People in Need helped more than 3,300 Iraqi children on territories regained from the so-called Islamic State to return to schools

Published: Jun 28, 2016 Reading time: 5 minutes
People in Need helped more than 3,300 Iraqi children on territories regained from the so-called Islamic State to return to schools
© Foto: PIN Archive

Prague, Erbil (28 June 2016) – The Zumar region in the province of Niniveh at the north of Iraq was seized in mid-2014 by militants of the so-called Islamic State. Tens of thousands fled fighting and violence to safer areas of the country. At the end of 2014 Kurdish units succeeded in pushing back the radicals and moving the frontline. After months of exile, internal refugees could finally start slowly returning home. Months of fighting have often left behind damaged infrastructure and houses. The local education was also left in ruins. This is why in the middle of 2015 People in Need (PIN) with the support of UNICEF and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped equip 12 local schools, provided 3,350 children with school supplies and organized extra-curricular activities, gave 120 teachers necessary teaching materials and trained 160 teachers on basic teaching competencies and on providing basic psychosocial assistance.

In Iraq, just as in the Czech Republic, the end of the school year is drawing near and 13 year-old Dunya Ghazi dressed in her school uniform is headed together with her friend Zainab to one of the last maths classes. Their school is only a 20-minute walk away from their homes and they usually go together. Only a year ago however it looked like they would not be able to go to school at all. Dunya lives with her siblings and parents in the village of Talmous in the district of Zumar. They had to temporarily flee their homes because of attacks by fighters of the so-called Islamic State, which from the beginning of 2014 occupies a significant part of the country. „We had to move, here it was not safe anymore because of the ISIS attacks. I took my wife and children and we fled to the neighboring province of Dohuk,“ says Dunya’s father, Ahmad Gazi. After months of deplacement they could return home. Nowadays Zumar is relatively safe. Except for the debris of fighting, such as unexploded ammunition, which has already injured several people including children.

School supplies and psychosocial assistance for traumatized children

People in Needs has been helping returnees to the province of Niniveh in the north of Iraq from mid-2015. “These people were often violently chased out of their homes and when they returned after a couple of months on the loose, they found their villages and houses in a desolate state,“ describes the situation Naďa Aliová from People in Need. “Here we are mainly focusing on the restoration of the education system, assistance to teachers and getting children back in schools. We operate in a number of 12 schools, which is in fact two schools more than we initially planned,”says Naďa Aliová. “We explain to the parents how beneficial attending school is for their children. During a couple of months we have additionally trained 160 teachers on methods of psychosocial assistance for traumatized children, psychological first aid and conflict resolution. The teachers are now able to better communicate with children during the classes and organize for them extra-curricular activities. In addition to this, we also give away school supplies, which have been received by more than 3,300 children,” she adds.

Education is important for the future of all children

People in Need strives to enable children like Dunya to return to daily life and create the best possible conditions for their future. “I really enjoy going to school, because I have found friends there,”says Dunya. “School is also important for us to be able to read and write. I enjoy maths the most, because my father is a maths teacher. One day I would like to go to university and be like him. This year I have made a lot of effort and I will get only good grades. I will most likely also get some gift for my good grades.” When Dunya is not at school, she does her homework with her friend Zainab, plays football outdoor with other children or spends time with her four siblings.

The current education system in Iraq is also facing a shortage of teaching staff due to the high rate of resettlement and the humanitarian crisis. A number of teachers had to leave. Those who remain and continue their work often receive their salaries with a delay of a couple of months. This is also described by Ahmad Gazi, who teaches maths in the girls’ school Talmous, which his daughter attends. “Because of the current crisis the state does not have funds to pay salaries. Schools necessarily need qualified staff and I am a teacher. Still I have to earn a living, I have five children and I have to provide for my family. The lack of money is a major problem for us at the moment,”says Ahmad. People in Need are also trying to improve the conditions for local teachers. In addition to professional trainings, they also provide teachers with necessary teaching materials, so far received by 120 teachers in ten schools.

Despite the end of the school year, work in schools continues

With the coming of school holidays the People in Need’s successful project in the north of Iraq does not end. “With the beginning of summer holidays are starting as well for children in Iraq. Our assistance however is far from over. We have two months in order to repair five other schools. Additionally, we will be organizing extra-curricular activities that all children from the area can join also during the holidays,”explains Naďa Aliová“These are various games, creative workshops and sports. In this way children spend time with their peers, which help them, among other things, to better deal with complicated life situations. We also do not forget the parents. During summer we will be talking to the parents of children who do not go to school, find out their reasons and work on improvements,” she adds. Before the beginning of the year, People in Need will again release its successful campaign called Back to School, which ran also last year.

According to UN data there are currently over 3,3 million internally displaced people in Iraq waiting to return to their homes. The situation in the country is severe. Over 10 million Iraqis, almost one in four, are dependent on humanitarian assistance. Half of them are children. People in Need has been active in Iraq since 2003. This assistance is possible only thanks to the support of the Czech public, who contributed to the appeal SOS Iraq and through PIN Club of Friends. Institutional assistance is provided by the UN through its Children’s Fund UNICEF and Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. People in Need thanks all donors for their support.

 

For more information please contact:

Naďa Aliová, coordinator of People in Need programs in Syria and Iraq

M: +420 778 486 244, nada.aliova@peopleinneed.cz

Autor: PIN

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