Historical Empathy

An immersive virtual reality experience that brings to life the legacy of one of the most prominent Kurdish poets.

As part of our ongoing mission to preserve and innovate within the fields of culture and heritage, CHO is proud to present “Historical Empathy: Learning from Our Past Thinkers”, an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) project developed during our Digital Heritage Internship Program.

This project was created by five talented youth from Sulaimani, under expert training and mentorship. Using cutting-edge VR technology, the experience brings to life the legacy of Piramerd, a prominent Kurdish poet, writer, and the founder of the Zheen printing house and newspaper.

Users step into a fully immersive digital environment that recreates Piramerd’s stories, memories, writings, and ideals. Through a mix of sound and visuals, participants can engage with his dedication to education, ethical journalism, cultural advocacy, and public service — values that still resonate today.

Visit our office or join one of our community engagement events to try the VR experience for yourself. Our team will guide you through the headset setup and ensure a meaningful and memorable interaction with this powerful narrative.

Project partners: CHO, KISSR, NN, UCL, and British Museum

Funder: NN, UCL

Creative Director: Dr. Rozhen Kamal Mohammed-Amin

Design and Content: Sawen Jalil Rostam, Shaee Herish Qadir, Shnrwee Kamaran Abdullah, Khazan Faraydoon Salih

Software Development: Karo Kameran Rasool