Stories of hope
A Cup of Coffee to a Community Rebuilt
From displacement to stability through local enterprise
March 27, 2026 | by McKenzie Hood
In Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, returning home after conflict requires grit to find a way to stay.
For Christian and other religious minority communities, the challenge is ongoing. Years after displacement and the devastation of ISIS, many families in towns like Baghdede, also called Qaraqosh, are still working to restore what was lost: businesses, income, and a sense of stability. Without viable livelihoods, the pressure to leave again remains high.
This is where small businesses can make all the difference between leaving and staying.
A New Start on Four Wheels
Martin is one of many young entrepreneurs determined to rebuild his life in his hometown. Displaced during the ISIS occupation, he returned to Qaraqosh with the hope of starting again. But like many others, found limited opportunities.
With support from this project, he launched Sip & Go, a mobile café that is now fully operational and already becoming part of daily life in the community.
From a custom-designed food truck, Martin serves authentic Italian-style barista coffee, fresh juices, and light snacks—something rarely available in the area. A key investment in a professional espresso machine allows him to offer high-quality coffee that draws in students, families, and passersby alike.
During the day, he parks near the a local university, serving students and staff. In the evenings, he relocates near a church, where youth and families gather. In both places, Sip & Go has quickly become a place to meet, talk, and reconnect.
Martin said, “This mobile coffee shop is a dream come true. I always wanted to create a place that brings people together — a warm space where we can share ideas and laughter over a good cup of coffee. I’m deeply thankful to God and to those who made this possible.”
More Than One Business
Sip & Go is one of many small businesses launched through Shai Fund’s livelihood initiative. Together, these enterprises are helping families restart lives that felt lost during years of conflict and displacement while restoring the social fabric of entire communities. In areas where services remain limited, even a small café or shop can become a vital part of daily life.
For Iraq’s religious minorities, the stakes are high.
Economic hardship remains one of the primary drivers of migration. Without stable livelihoods, families are often forced to leave their ancestral homes in search of opportunity elsewhere, threatening the long-term continuity of these historic communities.
Sip & Go may be a small business. But in a region where so much has been lost, it represents something much larger: A reason to remain.
