Shimsha Project aims to bring solar power to Assyrian villages
A young Assyrian-American launches an ambitious effort to deliver reliable electricity to Iraq’s Assyrian heartland.
The Shimsha Project, a newly established Assyrian-American nonprofit, has launched an initiative to bring off-grid solar power to villages and towns across Iraqi Assyria, where electricity remains unreliable or altogether absent in many communities.
Founded by Anthony Dawood, a U.S.-based solar and battery professional, the project’s first phase aims to install 15 hybrid mini-split systems, units capable of cooling buildings in summer, powered largely by solar panels and battery storage. The systems are designed to operate essentially off-grid, offering consistent comfort in regions where state power frequently fails.
According to the organization, the units will be installed inside Assyrian churches and schools across northern Iraq, addressing what the group describes as a basic but urgent need for stable power infrastructure in community hubs.
Dawood says the inspiration came during a 2023 visit to the Assyrian homeland. “That trip changed my life,” he recalls.
"When I returned to the United States, I couldn't shake what I saw. As someone who works in solar and energy storage at EG4 Electronics, I knew I could do more than just reflect — I could act. I could power a solution."
The Shimsha Project has since received approval as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, meaning all donations from U.S. contributors are tax-deductible.
Electricity Crisis in Assyrian Villages
The organization estimates that more than 80 Assyrian villages in northern Iraq suffer from unreliable access to electricity — a situation that strains local families, hinders schooling, and contributes to ongoing emigration from the region. For many Assyrian communities, basic stability in electricity is directly linked to residents’ ability and willingness to remain in their ancestral villages.
Phase One of the project carries a budget of roughly $74,000 USD. As of this writing, just under $4,000 has been raised through the project’s online donation platform.
Partnering with Shlama Foundation
For on-the-ground implementation, the Shimsha Project has partnered with the Shlama Foundation, a widely respected Assyrian humanitarian organization known for its extensive development work in the Nineveh Plains and surrounding regions. Shlama’s local solar team, Shlama Green Energy, has already completed multiple renewable-energy projects in Assyrian towns, including the installation of 30 solar water pumps and 135 solar streetlights across six villages, all of which remain operational. Before USAID funding was cut, Shlama also led several other solar and water initiatives across the region. The Shimsha Project says this existing expertise will ensure that installations are durable, locally serviced, and cost-effective.
While Iraq has recently increased nationwide investment in large-scale solar projects, Assyrian villages remain largely dependent on local initiatives and NGOs to fill infrastructure gaps. Community-driven efforts like the Shimsha Project, organizers argue, are essential for preserving a stable Assyrian presence in the homeland.
The organization hopes that the first round of installations will serve as a model for expanding solar-powered heating and cooling to dozens more Assyrian communities in the years ahead.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct an error in the original version about the number of street lights installed by Shlama Foundation.
