Originally from Baaj District, 12-year-old Yazan and his family lived in Mosul when the conflict erupted in 2015. The turmoil forced them to flee, and they suffered a heartbreaking loss—Yazan’s father went missing in Ninewa. “The hardest thing in my life is not having my father here with me,” Yazan says.
Yazan and his family (his mother, grandmother, and siblings) spent eight years in Al-Hol camp, in Syria. “During those eight years, we faced our darkest days. We endured fear, hunger, and instability,” his grandmother vividly recalls to Shahad Butrus Bulbul.
In 2023, they returned to Iraq, finding temporary solace in Al Jadaa 1 rehabilitation center for 11 months. “Our situation improved at Al Jadaa 1 center”, the grandmother says. “It was safe, and we had enough food, but we were still struggling with the instability.”
At Al Jadaa 1 center, Yazan attended sessions at a child protection center supported by UNICEF and funded by the United States Government. There, he found more than just safety. “I loved going to the center to play football and basketball,” Yazan says, smiling. “I made friends and had fun. I also learned about hygiene, respecting others, and the importance of education.”
Yazan’s mother participated in a parenting programme at the center. “The most valuable lesson I learned was to support my children’s education,” she says. “So, in the future, they can be self-reliant and contribute to the community.”
Now back in Mosul, the family lives in a rented house, surviving on the modest income Yazan’s mother and aunt earn from harvesting potatoes and making and selling baked goods at home. Despite these financial challenges, Yazan continues his education.
When the family left Al Jadaa 1 center at the end of 2023, Yazan was in the middle of the school year, and enrolling in a new school was difficult without official documentation. However, the child protection center team facilitated his transfer to an outside school and managed the paperwork. The family is now receiving support from the legal team in the UNICEF-supported programme to secure Yazan’s civil documents.
Yazan dreams of a brighter future. “I want to become an engineer and design tall buildings,” he says, his eyes shining with hope.
Yazan’s journey from darkness to hope is a testament to the strength of a young boy who, despite unimaginable hardships, continues to dream big and aspire for a better future.
