02-09-2024 | di COOPI

Iraq. Vital support for children and teachers affected by humanitarian emergency

In the areas of Niniwe and Salah Al-Din, the Iraqi conflict continues to be felt, with a very high rate of contamination from explosive devices. In these very areas, since April 2023 COOPI - International Cooperation has been providing support to all off-course boys and girls with special educational needs, as well as promoting child protection services and prevention of risks due to the presence of explosive devices. These are all activities that are part of the project “Safer schools, safer communities: Increasing access to inclusive education and protection services to create a safe environment for children affected by the Iraqi crisis in Nineveh and Salah ad Dihn”, which aims to improve access to education for all vulnerable children in these areas, with funds from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

The two key components of the project are education and child protection. First and foremost, COOPI has promoted Mine Risk Education activities through its partner Health and Social Care Organization in Iraq (IHSCO), which is responsible for conducting direct outreach activities in communities and schools, promoting safe behaviors and informing affected populations about the dangers posed by explosive devices.

In addition, one of the key activities of the project is the support provided to educational staff by conducting several trainings targeting teachers and members of the Department of Education to improve the educational provision and inclusiveness of schools. So far, 250 people have participated in the following trainings:

1. The principles of child-centered and quality education: teachers learned how to use participatory, interactive and student-centered pedagogical activities and applied this knowledge during the school year.
2. Inclusion of special educational needs and inclusivity: through this module, teachers learned how to more easily identify students with learning disabilities and used the resources provided to encourage the adoption of inclusive pedagogical methods and tools.
3. Formulation and implementation of individualized instructional plans: this course enabled school staff to identify the special educational needs of students and implement individualized instructional plans to ensure ongoing support for students with difficulties.
4. The principles of nonformal education and child protection: the integration of nonformal education activities, such as “learning by doing” and other alternative educational activities, has enabled teachers to acquire specific skills to complement formal education, enabling them to recognize and address students' problems even in the most delicate situations.

COOPI also supported teachers during the school year with mentoring and coaching activities to strengthen support mechanisms for the well-being and professional growth of teachers, who are also affected by the crisis and lack of funding in the education sector. The support included the training of peer coaches in each of the project schools, staff specially trained to support and guide teachers in their professional development even after the project has ended.

Finally, among the activities completed by the field team, COOPI supported more than 5,122 boys and girls through Psychosocial Support (PSS) activities in the project schools, through an integrated approach that aims to support mental, emotional, and social well-being, particularly for those who have experienced significant daily conflict, trauma, or stress. PSS activities create a safe and supportive environment in which children and adolescents can express their emotions, develop resilience skills, and build positive relationships, and in this way help restore normalcy to children's daily lives, strengthen resilience, and build social support networks, often integrating with educational and health services to provide more comprehensive support.

COOPI has been operating in the Ninawa and Salah Al-Din regions since 2017, and has been providing emergency educational support to refugees and local communities ever since. Since 2019, COOPI has expanded its intervention to the water and sanitation sector, working in Shirqat and Beiji districts to restore water facilities damaged during the ISIS occupation and promote good hygiene practices. Since 2021, COOPI has initiated vocational training and income generation projects for vulnerable youth and women in Shirqat and Sulaymaniya districts.