World Youth Summit Hears Challenges to Education in Kurdistan
“We have had to rebuild everything, this includes the entire educational structure, from school building, to textbooks and curriculum,” said Idris Nechirvan Barzani, the founder of Rwanga Charity Organization, in a speech on behalf of the Kurdish delegation.
The Kurdish flag was hoisted at the event, alongside flags of 190 other countries attending the summit.
Founded in 2009, One Young World brings together young people from around the world, “helping them make lasting connections to create positive change.”
Likening the Kurdistan Region to other post-conflict societies such as the Balkans and Central and West Africa, Barzani, 17, one of the youngest delegates at the summit said, “Delegates who live in a post-conflict society such as Kurdistan know that education is a golden key and of special importance to the children of those who have suffered so much.”
While the rest of Iraq is still mired in daily violence, the peace and stability in the autonomous Kurdistan Region allowed the Kurds the opportunity to travel to South Africa and inform the world of their successful endeavors to overcome years of war and persecution.
“While the delivery of educational services in a post-conflict environment is challenging, we know that in our hearts and minds it is deeply rewarding,” said Barzani.
He added that his charity in Kurdistan, Rwanga, sees education as an investment in the future, especially “when violence, conflict and war are upon us, it is difficult for families to consider long-term goals.”
Apart from funding university scholarships for promising high school graduates, said Barzani, “We are providing environmental awareness courses to nearly 9,000 students to promote and get engaged in the importance of sustainability.”
“Our aim is to prevent some of the restraints that prevent us from fulfilling our full potential,” he added.
Among notables at this year’s summit were former UN secretary general Kofi Anan and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus.
Barzani informed the delegates that peace and stability have made the Kurdistan Region home to more than 250,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the violence in their home country.
He maintained that children bear the main brunt of this conflict and that his organization is working hand-in-hand with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to address the refugees’ needs, particularly their children’s education.
“The Syrian conflict seen through the eyes of a child is tragic for two reasons,” he said. “Firstly, children suffer from the difficult living conditions and the fear of violence. Secondly, the urgency for survival makes it difficult for parents to focus on their children’s education.”
Alongside building new refugee camps near the capital Erbil to stand the harsh winter conditions, Kurdish authorities are also trying to make sure that the refugee children continue their education.
“A refugee camp is not the optimal place for a school, but we must ensure that the future of young refugees is not sacrificed because of the violence they have been exposed to,” Barzani said.
He added that their “tragic history” has made the Kurds understand the value of education in helping to overcome conflict and moving forward.
“As Kurds we must remember that our fathers, mothers, grandparents, struggled valiantly to provide the opportunities that we have today,” Barzani said. “It is a fight for intellectual growth and intellectual freedom. It is a human right that must be nurtured, protected and treasured.”
RUDAW
