Living life again after conflict and displacement
For many women living in Sinjar, Iraq, conflict has left long-lasting emotional scars.
For 26-year-old Mayada*, years on the run from ISIS with her family stripped her self-confidence and left her with traumatic memories.
Above: A member of CARE’s Gender and Protection team visits Mayada’s home. Photo: CARE International
As a child and teenager, she lived a peaceful life in her village of Solagh, east of Sinjar. Her village did not have a school, so she had been unable to access education as she could not travel to the city, but she was happy living in her community in the village.
But in 2014, when ISIS attacked Sinjar, Mayada and her family fled towards Sinjar Mountain, where they spent more than a month trapped by ISIS with little food and water. Her family were then pushed into the Kurdish Region of Iraq, where they lived as internally displaced persons for years. Once the security situation had stabilised in Sinjar, they moved back to stay with a relative – their home and village had been destroyed by the war.
After living through conflict and instability, Mayada developed a fear of going out, even for essentials such as shopping or to meet her friends at the market. She was feeling frustrated and nervous when watching other girls and young woman going out – held back by her fears, but wanting to re-join the community.
The CARE International field team met Mayada while offering sign-ups for life skills sessions to girls and women in Sinjar. After several interactions, the field staff gained Mayada’s trust, and managed to convince her to join the sessions to build her confidence and make new friends. Mayada agreed to come, as long as she could be accompanied by her sister.
The sessions made a big difference to Mayada’s wellbeing.
“My life completely changed after attending the sessions, I’m very happy that I have learned a lot of different life skills and new experiences, and I’m no longer afraid to make friends or to attend activities that can improve my life,” she said.
The CARE International team closely followed up with Mayada during the classes and beyond, and after a referral to another service provider in the region, Mayada is now benefiting from psychosocial support sessions, as well as literacy classes.
Mayada is happy that she can now read and write, can support her sisters on household tasks like shopping, and have fun doing makeup with friends or going on outings. She also feels more relaxed and safe when she is at home. She has overcome her fears.
Taking the lessons on self-care to heart, Mayada put her rediscovered confidence into action.
“I saved part of the transportation money paid to me by CARE International to go shopping and buy new clothes and personal care items.”
The AHP response in Iraq, named Building Peaceful Futures, is implemented by a consortium led by Save the Children Australia. Other partners include CARE Australia, Handicap International and the Norwegian Refugee Council. This multi-year response is focused on supporting the return, recovery and reintegration of communities in Ninewa (Northern Iraq) and Kirkuk (Central Iraq) and building community resilience.
Through the Building Peaceful Futures response, which is supported by the Australian Government, CARE International in Iraq has been providing gender, protection and health services in Sinjar. The gender and protection program includes referrals, psychosocial support, dignity kits, training, and establishing referral pathways to other partners working in the region.
*Name changed