03-07-2025 | di COOPI

Iraq. Siham’s journey: a wheelchair, a smile and a path back to school

In Ustayla village, part of Al-Hadar District in Iraq’s Nineveh Governorate, the “AMAL - Protection actions and new opportunities for the entire community of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Dohuk and SAD” project, implemented by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale through funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), is helping children with disabilities access their right to education. By providing assistive devices, legal aid and psychosocial support, the project is removing barriers that have long kept vulnerable children on the margins of society.

One of those children is Siham, a 10-year-old girl with a radiant spirit, whose determination to learn is matched only by the obstacles she has faced. She's in the fourth grade and suffers from partial paralysis, which makes it impossible for her to walk. For years, the only way she could reach school was by being carried on her mother’s back every morning. With time, the physical strain became overwhelming and the family was faced with a heartbreaking possibility: Siham might have to drop out of school. Her mother recalls this difficult moment with pain and helplessness:

I couldn’t carry her anymore… I was afraid she would have to leave school forever."

Everything changed when Siham was selected as a beneficiary of the AMAL project. As part of its support to people with disabilities, the AMAL project provided Siham with an electric wheelchair. This simple yet life-changing support allowed her to attend school on her own for the very first time, without having to rely on her mother. The moment Siham received her wheelchair was unforgettable: her face lit up with pure joy, her laughter echoing through the neighborhood.

She couldn’t stop smiling."

her mother says.

She was so proud, so excited to go to school on her own."

Siham’s story is a powerful reminder that children with disabilities don’t need pity: they need access, dignity and the right tools to thrive alongside their peers. Through initiatives like AMAL, vulnerable children are not only receiving material support, they are being seen, heard and empowered. The AMAL project continues to champion the rights of children like Siham, ensuring that no child is left behind in their pursuit of education and a brighter future.

COOPI has been active in Iraq since 2017, responding to urgent needs while also investing in long-term solutions. Since 2014, the country has faced one of the most complex humanitarian crises in recent history, with millions displaced and returning to communities still recovering from conflict. In recent years, COOPI has expanded its work to include livelihoods support in areas like Shirqat and Sulaymaniya, offering income-generating opportunities for youth and women. These efforts aim to promote resilience, restore dignity and help vulnerable Iraqis rebuild their lives with greater self-reliance.