Hope for the Future

FIELD UPDATE

Every step of our journey over the years here has been about inheritance. Our first property was in Waar City, a kindergarten abandoned by an international NGO. It was our first portion of land, our first inheritance. Once we discovered our inheritance - one of the expensive, well-illustrated books for four-year-olds teaching them how to slay infidels (such as ourselves) - we welcomed the assignment of establishing a kindergarten for Arabs who had fled from Mosul during the ISIS era and Syrian Kurds who had fled their homeland, finding refuge in the KRI.

A few years ago, Dr. Saeed and I visited a kindergarten in the village. We left after only a few brief minutes, appalled. Appalled by the lack. Appalled by just about everything. We could not believe that this was a child's first experience away from the tribal home. We determined that the day would come when we would open a happy kindergarten for Yezidi children, where they would learn in both Kurdish and English and be well prepared for school life.

The Muslim parents of the Waar City kindergarten have always been wonderfully involved, helping us prepare for every event, which of course they attended. Parental attendance in the Yezidi sector has been weaker, as parents and families are still focused on survival. Many times our staff have shared with us the total lack of parental guidance, preferring to leave everything to us. They are still broken and cannot give from that place of brokenness.

We had a major and significant breakthrough as we held our first Kids for Hope Kindergarten graduation. Mothers came. Generations were touched by hope. These, again, were children whom we had inherited—the first generation to be born in the camp. Children whose siblings came to register them. Children whose siblings would bring them every morning, kiss them, and then go to their own classes.

Today we share some of the comments of the first group of mothers who actively supported their children.

"I had a very special and emotional feeling when I saw my son, Akay, wearing his graduation clothes. It is a feeling that is difficult to describe. Every parent dreams of seeing their child graduate and be ready for school.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication. You brought happiness to all of us - me, Akay, and his father. I even asked Akay's teacher, Avya, if he could take his graduation outfit home so that his father could see him wearing it and share in this joyful moment.

A few months ago, Akay was very sick. He had a heart condition, and we were extremely worried when the doctors explained his situation. We felt helpless during that difficult time and spent many days visiting doctors for his treatment. Thankfully, he has now recovered and is doing well.

Because of everything we went through, this graduation ceremony meant so much to me. Seeing Akay happy and graduating helped me forget many of the painful moments we experienced. It was a proud and unforgettable day.

Thank you very much for your efforts, care, and support for our children. Without your attention, encouragement, and belief in them, my son would not have reached this stage. I am truly proud of all of you and deeply grateful for everything you have done."

—Raghda Khudeida

P.S. Akay is Khero's son, who was sent to a neighboring country for heart surgery a few years ago.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you. When I saw Aylarya wearing her graduation clothes, I felt an indescribable happiness. It was a truly special moment for me. Aylarya is four years old, and she is my only daughter. She is very precious to our family and, because she is so loved, she can sometimes be stubborn and impatient.

I am very proud that she participated in the Spring of Hope program. She loved her teacher very much and was always happy to help and participate in activities. Before joining the program, Aylarya was often impatient and easily frustrated, but during her time at the center, I noticed a significant improvement in her behavior and emotional control.

One of the biggest changes was in her social skills. Before attending the program, she did not know how to make friends, but after joining, she became more comfortable with other children and learned how to build friendships. She felt happy and secure at the center.

Whenever it was time to leave, she would tell me that she did not want to go home. Sometimes she would even cry because she wanted to stay longer. This showed me how comfortable, safe, and happy she felt there. When she came home, she would always talk about the activities, her teacher, and the new things she had learned each day.

I would like to sincerely thank all of you for caring for our children and treating them with kindness and love. You gave us confidence and peace of mind, knowing that our children were in a safe and supportive environment. We truly felt that you cared for them as if they were your own."

—Raghda Ido, Aylarya's mother

"First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for the support and care you provide to our children. My daughter, Alma, is five years old and participated in the Kids for Hope kindergarten. It was a very valuable experience because it helped prepare her for school. In the camp, there are not many opportunities to keep children away from screens, boredom, and spending too much time on the streets. The Springs of Hope course has brought great benefits to my daughter.

Every morning when she had class, Alma would wake up early, excited to attend the center. She would always say, 'My teacher, Ms. Avya, is waiting for me,' and she was always eager to join the activities. As a mother, if we do not trust a place, we would never send our child there. Springs of Hope has provided everything our children need: a safe environment, care, attention, and quality learning opportunities. All of my boys have participated in their courses from the day they opened their doors.

Alma loves making friends and enjoys spending time playing with them. Her favorite friend is Sandrina, and they often attended the course together. Their friendship continued outside the center as well, and they frequently visited each other's homes. At her young age, Alma truly enjoys building friendships and social connections.

The course has not only benefited the children but has also brought comfort and happiness to our families. Alma learned many important things, and I hope she will have the opportunity to participate again in the future. She learned about friendship, good manners, and positive behavior. Whenever her teacher gave advice, Alma would come home and share it with us. She would remind us of what her teacher had taught her, such as limiting time on mobile phones and going to bed early. She listened carefully and tried to follow what she learned.

I am very proud that Alma graduated from such a wonderful program, and I am grateful for everything it has provided.

Alma also loves her older brother, Ayham. Whenever Ayham came to the center, Alma would happily run to him, hug him, and stay close to him during activities. Ayham is a quiet child with autism who does not always express his feelings with words, but he shows his love and happiness through his actions. Seeing this bond between them has been very special for us.

Thank you to the Springs of Hope team for all your hard work, dedication, and care for our children."

—Layla, Alma's mother

"As a kindergarten teacher, I believe that having a kindergarten within community centers is extremely important and beneficial. Kindergarten serves as the foundation for a child's early development and learning. It is where children begin to learn educational routines, reading, writing, cooperation, respect, and social interaction.

Kindergarten also helps identify a child's interests, talents, and abilities at an early stage, allowing parents and teachers to provide the necessary support and guidance. This contributes to building a healthy, confident, and well-rounded personality for the future.

For this reason, having a kindergarten such as Kids 4 Hope is very important, especially for children living in camps. Due to the challenges of camp life, health issues, and the lack of specialized services for children, these young learners have a great need for educational and developmental opportunities.

Kindergarten provides them with a safe and supportive environment where they can feel free, happy, and valued. It offers opportunities for play, learning, activities, and the expression of their talents and abilities. Furthermore, children in camps need additional support so that they can enjoy the same opportunities as other children and have the chance to grow, develop, and succeed in life.

We believe that investing in early childhood education and kindergarten is an investment in the future of children and the future of society as a whole. We wish these wonderful children the very best in life."

—Rondik, Kindergarten Teacher

We now have former students, even those who once pelted us with rocks, tore down our fence and sold it overnight, then repeated this behavior until we pacified them with a good lunch of chicken and fish (unheard of!), who are now studying at the local university in dentistry, English, nursing, and music.

We strongly believe in the Biblical verse from Proverbs: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Our colorful kindergarten teaches our children to forgive, to say sorry, and to distinguish between good and evil. We help them, even at their tender age, learn good habits, like how to eat well, how to spend their time, how to prepare for bed, and when to go to sleep in a camp that has been awake 24/7 for close to thirteen years now. We teach by example. We practice what we preach.

This generation of tiny ones, God willing, will not stay in the camp. Their eyes will look beyond the horizon of the barbed-wire fence. They will want more, and it is our duty to prepare them. It is our duty to help them find their identity and be strong in their own skin, as there is still great wariness and hatred toward the Yezidi minority out there.

I remember Musa always saying, "There are four chairs open. I have to be the best." And he was. But he studied day and night. There was no room for slacking or for coming in second because he was Yezidi. We have to prepare our kids for this, all of them, not just the kindergarteners.

Our Kids 4 Hope children planted sunflower seeds this week. They planted them in the rich soil of the Hope Garden. Under the watchful eye of Sami, our gardener, these seeds will grow into strong, tall flowers. At some point our children will harvest the many seeds that began with one.

So it is with our children. As we help them grow roots, we are already thinking about their future; how to help them achieve it, and what we need to give from our knowledge and experience to prepare them. Because, once again, it's all about hope for the future and preparing the way for those who will come after and one day say to their children, "I learned this at Springs of Hope."

God bless you all. Thank you for being our journey partners.