In the beginning of this year Wadi started to support literacy classes for women in rural areas again. This ties up with a program we were already conducting during the 1990s in Iraqi-Kurdistan.
By Shatoo Kamaran, 05.04.2026
(Picture: First day of a literacy class, Source: Galla)
n January 2026, a new project emerged to eradicate illiteracy and bring new colors to the lives of people who have long been deprived of one of their basic rights, the right to read.
In May 2025, one of our staff members in Wadi conducted an interview with Mr. Hemn, founder of Hawary Galla Organization, about their recent activities in the area. During the conversation, a key concern emerged: the high rate of illiteracy in Goptapa. This realization motivated us to take action.
Fast forward to April 2026, our partner Hawary Gala Organization, with the support of Wadi Organization, embarked on a new journey to combat illiteracy and provide the opportunity of learning for women and children in Askar and tawakal village – Akhjalar subdistrict.
Nearly a year after that interview, we are now receiving success stories from students in the literacy program.
Nask Omar Hama Saleh is one of the oldest participants in the literacy program; most of her family members were martyred during the Anfal campaign. She is now optimistic about the turning point learning has made in her life.
She thanked the staff of Hawary Galla Organization and stressed the need to continue such courses, especially for rural women who are excluded from education due to distance and different circumstances.
“I hope this course develops, and I hope they don’t give up on us until we reach our goals and get our certificates,” said Nask Omar.
Al lifelong dream
The literacy program started in January 2026 and was welcomed with great enthusiasm and warmth. Women from all the neighboring villages came to register. The classes were full of women and children of all ages, whose lifelong dream was to learn how to read.
“Education knows no age,” said Sundus Azad Saeed, 48 years old. One of the active participants who has resumed her education through the literacy program in Tawakal village.
“This school and the environment provided for us is a great incentive to keep learning despite my age,” Sundus says.
She expressed her gratitude for this opportunity provided by Wadi and Hawary Gala Organization. She also said: “This project had a very positive impact on our lives and we have benefited a lot.”
One of the essential points of this course has been its proximity and convenience to the women of the village.
“We are villagers, and we didn’t have access to these opportunities before. The city is far and expensive, but now we are learning here in our own village by our own local teacher!” said Rezan Mohammed Saeed Fatah, a 44-year-old woman, who has now participated in the illiteracy eradication course, talks about her experience with great enthusiasm.
“I urge all people to look up to us, to come and learn. This organization should continue so that people like us, who have been deprived of education, can learn something new and get ahead,” Rezan says in a voice full of confidence and joy.
Not only learning but archieving rights
For Rezan and her friends, this course is not just about learning the alphabet, but also an opportunity to achieve rights that have been denied to them for years. She notes that they have now seen many benefits and feel the change in their daily lives.
These stories prove that age is never an obstacle to learning, and that providing the opportunity of learning, especially in remote areas, will always be welcomed with enthusiasm and hopeful eyes. It can change someone’s life forever.
Fighting illiteracy is not foreign to Wadi. Back in 1993-1998, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and local women organizations, Wadi ran a literacy training campaign in Sulaymaniyah and the new Kirkuk Governorates. It covered cities, villages, and districts. This attempt was one of Wadi’s successful projects that laid the foundation of Wadi’s work in education.
Now, once again in 2026, Wadi continues its combat against illiteracy.
There is a huge request to open more classes. Although this doesn’t cost a fortune, it still needs our support and yours, if possible.
Wadi 
