revive the spirit of Mosul" initiative as a case study demonstrating the festival's theme of "care"[1].The city of Mosul, meaning “the linking point" in Arabic, is one of the oldest cities in the world. For millennia, it has been a strategic crossing and a bridge between north and south, east and west. Due to its strategic location, it became home to a large number of people from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and religious beliefs. However, this unique location also made it a target for ISIL/Daesh. In 2014, the terrorist took the city and declared it its capital. Three devastating years (2014-2017) of occupation passed before the shackles of violent extremism could be broken. During those three years, various battles took place, leaving Mosul in ruins, its heritage sites reduced to rubble, religious monuments and cultural antiquities damaged, and thousands of its inhabitants displaced, leaving them scarred and with immense humanitarian needs.In February 2018, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, launched the flagship initiative “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” as the Organization’s response for the recovery of one of Iraq’s iconic cities. Reviving Mosul is not only about reconstructing heritage sites, it is about empowering the population as agents of change involved in the process of rebuilding their city through culture and education. It is with a strong message of hope and resistance to Iraq and to the world, a message that an inclusive, cohesive and equitable society is the future that Iraqis deserve, that the “Revive the spirit of Mosul” Flagship Initiative was born.Moderated by Al-Kindi Society of Engineers' Cultural Heritage and Outreach programmes director, Mr Haval Kadhem, in this event we will hear from the following UNESCO colleagues:Dr. Maria Rita Acetoso, Senior Project Manager at the UNESCO Office for IraqMs. Jemma Huston, Project Manager at the UNESCO Office for IraqThis event will present the ambitious UNESCO programme "Revive the spirit of Mosul'' initiative as a whole, its objectives and vision. The speakers will also provide an overview of the progress of the UAE and EU funded projects including the work on the Al Nouri Mosque, the Al Tahera Church, Al Saa’a Church, and the rehabilitation of historical houses.

Loading embedded content ...

Webinar Registration details:Tuesday, June 29 12:00pm London | 14:00 BaghdadZoom Webinar ID: 950 4165 8252Password: LFA2021https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WGD0LhvSSjG5uCRvh11olg