15-04-2025 | di COOPI

Iraq. Psychosocial support through sports for displaced and host communities

In Iraq, under the "AMAL - Protection actions and new opportunities for the entire community of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Dohuk, and SAD" project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS),  COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale organized a series of Psychosocial Support activities and sports events in Kirkuk and Salah al-Din Governorates, targeting displaced children, returnees and host communities to enhance emotional resilience and social cohesion and bring normality for vulnerable families in Iraq.

In Kirkuk, COOPI implemented structured and unstructured psychosocial support sessions for vulnerable children and their caregivers. These sessions created safe, inclusive spaces where children could express their emotions through storytelling, drawing, writing, and recreational games, helping them overcome the effects of displacement, violence, and marginalization. COOPI here also organized mixed-gender football tournaments to foster teamwork, peer connections and healthy emotional expression. These events brought together internally displaced persons and returnee families, bridging community gaps and promoting social cohesion. Additionally, awareness sessions for parents and caregivers strengthened positive parenting practices and their ability to support their children’s mental well-being at home. One participating caregiver shared:

My child used to be isolated and sad all the time. After joining COOPI’s sessions, they smile more and talk more. These activities gave them a chance to feel safe again".".

In Salah al-Din, COOPI launched a boys’ football league in Tuz District, involving 88 boys aged 14-17 from eight teams across four secondary schools. The league encouraged teamwork, integration, and psychological relief for adolescents affected by displacement. The final match saw Sada Al-Iraq Secondary School claim first place, with Tuz Secondary School and Ibn Khaldoun Secondary School securing second and third places, respectively. School principals and local sports officials praised the initiative for its role in improving mental health and fostering friendships among youth from diverse backgrounds. For instance, a school principal in Tuz added:

Such events are vital—they help our children heal from trauma and rebuild trust in their communities".".

By addressing emotional needs and strengthening community bonds, COOPI empowers displaced and host communities to build a more resilient future.

COOPI has been active in Iraq since 2017, initially focusing on emergency education for refugees and host communities in the south of Mosul district (Ninawa) and later expanding to schools in Shirqat (Salah Al-Din). In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iraq, which has seen millions of refugees displaced since 2014, COOPI has reached over 240,000 beneficiaries through its interventions. Since 2019, the organization has also extended its efforts to the Water and Sanitation sector, implementing projects in the districts of Shirqat and Beiji in Salah Din governorate.