A new language school has opened in Sinjar with the aim of preserving Ezdiki, the Ezidi mother tongue, and strengthening children’s connection to their identity, memory, and cultural heritage.
The school began operating in mid-June and focuses on teaching young Ezidi children the alphabet, spoken language, and traditional words and expressions that are increasingly at risk of disappearing from daily use. The initiative is led by Future Sun NGO, also known in Arabic as [منظمة شمس المستقبل], with support from language specialists and educators.
The project is built around the idea that language is not only a tool of communication, but also a central part of identity, history, and belonging. Through regular lessons, children are encouraged to use Ezdiki with confidence and to remain connected to the heritage passed down through generations.
The school offers free education through different learning levels, including early childhood, primary, and advanced classes. The lessons are designed to help children gradually move from learning letters and basic words to using the language in everyday speech.
Language preservation has become an urgent issue for many Ezidis, especially after genocide, displacement, migration, and the growing use of other languages in daily life. When words disappear, parts of memory, culture, and inherited knowledge are also at risk of being lost.
Future Sun NGO has presented the initiative under the message “Ezidi language is our identity”, highlighting the importance of teachers, students, and parents working together to protect the language. Each lesson is seen as a step toward building a generation that is more connected to its roots and better able to pass this heritage to the future.
The opening of the school is an important step in protecting Ezdiki and supporting Ezidi children in Sinjar. Organisers hope that similar language initiatives can later be expanded to other Ezidi areas in Iraq and to Ezidis in the diaspora.
To read more about the project, Future Sun NGO’s website here.
