The expulsion of the Suryoye (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramaic) from Mosul and the Nineveh Plain on 6 August 2014 had a negative impact on the spiritual and psychological situation of the people in general, but especially for children. Children were torn out of their everyday lives and had to suffer terrible things. They were deprived of their childhood, as familiar things like school, hobbies and friends became distant. From one day to the next, their lives changed without them understanding the processes and circumstances of their environment. The nightmare they experienced gave them no idea of what was in store for them.
In their minds linger the memories of their home, their school, their church and their playground. The children’s dream is to make the beautiful memories of the past real again. Despite the many losses, they have not given up hope of returning.
The aim of BNOW was to catch children of internally displaced persons, and to work through their emotions by working together.
These refugee children were taken from the refugee camps and cared for in a facility, and painting therapy was used to help them process all the incidents they had experienced. A total of 90 children (30 children every three months) were helped to process their trauma. At the end of each semester, an exhibition was held where the pictures could be viewed by their parents.
The drawings served as a method for the children to express their thoughts by putting their past, present and future on paper.
This project was able to run from March 2016 – June 2017 with the support of Shai and since July 2017, this project has been funded by the St. Ismael Foundation.
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