Yezidi Women's Services

Graduation day at FYF Women's and Center

Following the devastation of the Yezidi community, perpetrated by ISIS terrorists, the Yezidi population and especially women and children suffer from severe trauma economic hardship. This project addresses these problems by providing expert trauma services, and educational and livelihood courses, and a safe child-friendly space.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a result of the continual traumatic stress that the Yezidi women and children have endured over the past five years, greatly impedes their ability to hope for a better future. Documented trauma symptoms of FYF-supported Yezidi women and children include persistent ‘reliving’ through intrusive flashbacks, vivid memories, recurring nightmares, avoidance of anything resembling, or associated with, these traumatizing events, and being unusually vigilant, with a heightened sense of current threat, often showing up as an inability to fall or stay asleep, prone to outbursts of anger, difficulty in concentrating, and an exaggerated startle response. This textbook definition of PTSD helps to explain how trauma adversely impacts daily functioning, wellbeing, productivity, educability, creativity and inner peace.

In addition to this trauma, the economic outlook for Yezidi women is especially bleak. The traditional occupations of the Yezidis have been agriculture and livestock raising. However, these livelihoods were destroyed when ISIS captured Sinjar. Some Yezidi women are now widowed and therefore sole providers of their households, to find a source of income while living in Khanke IDP camp. Because of the rural location and gender-biased traditional Yezidi culture, Yezidi women often lack basic education and skill sets to make an income and therefore provide for their families or themselves.

FYF has provided a safe haven since 2015 with its Women’s Center by providing services by women, for women. It is a place of trust and hope where integrated educational, livelihood and therapeutic services are provided in a safe, culturally sensitive and secure environment.

More than 140 women participants graduated from a six-month educational course, including Arabic, English, Computer, women's rights, sewing, and knitting
The women all took an active role during the program and March 1st graduation was the culmination of that. 

FYF believes women can build resilience and grow with the freedom to study, learn and depend on herself.