Aya's Resilience: From Loss to Learning

Ninewa, Iraq, 28 January 2024 - Aya, a resilient 14-year-old from Omar Mandan village in Ninewa Governorate, Iraq, has faced numerous challenges due to the conflict with ISIS. Together with her four sisters and one brother, she faced the heart-wrenching loss of her father, a situation she described as "the most difficult time in my life."

She started going to school at the age of 7, but ongoing conflict in her neighborhood disrupted her studies for several years. However, 2023 marked a turning point, thanks to the Accelerated Learning Programme provided by UNICEF and funded by the Government of Japan. Aya is now back in school, making up for lost time by concurrently studying the first and second grades in a single year—covering the first-grade curriculum in the first semester and the second-grade curriculum in the second semester.

Currently residing at her uncle's home to participate in Accelerated Learning Programme, Aya suffers from being separated from her mother and siblings. “Living apart from my mother and siblings is quite challenging. I miss being with them,” she says.

Despite challenges, Aya remains determined to achieve her dream of completing her studies. "My goal is to complete my education and become a doctor, particularly a surgeon,” she says. “My advice to others is to keep studying because it’s very important."