Sema
For thirty-three years, students have remained at the forefront of the Lalish Center’s mission, driven by our belief that education is the foundation for building and advancing society. Throughout these years, the center has continuously supported students through financial assistance, helping them continue their education during difficult times, facilitating transfers between universities, and following up on their academic concerns to ensure they could pursue their studies without interruption.
We conducted a series of visits and meetings with the Ministries of Higher Education and Education to address students’ issues and provide the necessary facilities and support, in addition to following up on the printing and distribution of the Ezidiyati textbook to schools.
By the decision of Mr. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Government, we are currently working on returning Ezidi survivors to their studies free of charge, as well as converting the tuition of a number of evening and parallel-study students into free education at universities across the Kurdistan Region, in coordination with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education.
On the service level, we provided dormitory accommodation and financial aid for survivor students and those in need within the available capabilities, while continuing coordination with the Universities of Duhok, Duhok Polytechnic, and Zakho to facilitate registration procedures, studies, and other student-related matters.
We have also annually helped hundreds of students from Arabic schools apply to universities in the Kurdistan Region, in coordination with the Kirkuk Office of the Ministry of Higher Education and the University of Duhok.
In support of scientific research, we granted financial rewards to postgraduate students whose academic research focuses on Ezidi-related issues, and this project continues to this day.
On the cultural and social level, we organized two cultural camps in coordination with the Barzani Charity Foundation, with the participation of more than 150 Ezidi students and graduates. We also distributed food aid, supported students in need, and annually honored outstanding students.
Most recently, in coordination with an international school, we launched an initiative to provide a free three-month course in programming and artificial intelligence for ten Ezidi children and students.
We will continue working to serve students and strive to provide more opportunities that contribute to building a better future for them.
Dr. Muneb Saido Shingali
Head of the Student Department at the Lalish Cultural and Social Center