Mosul’s first volunteer institution for children with disabilities provides support, empowerment

NINEVEH — The Happy Childhood Institution, established in 2019 in Mosul’s Rifai neighborhood, stands as the first volunteer-based institution dedicated to supporting children with disabilities following the city’s liberation from the Islamic State. Spanning 2,500 square meters, the institution was founded by educator Rima Hilal Kashmoula to address the urgent needs of children physically and psychologically affected by the war.

The institution offers free services such as speech therapy, behavioral rehabilitation, community integration, music classes, and art sessions. Currently, it serves 165 children aged 5 to 25, supported by a team of 18 volunteers.

“After Mosul’s liberation, the need for an institution focusing on children with disabilities became critical, especially given the hundreds of children impacted by war,” Kashmoula told 964media.

While studying at the College of Basic Education, Kashmoula proposed a volunteer project through a French initiative, securing an $8,000 grant that helped establish the institute.

The institution supports children with Down syndrome, learning disabilities, speech impairments, and trauma-induced autism. To date, 28 students have graduated, successfully integrating into schools and society. Among the graduates are a blind student who achieved a 99% academic average and a cancer survivor now studying medicine.

Despite these successes, the institution faces challenges. “We need additional support to expand our services and open branches, especially in Mosul’s east,” Kashmoula said.

She called on officials to enforce laws supporting individuals with disabilities, emphasizing, “Wars have left behind generations of individuals with disabilities. We are ready to expand our efforts, provided there is the necessary support and approvals.”

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as Daesh in Arabic, is responsible for widespread violence, human rights abuses, and acts of genocide in Iraq and Syria. Emerging in 2014 as a successor to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, ISIS captured significant territories across Iraq, including cities like Mosul, Tikrit, and Fallujah.

The terror group declared a self-styled “caliphate” under its leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, enforcing an extreme interpretation of Islamic law and targeting ethnic and religious minorities. The group was defeated militarily in Iraq by 2017 through the efforts of Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga, supported by a U.S.-led coalition.