She Is an Entrepreneur: 50 Women Graduate from AUK CAPA Program

Duhok, Kurdistan Region — On September 25, 2025, the American University of Kurdistan’s Center for Academic and Professional Advancement (CAPA) celebrated the graduation of 50 women from the She Is an Entrepreneur certificate program. The program, supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Grant titled “Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq,” equips women—particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds—with the tools to start and grow their own businesses.

Over the course of a year, participants received training in entrepreneurship, digital literacy, financial management, and business planning. The program concluded in a pitch day, where graduates presented innovative business ideas before an audience of mentors, partners, and community leaders.

Keynote speaker and program alumna Ms. Astera Ghazi inspired the graduates with her success story, joined by remarks from Ms. Loucine Hayes, Director of CAPA, and Ms. Pamela Hack, Deputy Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General Erbil. The event also welcomed members of the business community, partner institutions, and the families of participants to celebrate the graduates’ achievements.

This milestone underscores AUK CAPA’s ongoing commitment to empowering women and fostering entrepreneurship in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. By equipping women with practical skills and connecting them to expert networks, She Is an Entrepreneur highlights the vital role women play in driving economic growth and social change.