Yezidi Children's Safe Space

Dear Friends and Supporters,

At FYF, our mission to restore hope and dignity to those impacted by violence continues to drive our efforts across protection, education, and livelihoods. This edition highlights the transformative impact of our programs and the resilience of the communities we serve.

Through our protection initiatives, we provide a safe haven and essential services to the Yezidi community, including survivors, ensuring they have the support needed to rebuild their lives. Our education programs empower the next generation, offering not just knowledge, but the tools to create a brighter future. Meanwhile, our livelihoods work helps women and their families regain economic independence, fostering stability and self-sufficiency.

In this newsletter, we are honored to share the stories of two incredible survivors of ISIS captivity. Their journeys from unimaginable suffering to resilience and renewal remind us of the strength of the human spirit and the critical importance of our work.

HOLISTIC HEALING: FYF'S COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ATROCITY SURVIVORS

The Yezidi community still endures the lasting wounds of the 2014 genocide, with many missing loved ones, unexhumed mass graves, and ongoing poverty and displacement. Yezidi women, in particular, face severe trauma and mental health challenges.

FYF’s protection team, our largest department, is committed to providing trauma-informed, holistic care. Operating in Khanke and Sheikhan, our 16-member team offers vital services like case management, therapy, legal aid, and awareness sessions, focusing on women, girls, and survivors of SGBV. 

RESTORING HOPE: COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION FOR DISPLACED WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH

During ISIS's genocidal campaign in 2014, schools in Sinjar were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of Yezidi children were internally displaced, leaving them without access to adequate education. FYF is tackling this issue through the provision of comprehensive education courses.

Sheikhan: FYF empowers 144 economically disadvantaged IDPs and host community members with English skills, digital literacy, personal development, and community service through its English Access Microscholarship program.

Khanke: FYF offers English and financial literacy courses to 150+ displaced and host community women and youth at our Enterprise and Training Center, including personalized livelihood training and mental health support.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR YEZIDI WOMEN: BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Even before the 2014 genocide, Yezidi women faced significant barriers to accessing job opportunities. Ten years of displacement have turned many into household heads and primary income earners.

To address the evolving needs of Yezidi women in the aftermath of the genocide, FYF’s livelihoods programs offer tailored vocational training, skills development, job placements, and sustainable income-generating opportunities.

HADIYA'S JOURNEY: FROM ISIS CAPTIVITY TO HOPE

Meet Hadiya, a brave survivor from Sinjar and FYF beneficiary. In 2014, ISIS tore her family apart, inflicting pain, trauma, and fear. After escaping from ISIS captivity, she found strength and hope, emerging from fear to reclaim her life and community.

Now, living in an IDP camp, Hadiya holds onto the belief that her family will one day be reunited. Rescuing those still missing remains deeply important to her.

Watch her inspiring story of resilience, courage, and unwavering hope. 

MORE THAN A STATISTIC: FAWZIA'S STORY OF SURVIVAL, STRENGTH, AND HOPE

Fawzia’s story is a testament to the unbreakable human spirit. At just 18, she has faced unimaginable horrors—kidnapped by ISIS, sold into slavery, and separated from her family. Yet, through it all, she’s remained strong, becoming both a mother and father to her younger brothers.

While her parents remain missing, Fawzia holds onto hope that they are still alive. Her biggest dream is to see them again.

Yezidi survivors like Fawzia are not just numbers or statistics. Each one carries a harrowing story of violence, pain, and resilience. Their voices remind us of the profound strength and courage it takes to survive and rebuild after such unfathomable suffering.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue this vital work. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

Sincerely,

Pari Ibrahim
Executive Director
Free Yezidi Foundation