04-06-2025 | di COOPI

Iraq. From pain to progress: Umm Rashad’s story of strength and support

In the Al-Hadar District of southern Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, the AMAL - Protection actions and new opportunities for the entire community of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Dohuk and SAD project, implemented by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), is helping vulnerable families, like that of Mrs. Umm Rashad, rebuild their lives. Through cash assistance and psychosocial support, the project has improved access to healthcare, prevented eviction and empowered beneficiaries to start small businesses, offering them a pathway toward self-reliance and dignity.

Mrs. Umm Rashad, a 49-year-old widow and mother of four, is one of those whose life has been transformed. After her home was destroyed during military operations, she and her children were displaced and forced to live in an unfinished two-room house, lacking even the most basic amenities. The rented shelter offered little comfort and her worsening health problems, including severe kidney infections, diabetes and high blood pressure, only deepened the family’s struggle and made her daily life a constant struggle with pain and fatigue. With no steady income, she couldn’t afford medical treatment or provide for her children’s basic needs.

I was living between the pain of illness and the constant worry of how to provide for my children. I didn’t have money for my medication, and I had to borrow just to buy food."

Amid these dire conditions, the "AMAL" project intervened, bringing a glimmer of hope to Mrs. Umm Rashad. After a thorough assessment by the field team, she was selected as a beneficiary and received cash assistance, along with continuous psychosocial support provided by COOPI’s protection teams.

This support made a significant difference in her life. Mrs. Umm Rashad used part of the funds to cover the costs of her medical treatment and purchase essential medications, which alleviated her suffering and allowed her to manage her health condition. The cash assistance also helped her pay the overdue rent for her house, preventing eviction and allowing her to settle part of the debts she had accumulated during the period of displacement.

Additionally, the most significant change came after her health improved and her debts were restructured. Once her situation stabilized, she opened a small shop selling basic goods like biscuits, drinks, household items, and daily necessities for children. This small business allowed her to generate a steady income.

Her journey is not just a humanitarian story: it is a testament to the strength and resilience of Iraqi women in the face of adversity and, thanks to AMAL, Mrs. Umm Rashad has turned hardship into opportunity.

Since 2017, COOPI has been supporting vulnerable communities in Iraq through education, water and sanitation and livelihood programs. In response to mass displacement and strained public services, COOPI has restored schools and water systems, provided hygiene kits during the COVID-19 crisis and launched vocational training for youth and women. Across conflict-affected areas, COOPI continues to promote dignity, resilience and long-term recovery.