The editorial team of the Assyria Post has designated Noor Matti, co-founder of the Shlama Foundation, as the magazine’s Assyrian of the Year for 2025.
Matti is awarded for his unwavering commitment to improving lives in Assyria. Over the past eleven years, he has turned Shlama Foundation, the development organization he co-founded in 2014, into a major positive force. The foundation has implemented more than 300 projects worth over $2.5 million during this period.
Through persistent commitment and a laser-sharp focus on helping as many as possible, he has navigated numerous hurdles and difficulties to earn the trust and support of key actors. While many give up when things get tough or eventually shift their focus to personal pursuits, Noor Matti’s commitment has remained consistent.
As a leader, Noor Matti displays genuine humility and consistently seeks common ground, remaining focused on what matters most — strengthening our presence on the ground. His bias toward practical work and immediate action is an inspiration. When ISIS invaded the Nineveh Plain, he rushed to help fleeing Assyrians rather than becoming paralyzed or merely calling on others to intervene. It is undeniable that if more Assyrians had shared this mindset, our nation would be in a stronger position today.
A video posted by Shlama Foundation in which Noor Matti tells the story of how it all began.
For all of this, and for his genuine humility, he is awarded the Assyrian of the Year for 2025 by the Assyria Post. Below is a short interview the Post conducted with Matti upon informing him of the award.
AP: Congratulations! What are your thoughts about receiving this award?
NM: Thank you so much to the Assyria Post team. I am really lost for words. I don't live my life the way I do for any kind of personal recognition. I just want to help build our nation one block at a time. I’m truly honored and humbled to receive this recognition but this award is not just about me—it reflects the resilience, strength, and contributions of our people everywhere, including those who have been part of the Shlama Foundation's journey. Thank you to everyone who has supported, inspired, and believed in this journey.
AP: How would you describe your journey with the Shlama Foundation?
NM: It's hard to put 11 years into a short summary. However, I want to take this opportunity to name those who have put endless amounts of time and effort in order to make Shlama Foundation what it is today. These individuals have sacrificed a lot in order to serve our people. Without them, there is no Shlama Foundation. People see the accomplishments, but we hardly show the individuals behind all the work. The Assyrian nation should be thanking them, not me: current board members Evette Shahara, Gina Koki, Haitham Graish, Mark Mansoor, current volunteers Faris Jamma, Marilyn Dawdoka, Bahra Enwia, Omran Jabro, Sufian Jabro, Rodina Shlemon, Wameed Miriako, Maya Atallah, Anthony Zora, Faiz Yono, Alexander Anton, John Babi, Gilbert Dawod, Lynette Hacopian, Jessica Lahdow, Andrew Dakki, Ronita Bahri, solar engineers Amanda Razoky, Adera Jozeph, Ramy Asmaro and former board members Aessin Shikwana, John David, Ranna Abro, Chris Sesi, Raneen Qasha, and many other former volunteers.
AP: In the face of calamity, you chose to take practical action instead of just complain or wait for others to help our nation, how important is it for us to rely more on ourselves?
NM: Each Assyrian in this world is an asset to our nation. And each one can contribute to help build and sustain it. We are always happy to accept assistance from outside of the community, but one person can make a big impact in helping our people have a better future. The more people we have active, the more work output is generated. The Assyria Post is an excellent example - a small team of Assyrians decided to roll up their sleeves and get to work. And now, we can proudly say we have a leading English-based news source just like other nations.
AP: Shlama Foundation has so far only implemented projects in Iraqi Assyria, do you plan to also do projects in other parts of the Assyrian homeland?
NM: We did actually implement few projects in Syria (Gozarto) in 2019, however we faced obstacles and we unfortunately couldn't continue. We are now just starting to see if we can go back and try to help our communities there. It's a very challenging environment with its unique difficulties, but we hope we can put things together in order to do work there as well.
AP: We are often met with negative news from the Assyrian homeland, but what about the good news?
NM: As a person who lives in the homeland, I can't tell you the number of wins our nation has, but unfortunately they are never highlighted. Social media feeds show only negativity, and positive news is hardly posted. I hope the Assyria Post will help in changing this narrative and put the spotlight more on our nation's successes. For example, one young man from Karamles has built one of the most popular cafe chains in Iraq, and now has shops from the north to the south. Or how about another one from Baghdeda who created a delivery company called ''Thelan'' (we're coming) where they deliver items all over the country. It is not all sad and gloomy, we need to surround ourselves with positivity so that we are more encouraged to work for our nation. The Assyrian cause is not a losing cause - we are just getting started, and we will build great lives for our children and grandchildren.
AP: What is your message to Assyrians who might have lost hope for the future of our people back home?
NM: Our history has never been easy, yet we are still here. We have survived displacement, persecution, and attempts to erase us—and that itself is proof of our strength. Hope does not always mean immediate change; to me it means refusing to give up on who we are and put in work for a better future. Every effort to rebuild, educate, support our communities, and preserve our language and culture matters. The future of our people will be shaped by those who choose to stay engaged; whether in the homeland or in the diaspora. As long as we care, work, and stand together, our nation will only grow.
٭ Has launched an initiative to contribute positively to the Assyrian nation.
٭ The initiative is broad in scope and benefits, or has the potential to
benefit, many Assyrians.
٭ The initiative is mainly based on self-reliance, the idea that Assyrians
should depend on their own strength rather than seek external support
and validation.
٭ The initiative has already proven itself, is in existence, and has the
potential to continue indefinitely.
