As Ambitious as the Challenges: Mustafa’s Journey to Learn and Grow in Tooz

In one of the overcrowded schools in Tooz, a district located 197 kilometers from Baghdad, nine-year-old Mustafa is attending his third year of primary school. Mustafa is a popular boy at school, respectful to his elders and full of ambition.

Mustafa faces particular challenges in learning the Arabic language due to his short-sightedness and being part of the Turkmen minority, with Turkmen as his mother tongue.

But these are not the only difficulties Mustafa encounters. His father, Hasan, explained, “The problem in the school is the high turnover of teachers, which greatly affects the children. Each teacher has a specific style or method of teaching, so the students have to continuously adapt to new teachers and their methods. This prevents them from learning properly. Mustafa, for example, struggles to focus on the letters and has difficulty with spelling. Before, I was teaching him at home because he didn’t know the alphabet or the letters well. But after World Vision Iraq’s intervention, I noticed a big change in him. Thankfully, he has improved, he concentrates better now. He has changed for the better.”

Mustafa shared, “Before, I wasn’t learning well, but after the organisation came and Teachers Narmeen and Aamr taught me, I got better. I learned the letters more easily.”

Mustafa is living peacefully in the small district of Tooz, with his parents and three siblings. Hasan works for the government, while his wife, unable to secure government employment, stays at home to care for their children. Both of Mustafas` parents completed their education and understand the importance of schooling for their children’s future. Hasan said, “We don’t pressure Mustafa because of his short-sightedness, but he must continue his education. Otherwise, he will lose his future. Despite the challenges, we have to support him in his learning.”

Mustafa is also determined to build his future. When he grows up, he wants to become an engineer. In his free time, he enjoys riding his bike, playing with a toy car, or spending time with his friends.

Narmeen, the World Vision Iraq teacher for Catch up classes said, "Education is a key tool in empowering children to succeed, regardless of the challenges they face. Mustafa has shown incredible progress. When he first joined, he struggled significantly with the alphabet and the basics of reading. But with time, patience, and the right support, he has not only learned the letters but is now showing confidence in his ability to learn new things. Mustafa’s improvement is a reflection of both his determination and the impact of World Vision Iraq’s intervention.”

Through the Project Building an Inclusive Future through Protecting and Empowering Children in Iraq, World Vision Iraq, with funding from World Vision Singapore, has helped 166 students (53 girls, and 113 boys) like Mustafa enhance their reading and writing abilities. These classes not only improve linguistic skills but also boost self-awareness, confidence, and overall academic performance. This initiative ensures that the future of children like Mustafa will not be lost, despite the challenges they face.