Pana | A home for the homeless

From battling the shivering cold of the winter and enduring the unforgiving heat of the summer, all whilst seeking refuge on the streets of the city that have become their bed, kitchen, and living room, the daily struggles of Sulaimani’s homeless people struck a chord with Lanja Xawe and her friends who could no longer stand idly by as their fellow humans suffered.

Although an uphill battle, Xawe and her friends’ relentless spirit and desire to leave the world a better place than the one they had entered, pushed them through all hurdles and obstacles as they realized their dream through the establishment of Pana, the Kurdish word for shelter, which has become a true home for the homeless.

In this documentary, Rudaw Media Network examines this inspiring story and all the details that went into the creation of Pana, and takes a look at the characters of the shelter’s compassionate and admirable volunteers. The production of this feature took nearly a year.