"I am truly delighted that the idea, which originated less than a year ago during the meeting with Nadia Murad in Vilnius, has become a reality, thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and the international non-governmental organization Nadia's Initiative. The fact that the school project has been implemented in such a short time shows how important education is for a local community affected by war. Even in the most difficult conditions, people came together to fulfill a modest but very meaningful and important dream - to send their children to school. I hope these new educational opportunities will contribute to the speedy return of Yazidis and other vulnerable communities in northern Iraq to full life," said Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
"By helping children return to schools in countries affected by war, we are facilitating a safer and more stable future for them and their families, enabling their parents to get back to work and reintegrate into the local labor market. From this point of view, investments in education are especially meaningful," Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, said.
The idea to build the school was first born in 2021 during the meetings held between Nobel Peace Prize laureate and President of Nadia's Initiative, Nadia Murad, Lithuania's Prime Minister I. Šimonytė and Minister of Foreign Affairs G. Landsbergis, where they discussed issues of the Yazidi ethnoreligious minority in Iraq, including access to basic services, education, illegal migration, and security and stability in the region.
Taking into account the needs of the Yazidi community, who survived the genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State in 2014, and Lithuania's development cooperation priorities for the Middle East, Lithuania allocated 150 000 euros to build Mahmoodiya Primary School. The project was implemented by the international non-governmental organization Nadia's Initiative, which works to sustainably rebuild Sinjar, support the Yazidi community, and advocate on behalf of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
"Nadia's Initiative is thrilled to collaborate with the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on such an important project. Restoring Sinjar's education sector improves the lives of returnees to the region and facilitates the safe return of those who are still internally displaced. It's our goal to ensure that Yazidis and other vulnerable communities in Iraq can access education," Executive Director Abid Shamdeen said.
Together with the international community, Lithuania contributes to the support of people affected by armed conflicts, the promotion of education, and the protection of human rights and security, especially for women and children.
In 2018-2022, 127 000 euros were allocated for another education project, "Middle East Scholars Program," financed from the funds of the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.
