A Rainbow in War

Springs of Hope
Aug 3, 2025
8 min read

Today we turn our focus to our kindergarten for Syrian refugees. Those who have escaped evil regimes, chemical bombings and starvation. Those whose parents are from the most highly educated but today as asylum seekers in the Kurdish Region of Iraq which gave them security and protection, have little or no income, yet lavish everything they have on the future of their children.

Education is paramount for this community, although work opportunities are scarce particularly for those whose status is “asylum seeker”, they know that education opens doors.

The parents insist that their prodigy learn the Arabic, Kurdish and English alphabets before they play. Play which is a skill in itself, comes second. Our parents take great interest in their children's welfare with unemployed Mums and Dads often dropping in to give a helping hand.

It’s still a dirty, broken, neglected tenement group of buildings. How it came to receive the title of City, when it is not even a village, no one knows. Wishful thinking. Garbage is still thrown over the top floor of a building, easier than taking it downstairs.

Our equipment is simpler than simple, we have been burglarized and learnt our lesson from that episode.

There is however a Rainbow in War. Inside our gates there is peace, excitement, there is the promise of a new day, a new beginning. The anticipation of school, future, and great dreams are in the air. There is a determination to succeed as young as they are.

We don’t grow fruits or veg, you know why. But we feed the stray cats and we teach our kids ethics and moral behaviour. They receive the keys to life.

And somehow living under the rainbow, the air is amazingly clearer, the sky is more blue, the sounds are clearer. Not because we have found a crock of gold. Because that rainbow points to a Promise Maker and Keeper, one who hung a double rainbow over our centre the very hour that we concluded our preparatory work prior to opening. We will never forget the rainbow.

Shex Khalid, Director of the Rainbow Zone in War City

“Although our center is small and offers limited types of courses, the people in the community are deeply attached to it—especially to the kindergarten.

Lately, many have been talking to me about the closure of other organizations and asking whether we will continue operating. When I tell them, “Yes, we are continuing,” it brings them great joy. We have been the only active center in War City for years, and our presence supports this community—where services, comfort, and opportunities are almost nonexistent.

There is a real and urgent need for our center—specifically, the kindergarten. Most families here face financial hardship; even the most affordable private kindergartens cost around $200 per month, which is simply unaffordable for most families as a large portion of parents are unemployed due to the limited job opportunities in the area.

Even families who are financially stable choose our kindergarten because they see no difference between our services and those of private kindergartens. And most importantly, some parents, regardless of their financial situation, prefer our kindergarten because of the love and genuine care we show their children—beyond just education. Many of these parents heard about us from relatives or friends whose children previously attended our kindergarten.

This trust and appreciation brings us joy and motivates us to continue giving love and care—because we know it is seen, valued, and needed.”

Shex Khalid. Director of the Rainbow Zone in War City.

Ayman Jotyar

"I was a student at the kindergarten back in 2018—I was part of the very first group, one of the lucky ones.

I still remember my teachers very well—Miss Sahla, Miss Kazhin, and Mr. Khalid. They were the ones who taught us the alphabet and brought so much joy to our days.

They taught me how to hold a pencil and write letters, which I struggled with. I also learned the basics of drawing, like coloring within the lines and staying inside the sketch outlines.

There are three things at school that always remind me of kindergarten:

1.Whenever I feel confident in my schoolwork, I remember the way we learned and were guided at kindergarten.

2. During art class, my teacher often praises my clean drawing and neat coloring.

3. I used to be a bit shy when it came to making friends, so I was happy when I saw that many of my classmates—like Aryam, Jovan, and Jumard—were my old friends from kindergarten.

I’m not very old now, but I already understand the difference in how we were treated. That’s what makes me wish I could go back and become a kindergarten student again—just to feel that same care. That’s why I used to visit the kindergarten often with my mother. Then, when my brother Ayman was accepted there, I had even more chances to go back.

One day during an art class at the kindergarten, I asked if I could register for the drawing course. When they said yes, it made me very happy. I was able to return to my beloved kindergarten—even though I’m no longer little.

At this kindergarten, you get more than one chance. Maybe even more than two.

I’m so happy to be a student again with Teacher Sherzad. It’s helping me improve myself at school and gain more confidence in art class.

Finally, I want to say this: my brother Ayman is even luckier than I was. Though he has special needs, he’s allowed to stay at the kindergarten as long as he likes. He even gets to go to the farm every week—and I’m lucky too because they let me go with them to the stable and see the animals.

Just one thing remains… I love horses, but I’m afraid to ride them. I hope they’ll teach me how—so they can help me overcome this big fear inside me, just like they once taught me the alphabet and how to draw."

Ayman Jotyar

Dilyar's Mother

"My son Dilyar has autism. We struggled a lot with his condition, especially since his father is unemployed and didn’t know how to deal with him. We also lacked the financial means to enroll him in specialized centers for autism treatment. I was lost and didn’t know what to do to help him.

The kindergarten was our only refuge. Although it is not a specialized autism center, they welcomed my son and provided him with care and attention. They also gave me valuable advice and guidance.

After interacting with the other children and receiving attention from the teachers at the kindergarten, my son began to show noticeable improvement. He started pointing at objects instead of speaking, asking to play, and even his father began to engage and play with him.

When my son joined the special needs program at the stable, it had a very positive impact on his condition. Now, he is able to say a few words and letters, which shows clear progress in his language skills.

I am deeply grateful to the kindergarten for everything they’ve done for my son. Without their support, I would have felt hopeless and lost. I’ve found hope in improving my son’s condition, and I thank God for this progress."

Dilyar's Mother

Bilan's Father

"The importance of the kindergarten for our child Bilan lies in helping him stay away from mobile phones, which used to be a major problem for us. After he joined the kindergarten, Bilan began forming friendships with other children and grew attached to his teachers—especially Miss Kazhin. This attachment has greatly helped us change many of Bilan’s negative behaviors.

For example, when he insists on watching TV, going out in the heat, or asking for things that aren’t good for him, we tell him we’ll take a photo and send it to his teachers. That immediately makes him listen. In this way, we were able to change behaviors we once felt powerless to influence.

At last, we’ve found an effective way to navigate the challenges of raising our special needs son Bilan."

Bilan's Father

Jivan's Mother

"After my son joined the kindergarten, I noticed a big change in his behavior. He used to constantly ask to go outside to play, but now he has become much more disciplined. He fills his time with the lessons he learns at the kindergarten and enjoys watching the songs and dances he picks up there. It’s clear that the kindergarten has made a big difference in his life, and I’m very happy about that.

I know very well that this kind of change doesn’t happen by chance—and it rarely happens at all. All of you at Rainbow Zone everyone of your dedicated team, are truly one of a kind. I’ve seen the impact of your work with our children through the transformation in my son, Jivan."

Jivan’s Mother

We asked one of the fathers a few questions:

1. What is the importance of kindergarten during the summer or before a child starts school?

Kindergarten is a very important preparatory stage, especially during the summer before formal schooling. It helps the child adapt to a new environment, develop discipline, interact with peers, and strengthen their language and knowledge skills. All of this makes the transition to school much smoother.

2. Does kindergarten affect the child's daily life outside of school? If yes, how?

Yes, absolutely—it has a positive impact. We’ve noticed that children become more organized, they follow regular sleep and meal times, and develop a daily routine. Their communication skills also improve, even within the home. They become more expressive, enjoy speaking, and begin to imitate the positive behaviors they see at kindergarten.

3. What happens to a child who doesn’t attend kindergarten?

A child who doesn’t attend kindergarten may face significant challenges in their first year of school. They may feel anxious, out of place, and lag behind in social and language development. This can lead to isolation or poor academic performance. Kindergarten prepares children both emotionally and socially in a meaningful way.

4. What’s your opinion about the only organization in War City? What would happen if it didn’t exist?

Honestly, this organization is an essential pillar in the area. It offers high-quality educational and developmental services and fills a critical gap that’s not addressed elsewhere. If it weren’t here, many children would miss the chance to attend a qualified kindergarten—which could affect their future from the very beginning.

5. In your view, what’s the difference between a child who attends kindergarten and one who doesn’t?

The difference is clear. A child who attends kindergarten is more prepared, with better language and behavioral skills. They know how to interact with other children and are more flexible in learning. On the other hand, children who don’t attend are often shy, may struggle with communication, and have difficulty with discipline.

Best regards to you all, and may God continue to bless your efforts with the children.

Thank you for helping us to keep this very special kindergarten open and to serve the Syrian-Kurdish-Muslim community. As asylum seekers their life is complex, and hard on many levels. We provide a sanctuary, with pillars of honor, dignity, love, trust and acceptance of those who are different, so that in peace and with joy they can prepare for school and the big world outside of War City which has not been kind to their parents.