News
Iraq: supporting young people facing violence and exile
In northwestern Iraq, the Sinjar region still bears the scars of the genocide of the Yezidis perpetrated in 2014 by the Islamic State group. Today, Première Urgence Internationale is deploying a psychosocial support program for young people.
Publié le 01/07/2025 | Temps de lecture : 3 min
In northwestern Iraq, the Sinjar region still bears the scars of the genocide of the Yezidis perpetrated in 2014 by the Islamic State group. Ten years on, many families are beginning to return to their lands. In this context of reconstruction, Première Urgence Internationale and its local partner Hope Makers Organization for Woman (HMOW) are deploying a psychosocial support program for young people, at the heart of the affected communities by violence and exile.
Children and teenagers who have grown up in an environment marked by violence and uprooting are particularly in need of appropriate support. With this in mind, Première Urgence Internationale, through its DELIVER in Health project, has set up a psychosocial skills-building program with HMOW.
The program is based on the “I CAN” approach, designed to help young people better understand and express their emotions, boost their self-esteem and improve relationships with their peers. The HMOW team has been trained to run these sessions, adapting them to the local realities of Sinjar. For example, a specific workshop on anger management was created.
Safe spaces
for self-expression
Over the course of the sessions, the teenagers learned to better manage their emotions and communicate more calmly.
This was the case for Muhannad*, 14, who used to withdraw or react with anger. Thanks to his participation in the program, he has developed new reflexes: verbalizing his frustrations, keeping calm in tense situations, reconnecting with his peers and strengthening his family ties. His story illustrates the lasting impact that psychosocial support can have in a rebuilding community.
A collective impact
The young participants’ shared experiences confirmed the effectiveness of the program. Many said they felt more confident, better understood and able to talk about their emotions. The skills acquired during the workshops were reflected in their daily lives: at home, at school, and in their social relationships.
At the same time, this partnership between Première Urgence Internationale and HMOW is helping to strengthen the capabilities of the local organization, broadening its scope of action and increasing its recognition within the community.
Thanks to this initiative, young people in Sinjar are regaining confidence in themselves and in the future. In an environment still marked by the past, listening, speaking and emotional learning become effective levers for rebuilding social ties.
This activity is made possible thanks to the support of the Crisis and Support Center (CDCS) of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
