Two success stories for JISRA (Nineveh Plain)
First Story
The participation of some JISRA participants in the 25th Gulf Cup held in Basra with the rest of the other Iraqi components to support the Iraqi national team together was one of the success stories that we had to share.
At the beginning of the project, the participants were avoiding discussion on issues of religion or belief, and they were avoiding showing their nationality and religion, but after several sessions they attended with other components and nationalities, the barriers gradually disappeared and the components began to dialogue and discuss more freely on issues of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB).
Through JISRA in particular and other similar projects that work on FoRB, the components of the Nineveh Plain have become more confident in showing their religion and nationality without fear or hesitation. Rather, they have become prouder that they are residents of the Nineveh Plain, which contains different components and religions.
Second Story
The Kakai community/religion is characterized by secrecy and the inadmissibility of its followers to express their religious rituals to anyone outside the religion. At the beginning of the project, the Kakais did not accept the idea of participating in JISRA because they expected that the concept of FoRB means that they have to express and talk about their religious rituals, and that it could have significant impacts on their society.
However, after participating and understanding the goals/objectives of JISRA, the number of Kakai participants in the workshops and sessions increased, and their understanding of the concept of FoRB increased. JISRA had a major role in overcoming this problem, and they had the courage and motivation to speak up for themselves and discuss their internal issues among themselves and with other components as well.
One of the women is Alaa’, When we asked Alaa’ to share about her experience with JISRA she said “After participating in JISRA activities I have become very confident in participating and representing the Kakai community as a woman, and to empower the role of Kaka’i women in my community”
