Zainab’s Journey: From Trauma to Determination (Iraq)

“IID was the only organisation that believed in me, when even my own mother doubted me.”

At just 22, Zainab has lived through war, loss and displacement. Once a bright student dreaming of becoming a doctor, Zainab’s life was upended when conflict erupted near her hometown along Iraq’s border. Forced to flee, she endured the chaos of displacement and the heartbreak of her father’s disappearance during their escape.

Zainab spent years in Al-Hol and later Al-Jada camps, which have housed thousands of individuals including women and children who were formerly under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or fled areas affected by the group. These camps are often marked by trauma, overcrowding and a fragile security environment. Youth like Zainab face not only the scars of war but also the weight of social stigma and exclusion when attempting to reintegrate into their home communities.

When Zainab returned to Mosul, she encountered a city still recovering from ISIS’s brutal occupation. She faced deep emotional trauma, isolation and harsh judgment from extended family. The loss of her home and community made reintegration feel nearly impossible.

This is where the Iraqi Institute for Development’s (IID) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team stepped in. Through consistent individual counselling and psychosocial support, Zainab began to heal. The team worked closely with her to overcome internalised shame and external rejection and helped her rejoin the formal education system after an 11-year gap. IID also facilitated an exam permit from the Ministry of Education, an essential step in rebuilding her academic future.

Today, Zainab is preparing for her third intermediate exam. Her dream of becoming a doctor has returned, not just as a hope, but as a goal she’s actively pursuing.

Her journey illustrates the transformative power of rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) programming, especially when paired with community-based PVE approaches. By addressing the psychological and social impact of trauma, and offering tangible pathways to education and empowerment, interventions like these help prevent the cycles of marginalisation and violence that extremist groups seek to exploit.

Zainab is no longer defined by displacement or loss. She is a determined young woman reclaiming her future, one step, one exam, one dream at a time.