Halabja Summer of Peace and Non-Violence 2018

Wadi’s partner organization in Halabja; NWE Organization for Protecting Environment and Women’s Rights is launching their ‘Halabja Summer of Peace and Non-Violence 2018’. The project provides classes for locals, IDPs and refugees and is for women and children. The classes offered this summer are:

• English Language
• Music including guitar and sitar
• Art both painting and drawing

This program continues the spirit of the ‘Halabja Summer of Peace’ campaign, which was launched by NWE organization in 2015 with the aim of promoting mutual living and coexistence between locals and Iraqi IDPs and Syrian refugees in Halabja. The refugee situation in Halabja is somewhat complicated. While the Syrian (mainly Kurdish) refugees fleeing the civil war have mostly been welcomed warmly, the Arabs who have arrived from central Iraq are met with suspicion. Currently Kurdish nationalism is strong and years of suppression under the Arab nationalist regime of Saddam Hussein have not been forgotten. Especially in Halabja,where during the Anfal campaign in 1988, the Kurdish population was targeted by sarin and mustard gas attacks, between 3,200 and 5,000 were killed or otherwise sustained lifelong injuries and illnesses.

This project works to change the way Kurds and Arabs relate to and engage with one another, fostering an environment where peaceful co-existance and mutual cooperation can thrive. 

This year NWE organization has chosen to join Wadi’s ‘No to Violence’ campaign and include its aims of ending violence against children in schools and the home, in their summer programs. Violence against children is a serious, systemic problem and while the violence can take many forms, from beatings and spankings, to shouting, and bullying, the reasons behind it are often similar; it is seen as the only effective way to command respect or authority from children.

So in addition to the English, music and art classes offered they will also be holding seminars on children’s rights, children’s health, healthy environments for children and adults and general themes of human rights.

The project will also hold social activities such as picnics to bring people together.

First English Class for Children Summer 2018This program will last from June-September 2018.