The news out of Iraq has been peppered with reports of violence, conflict, and upheaval.

It’s a powerful reminder why now, more than ever, we must recommit ourselves to creating a peaceful and prosperous Iraq.

On EPIC’s Iraqi Youth Hike, a project you helped make happen, young Iraqis of different ethnicities from the diverse but violent city of Kirkuk came together to learn about nature and each other. They ended the hike as environmental conservationists and friends.

When we asked the young Iraqis on the hike about their dreams for the future, responses included things like “be the best computer programmer” and “become a famous journalist”. But most of all, they said that they wanted a normal life: to find a job, get married, and have kids.

Throughout our experience in Iraq, that sentiment has been echoed over and over again by the the Iraqis we meet: they want a more peaceful country in which to raise their kids, they want to finish college and get a job, and they want to be able to go to work every day and come home to their families every night. In a word, they want peace.

The youth of Iraq have a powerful ability to shape their country and create a lasting peace. With that in mind, EPIC recently released our “Plan to Empower Iraqi Youth to Build a Better Future in Iraq.” Looking at 2012 and beyond, the plan highlights EPIC mission and vision for Iraqi youth and their role in securing a lasting peace in their communities, country, and the world.

EPIC’s work is made possible by the contributions of individual donors. Donate today and be part of empowering Iraqi youth to build a better future in Iraq. In order to do more Iraqi Youth Hikes and reach more Tahas and Kastros, we need to raise $20,000 by the end of the year. Supporters like you have put us nearly halfway there raising $9,000 for EPIC and our youth programs. Can you help us reach our goal?

Make a tax-deductible donation before January 1st and support peace in the New Year.

So much is possible in Iraq and, ultimately, its future will be determined by its youth. Show the young people of Iraq that people like you believe in their power to build a peaceful Iraq. Donate to EPIC today.

Earlier today, President Obama and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq held a joint press conference to discuss the future of US-Iraq relations. Both sides took questions and then journeyed to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony to pay respects to Servicemen and women.

The withdrawal of the United States military signals a change in relations between the two countries, one that President Obama says will be a “normal relationship between sovereign nations.” Obama declared that ours would be a strong and enduring partnership and promised the Iraqi people: “You will not stand alone.”

Obama promised that the United States would work to strengthen the institutions on which democracy depends: free elections, a vibrant press, strong civil society, professional police, an independent judiciary, and transparent institutions that serve all Iraqis without discrimination.

On the subject of youth development, Obama cited one program in particular: the Fulbright Program, which provides Iraqi students and professionals with funding and resources for undergraduate or graduate study in the United States. It was his hope that friendships and shared experiences between young people of both countries would pave the way for rich exchanges and positive relations for generations to come.

As a new chapter emerges in the relationship between Iraq and the United States, EPIC sees an increasing need for a vibrant and independent civil society and the organizations who have been, and will continue to be, doing the hard work to shape the future of Iraq. Building a lasting peace in Iraq is in the interests of both the United States and Iraq. Getting there will take a community of support.

Donate to EPIC today and contribute to peace in Iraq.

There is always someone on your holiday shopping list for whom finding the perfect gift is nigh near impossible. Slippers are too impersonal, Superman undergarments are too personal, and you got them the Justin Bieber Christmas album last year.

You need a gift that says you care and that you know they care, too. That gift? The perfect one? It’s a gift to EPIC.

Make a donation to EPIC on someone’s behalf and we will send them a personalized “Peace in Iraq” card explaining your gift and how it supports youth and peacebuilding initiatives in Iraq.

A donation to EPIC on behalf of someone is a gift that lasts longer than a pair of slippers, it’s a gift that lasts a generation. Donating to EPIC helps empower the next generation of Iraqis today with the tools they will need tomorrow to create a lasting peace.

This year, individuals like you made generous contributions that enabled EPIC to carry out some of our most exciting work to date. Our first Iraqi Youth Hike program brought together nine disparate young Iraqis from Kirkuk for an outdoor adventure. During the program, the young hikers formed friendships that transcended ethnic or religious backgrounds and grew an appreciation for the environment and gaining new knowledge.

In the next year, with your help, we’ll do more Iraqi Youth Hikes and develop programs that empower young women with leadership and teamwork skills through sports.

Right now, you can give the gift of simple joys like playing outdoors and the gift of lasting peace not just to your friends, family, or favorite neighbor, but also to young Iraqis. Give to EPIC and know that your gift will be remembered not just by those who receive it, but by a generation of Iraqis.

Give the gift of peace this holiday season.

Yes, but only if communities come together. Today in Iraq, there are not enough opportunities for that. Moreover, in a country where nearly 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30, young people must be a top priority of peacebuilding efforts.

In 2011, those ideas developed into a vision for an exciting new phase of EPIC’s work: youth and peacebuilding initiatives on the ground in Iraq.

While making that vision into a reality, we’ve seen a 5-fold increase in individual donations to EPIC since 2010. In addition, EPIC’s Board of Directors and I have personally donated more than $17,000.

Those contributions allowed EPIC to implement its first on-the-ground youth and peacebuilding initiative in Iraq: the Iraqi Youth Hike. Offering a program of discovery and adventure, the Iraqi Youth Hike brought together a group of young Iraqis from the divided city of Kirkuk. The youth participants formed important friendships that helped–and will continue to–foster greater understanding and cooperation that can reverse the trends threatening to tear their city apart.

But let me be clear. This new phase of work requires a lot more resources and organizational capacity than we’ve required in the past.

That is why I am announcing an emergency year-end appeal.  To continue EPIC’s mission of empowering Iraqi youth and promoting peace in Iraq, the Education for Peace in Iraq Center must raise $20,000 by the end of the year.

For the New Year, EPIC and I resolve to carry out more Iraqi Youth Hikes, reaching young people in war-torn Kirkuk and across Iraq. We are also developing a new program to empower young Iraqi women through team sports and leadership skills.

Iraqi youth need our support. And to meet the challenges of educating and supporting more than 21 million youth, Iraq needs organizations dedicated to building a lasting peace like EPIC.

You can help by making a charitable year-end contribution to EPIC today.