Cheragh-Nameh 2: What We’ve Done

Cheragh didn’t start as a charity. It started as an idea.

In February 2022, a small group of Iranians living in the Netherlands began making food — just something Iranian, for Iranians. By December 2024, we were producing handmade postcards and bookmarks for Yalda. By Nowruz 2025, greeting cards. And then came the dark winter of 2026 — and everything changed.

We committed to continue. And we have.

Cheragh Today

We are now a team of 30 volunteers based across the Netherlands — Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Arnhem, and Groningen — working alongside 5 key contacts in Iran and 2 Cheragh representatives in North America.

Our work spans painting, calligraphy, graphic design, web development, marketing — and a lot of Iranian passion. 😊

We are also proud to be allied with the Simorgh Foundation Canada (University of British Columbia).

What We’ve Done — August 2026

Medical & Healthcare

• Sourcing specialised medications (€730)
• Covering surgical costs across multiple cases
• Providing dental equipment for a clinic in Bandar Lengeh (€1,100)
• Mobile healthcare outreach in East Azerbaijan with a regional medical team (€220)

Livelihood

• Food support packages (€570)
• Warm clothing and school shoes for children in East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ravansar, and Hashtgerd (€1,400)

Education

• Funding primary school teachers in underserved areas — in partnership with Simorgh Foundation (ongoing)
• Repairing school roofs and replacing windows in East Azerbaijan (€300)

Creating Opportunities for Iranian Artists

Beyond direct aid, Cheragh buys directly from artists and small producers across Iran:

• Calligraphy and gilding from Mashhad (60M tomans)
• Needlework from Kerman, Bandar Abbas, South Khorasan, and Markazi Province (220M tomans)
• Enamel earrings, brooches, and bookmarks from Isfahan

We also support women-led households through orders for hand-woven shawls and hats from Shahrekord, Aran, and Tehran (170M tomans), and purchase children’s shoes from Heidaj (140M tomans) and wooden toys from Birjand (11M tomans).

Every purchase from Cheragh keeps this chain alive.

Join Us

You can light Cheragh by:

• Shopping our products
• Sharing us with friends and family
• Volunteering your skills
• Introducing Iranian craftspeople in your city
• Identifying people in need in Iran

تو یکی نه‌ای هزاری — تو چراغ خود بر افروز
(You are not one — you are thousands. Light your own Cheragh.)