Back to school in Iraq

Earlier this year, Shaima, a bright 12-years-old girl, started to attend sixth-grade classes at the COOPI school in Sirit. 

She recalls with joy the day she knew she was going back to school: "When I saw the crane transporting the classrooms of the new school I was so happy, we would finally have a school nearby!".

For two years, Shaima couldn't go to school. At first, she had to flee Mosul with her parents and brothers and relocate to Sirit. Once there, she should have attended the school in Lazzagah, "but my parents didn't have the money for the bus pass, and going on foot was too dangerous, and the road was very long."

Last year, though, everything changed for Shaima and other school-age girls like her: thanks to our donors, we could bring a container school in Sirit, train an additional ten teachers and set up classes to give both boys and girls living nearby an education.

Education is the key to empowerment: only by going to school can children become conscious grown-ups and have a real chance to improve their living conditions. This is especially true for girls like Shaima: without an education, the risk they face to marry very young or being enslaved is much higher.

"I really like my school: it's new, and the other little girls and I were able to draw and paint on the walls of the classrooms." Shaima is very artistic: "I like drawing and coloring, I hope that in the future my family will allow me to attend a technical institute or a college to learn how to draw better and find a job."

If Shaima can study and foster her talent in a safe place is also because of your support. Thank you for donating in the past, and please keep promoting children's rights to study and dream of a better future!

In Iraq now it is holiday time for the children who attend the COOPI schools, made with containers because the war destroyed the buildings.

In particular, during this year more than 3.500 kids attended the school, despite the still critical situation in the Country.

Three new schools were made by COOPI and 50 teacher were trained to give the children a psychological support. Children also received new school bags, books and a full school kit. They were very happy about that, and this was possibile also thank to your support!

Our schools are representing for them the only opportunity to receive an education : it is fundamental for their future and for the whole community!

That is our project in Iraq cannot stop: in these days in Mosul zone, our humanitarian operators are working hard to give the children the opportunity to come back to school in September.

We strongly believe that, as Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Thank you for your support!  Please, donate to help other children in Iraq to get an education!