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John Paul II Foundation 's new project in support of Christian minority rights in Iraq.

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation has approved the ranking of the winners of the call for proposals for funding "Direct Support Interventions for Populations Belonging to Christian Minorities Subject to Persecution in Crisis Areas," in which the John Paul II Foundation came first with its project in favor of the Saint Joseph School in Baghdad, Iraq, entitled Involving! Ensuring Inclusive, Equitable and Quality Education in Baghdad, with a focus on human rights and building resilience of persecuted minorities.

The project is currently suspended as a result of thecoronavirus emergency but despite the time slippage the activities will soon start in response to the needs of Christian minorities in Iraq, thanks to the important contribution that Italian partners will give to the carrying out of the activities and among them are the Società Della Salute Amiata Senese and Val D'Orcia Valdichiana Senese, the ASL of Foggia and Studio INN. An important contribution, on the subject of human rights, will also be made by researchers from the European University Institute of Florence.

This proposal claims to intervene on behalf of persecuted Christian minorities in Baghdad, starting from the bottom, i.e., by intervening on kindergarten children in order to offer them a better quality of life from the very beginning through quality education based on inclusion, peaceful coexistence of different cultures and religious representations attending Saint Joseph School in Baghdad.

The project will rehabilitate the preschool level area of the school and equip it with materials and instrumentation appropriate to the level. In addition, the skills of teachers in the area will be improved with specific technical trainings and knowledge of international models.

From the perspective of Human Rights, training on the topic will be given to teachers of the whole school who will integrate them into their own teaching paths and in turn multiply them with students through the creation of theatrical performances on the topic, created and interpreted by the students themselves.

To ensure the inclusion of young people, vocational training courses will be implemented at the Caritas center in Baghdad, which will be followed by accompaniment and guidance for job placement, as well as the opportunity for some to receive a start-up fund to create their own businesses. (hairdressers and carpenters).

A psychological support service will also be activated in the Caritas center in Baghdad to help the local population overcome the traumas resulting from the armed conflict. In addition, a course of meetings with a focus on women's empowerment, women's human rights, and prevention of gender-based violence and abuse will be organized for young women.