Where Do the Children Play?

Iraqi Children in the Frame

Children in Iraq make playgrounds where they are able, including the grounds of churches. In Tilkepe, kids play street soccer near the Sacred Heart Church, an area that parents believe to be the safest place for their kids to play. Many churches were destroyed by ISIS in recent years but are now being rebuilt.

Schools are also getting back to normal after residents came back to their homes. At the Nahla Valley Middle School in Duhok, Iraq, all subjects are being taught in Sureth. The school is funded by the Assyrian Aid Society of America and many Chaldeans worldwide. Students at Baghdida Catholic High School and Baghdida Catholic Middle School greeted us energetically during our visit, standing up from their seats.

Like with kids everywhere, the school environment can prove to be a challenge for some: Hassan Ali, a child from Tilkepe, told me he wants to be a mechanic and does not want to attend school. His words were: “Too many students in the class, and we can’t pay attention to what the teacher says.”