One of the highlights of International Women’s Day for us this year was a special visit from German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, who came to experience some of our projects firsthand.
During a four-day trip to Iraq, Annalena made time in her hectic schedule to meet with us and many of the women and girls we support at Rwanga camp (Qadiya).
Image credit: photothek.de
While touring the camp, she checked out our Boxing Sisters programme, even pulling on a pair of gloves and sparring with some of the girls. Annalena also visited our Baking Sisters project, where she chatted to some of the participants and sampled their bakes. And she dropped into one of our music therapy sessions and an art class too, paying close attention to a gallery of work by the aspiring young artists.
Image credit: photothek.de
Image credit: photothek.de
Image credit: photothek.de
Image credit: photothek.de
Our staff, including Founder and CEO Taban and Regional Director Vian, greatly enjoyed talking to Annalena, whose vision of ‘feminist foreign policy’ focuses on ways in which diplomacy can better represent women’s interests. At a press conference with the Kurdistan prime minister Masrour Barzani during her visit, she said: “Societies live in more stable and peaceful coexistence if women can take part in shaping them.”
Image credit: photothek.de
Image credit: photothek.de
Image credit: photothek.de
Writing on her Instagram page after her visit to the camp, Annalena said: “I met survivors here today who suffered the unimaginable. That they have the strength to speak about their story is admirable. That they muster the strength to continue living is a small miracle. But not exclusively: it is also the work of countless helpers and therapists who also make the camp a place of healing.”
She added: “The charity organization @thelotusf and @hawar.help for example offer psychological support, digitization, literacy and sewing courses for women here. And art therapy, soccer and boxing training for the girls. This is about so much more than just a leisure program: Here hope is created, team spirit is strengthened, community is lived and trust is regained. All these experiences are the foundation pillars of an independent and self-determined life.”
Image credit: photothek.de
Outside of the camp, Annalena also visited some of the villages around Sinjar which were totally destroyed during the ISIS attacks. “Here it becomes clear why so many people are still unable to return home even nine years after the genocide,” she added on Instagram. “We will continue to support the Yazidis in future, for as long as all survivors who want to return to their homeland can do so.”
Image credit: photothek.de
Image credit: photothek.de
Such support from Germany is incredibly important, and will hopefully help pave the way to fairer, safer and more prosperous lives for all those who have been so badly impacted by this conflict over the years…