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By Emily Shaffer

If I have learned anything in my time working with Roads of Success as a Creative Director and teacher for Yazidi refugee girls, it’s that there are few things more powerful than being able to share one’s story with the world. The simple request I hear time and time again from those suffering persecution in the Middle East is for the world to know what they have faced. They want the world to know their history, their pain, and to help them collectively seek out hope together. While this is by no means an easy ask, it is certainly a necessary one, and one that is beyond deserved. 

At ROS, we have dedicated our lives towards giving a voice to the voiceless. We continually seek to empower others to find their voice and support them, or be the voice for those who are not able to share their story. There is no better duo to exemplify this dynamic with than our own Vice President, Jacqueline Isaac, and our Ambassador of Hope, Ekhlas Bajoo.

On July 15 2019, the Bishop of Truro invited both Jacqueline and Ekhlas to his Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians. He asked them to speak on behalf of the targeted Christians, Yazidis, and other endangered minorities in the Middle East, specifically in Iraq. 

Jacqueline and Ekhlas were joined at this event by Christy Anastas, a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem “who personally experienced religious persecution from more than one direction” (quote from Independent Review Media Release). They were also accompanied Dr. Habib Malik, a Lebanese Christian from Beirut and Associate Professor, at the Lebanese American University (Independent Review Media Release). This special event was led and hosted by Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State in the Foreign Office and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief (Independent Review Media Release). 

The Bishop himself shared in this press release that “the freedom to think for oneself and to choose to believe what one chooses to believe, without fear of coercion, is the most fundamental human right, and is indeed the one on which so many others depend…” (Independent Review Media Release). We could not agree more and this is the reason Jackie and Ekhlas, along with our entire ROS team seeks out justice and empowerment the way we do. 

Jacqueline began by sharing accounts of Yazidis and Christians persecuted by terrorists in the Middle East and the personal impact it has had on her life. Ekhlas then followed, speaking in Arabic with Jacqueline translating for her in English. She shared own testimony of physical and sexual abuse by the hands of ISIS simply because of her Yazidi faith. Her speech was incredibly powerful, bringing me to tears as I listened to it through my cell phone.

That line that stood out to me amidst it all. “Humanity goes before religion.” Chills run through my body every time I hear those words and think of Jacqueline’s face as she voices them for Ekhlas. Many times, Ekhlas has shared how humanity is what keeps her going. But the weight of her words resonated differently this time. She then took Jacqueline’s hand and raised it above both of their heads. Jacqueline continued translating for Ekhlas: “…and the evidence of that is how we’re standing hand in hand.” The significance of this act and the accompanying words cannot be overstated. 

Previously, Ekhlas spoke of humanity in regards to how it motivated her. Now, she spoke of it in seeking to motivate others. This was a call to action. A call to action of not letting our differences divide us or our beliefs of faith be held against us. Ekhlas continued to press into this action statement:

“For over 4 years we have been standing and battling for those together, battling for those who have been persecuted and for justice. Because it’s my right to see the Daesh [ISIS] perpetrators accountable and prosecuted against me as a Yazidi, against Christains, and against other minorities. They took our childhood. There’s nothing they did not do to us. But we will not surrender as long as we have your humanity and have you with us today. And today I have hope in your humanity and justice. I want to see them accountable. And I have faith in your humanity. I will not surrender and I will continue to smile with your humanity in me and with justice.”

None of these words were said lightly. Nor were they received lightly either. There is power in words, power in what we say and how we say it. We never take for granted the opportunities we have to voice our stories and the stories of those around us. Though Ekhlas grew up in the Yazidi faith, she also spoke on behalf of her Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq facing persecution. Because raising our voice is never only meant in speaking up on our behalf, but on behalf of those like us around the world. 

Jacqueline also read a statement from a Christian friend also taken into captivity in the Middle East. This friend was persecuted side by side with Yazidis, empathizing with them, while also mentioning the differences in how the world received them: “When the world raised the voices of my Yazidi friends, the world gave them a future but we as Christians, the ones that escaped, are silenced. We escaped captivity to find freedom but we find ourselves in a new prison. We are alone because the world is blind to our stories. Please bring our stories to light.”

This request has echoed in my mind and heart since I heard it. This is my heart, just as it is the heart of our organization as a whole: to bring a voice to the voiceless. Like Ekhlas shared, together we have been fighting for justice for more than 4 years. We have been building relationships with Christians, Yazidis, and politicians in the Middle East for over a decade.  In some ways, that seems like the blink of an eye and in other ways that feels like a lifetime. As much as we sometimes wish the work was over, we will never stop sharing the stories of the persecuted. We will never stop fighting for freedom and justice from oppression. We will never stop standing hand and hand as brothers and sisters, no matter what our differences may be. In the words of Ekhlas herself:

By Emily Shaffer

For those who have been following the stories and individuals of Roads of Success, the name Ekhlas is not a new one. But for those hearing it for the first time, allow me to introduce her to you. Ekhlas Khudhur Bajoo is from Northern Iraq and currently lives in Southern Germany.  She is of the Yazidi ethnic and religious minority of which there is about 1 million people left in Iraq. She is a bright young girl in her early twenties who dreams of becoming a lawyer. But her story has been far from joyous over the years. When Ekhlas was 14, she watched her father murdered by ISIS. They then proceeded to take her as a sex slave for themselves in attempt to completely obliterate the Yazidi ethnic minority.

Ekhlas met Jacqueline Isaac, Attorney and Vice President of Roads of Success, a few years ago when she was a teenager. As Ekhlas desires to become a lawyer and bring justice to the Yazidi minority in Iraq, particularly the young girls who have been enslaved to ISIS, she has been taken under Jacqueline’s wing. Jacqueline has continued to mentor and care for Ekhlas, bringing her hope and guidance in speaking out against the injustice Ekhlas has seen and experienced first hand.

Together Jacqueline and Ekhlas have spoken before the UK Parliament, U.S. Congress, and the United Nations all across the globe. In their most recent adventure together, Jackie and Ekhlas went to Luxembourg along with Yvette Isaac, Founder and President of ROS, and other members of ROS. On March 26 and 27, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg held an annual conference called Stand Speak Rise Up. The purpose of this event was to bring together leaders, advocates, and survivors to discuss and take action against victims of war. The topic specifically revolves around ending rape being used as a weapon of war.

Speakers for this event came from all around the globe, including fellow genocide survivor and advocate, Nadia Murad from Nadia’s Initiative. Our own Ekhlas Khudhur Bajoo was one of these speakers. We call her our Ambassador of Hope, being a spokesperson for survivors and persecuted ethnic minorities in Iraq who have faced the threat and violence of the Islamic State. We are incredibly proud of her and all that she has done and stood for despite the intense adversity she has faced in her life. Being our first student at ROS, she has set the tone and bar for students to follow.

Most recently, Ekhlas had the opportunity to speak at the Stand Speak Rise Up. She shared her story of surviving being a sex slave to ISIS but did not simply share a narrative of sorrow and tragedy. Ekhlas presented her story as one of hope, of perseverance, and the courage to continue onward.  “Why am I smiling?” she asked the audience. “The reason is you, for the humanity you represent. Humanity is the strongest weapon we have” (Quote from Delano.lu, “I’ll Stand and Fight Against Indignity”  by Natalie A. Gerhardstein).

Humanity is what keeps Ekhlas going. Humanity is what gives her hope for future. Humanity is what gives her the the strength to face tomorrow and continue to share her powerful story.

Ekhlas was able to tell her story in Luxembourg and she was not sharing it alone. This is were true strength and courage comes from- knowing that one does not have to face the injustices and heartaches of this world by themselves. Along with Nadia Murad (Iraq), Ekhlas was a part of a conversational panel indlucing Iryna Dovhan (Ukraine), Fulvia Chunganá Medina (Colombia), and Aline Munezero (Burundi), each survivors of sexual violence and warfare.

The Grand Duchess facilitated the discussion between these brave women. She began the event by sharing a hopeful statement in her opening speech: “If we cannot end war, let us at least end rape as a weapon” (Quote from Chronicle.lu, Survivors of Sexual Violence Share Stories of Heartbreak, Hope on First Day of Stand Speak Rise Up Event by JCA).

The two-day event was put together by the Foundation of The Grand Duke and The Grand Duchess. They also partnered with the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation and We Are Not Weapons of War (WWOW) non-profit. This impactful and influential event took place at the European Convention Center in Luxembourg hosted by Her Royal Highness, Maria Teresa.

This was a pinnacle moment for ROS, especially for Jacqueline, Yvette, and Ekhlas. Every chance to advocate for minorities and displaced people affected by ISIS in Syria and Iraq is always considered a victory for us. Not everyone who has been wounded by the traumatic impact of the Islamic State has the opportunity to speak out and share their story. However, that is our mission: to share the stories of those who cannot, including those who are no longer with us today. For justice and healing to be brought to Ekhlas’ story and ones like it, we must start a conversation about what is happening in the Middle East, particularly Iraq.

We are excited to continue to campion Ekhlas and our girls like her. After Ekhlas shared her compelling statement, “our smile and our humanity is the strongest weapon we have,” her words were met with a resounding applause from the entire audience. In the words of Yvette Isaac, “she brought the house down.” Through Stand Speak Rise Up, it has been made very clear that we are not the only ones in loving support of Ekhlas. The whole word is here to listen and campion Ekhlas as we continue to.

When I first heard about what was happening in Sigy Refugee Camp, there were two main reactions that rose to the surface for me. One was complete excitement in seeing such an incredible change take place. The other was a form of disbelief. I simply couldn’t believe what was happening less than 30 km (18 miles) from Dohuk.

For those that are a bit unfamiliar with where exactly Dohuk is, it is in Northern Iraq, a part of Iraqi Kurdistan. There is roughly a 80 km (50 miles) distance between Dohuk and Mosul. Mosul has been infamously known as the Islamic State’s capital in Iraq. Yazidis were fleeing the area, trekking through Mount Sinjar, to find safety. Cities around Mount Sinjar were attacked by ISIS as they targeted the Yazidi ethnic minority. In Mosul, the predominant targets were Iraqi Christians. Being populated mainly by Kurds and Assyrians, Dohuk has become a temporary home to many displaced people including now around 1 million Yazidi, Christian, and other minority refugees. Sigy Refugee Camp has become one of these refugee camps just outside of Dohuk.

This refugee camp consists of 300 Christian families and 1,000 Yazidi families. Let that sink in. These are not 1,300 individuals, but 1,300 families. When we speak of displaced people, we are referring to Yazidis fleeing Mount Sinjar and nearby cities, along with Iraqi Christians who have also been forced to leave their homes in Mosul. It has been estimated by that there are around 2,000 children coming through Sigy Refugee Camp each year. But here is where it really gets crazy, and really exciting.

ROS sends containers to refugee camps on a regular basis to the Middle East, particularly in Northern Iraq. These are 40-foot containers that are filled with medical supplies, blankets, clothing, and toys. Sigy Refugee Camp had received one of these from ROS about 2 years ago. But instead of letting that container go to waste in the high desert of Iraq, letting it only be used for storage, we found a better us for it. Members of the camp refurbished the container into a clinic through the help and funding of Roads of Success. We brought in a construction crew, locals willing to work and serve their neighbor, to remodel the containers and start preparing for the next stages of development.

Trucks loaded with 2x4s, varnish, construction tools, ladders, paneling, plants, and wheelbarrows rolled into the camp to start the daunting process of building what both displaced Yazidis, refugees, and locals alike dreamed of: a gym center for the youth and families. What started with just a 40 ft used container turned clinic soon became so much more.

A soccer field soon entered the scene. Being referred to by Sigy Refugee Camp as the gym, this field is the focal point of this center. The refugee camp describes the goal of the gym to be for the youth to become more physically active and healthy, with the hope that this will decrease depression and suicide case in that age group. Different activities that are being offered at the gym include volleyball, soccer, handball, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and badminton, along with other games and running sports.

The simple truth is sports, especially soccer in the Middle East, is more than just fun and games between kids. It is hope in the middle of a literal dry desert. It’s a step into change and peace that brings healing. If a generation of displaced and refugee children have the opportunity to continually hear and see that they are worth time, energy, love, and being seen consistently, could that not change the world? Or at least the tiniest piece of it? I have to believe the answer to be a resounding yes.

Yet there is still more to the story. Classrooms are being built for children to be educated in. Somehow, in the midst of all the chaos and disarray, there is not only the desire for a better future, but the firm belief that it is real and tangible. After being forced to flee their homes in the waking threat of ISIS, then having to cram into a refugee camps with thousands of other displaced Yazidi families, the Iraqis here are not willing to let their adversity win. Hope is still real and very close for them, enough if it just starts with a soccer ball. There is not simply the hope for survival, but the dreams and plans to live a life of thriving, even in a desert.

The best way for this hope to be represented is through the community garden being built. When Yvette Isaac, Founder and President of ROS, first told me about what was going on at Sigy Refugee Camp, this is what excited me the most about the project. Looking through the photos, the green plants in the midst of the dry dirt stood out to me more than anything. If this was not a perfect visual of a spring in the desert, I didn’t know what was. The community garden will be located right in front of the clinic. Our hope is that all who come and go through Sigy Refugee Camp will not only find physical healing and recovery, but mental and emotional healing as well. And we believe that that can start with a soccer field and a garden.

However, the journey is far from over for both the refugees and the projects here at Sigy Refugee Camp. Currently the Methodist Church and Sigy Refugee Camp are only able to afford for a local doctor to come in once a week to the clinic. The hope is to have a doctor each day of the week. Along with the costs of running a clinic, there is also the costs of the gym itself. The gym costs totals out to about $15,000. This includes items like the fencing, goals and balls, and 3 shift supervisors. A significant necessity also included in the funds mentioned goes towards electricity and a cooler so the crew will be able to work at night as it is very hot to work during the day. Every bit helps, even if it’s donating $40 towards ultimate frisbee. We are so grateful for all who have donated and partnered with us at Roads of Success. But the hard work is far from over.

DOB:1995  –   Location: Dahok – Kurdistan, Iraq I only finished the 6th grade. I am a Yazidi from Sinjar. I come from a family of 7 my father was in the military and he died in the line of duty in 2006. I cannot express our feelings when ISIS entered Sinjar. At sunrise,…

I only finished the 6th grade. I am a Yazidi from Sinjar. I come from a family of 7 my father was in the military and he died in the line of duty in 2006.

I cannot express our feelings when ISIS entered Sinjar. At sunrise, the sky was clear and free from smoke and blood. When they attacked us, we didn’t know where to go. We heard people crying and screaming. We don’t know why or how things happened. Everybody was running towards the mountain, since we were surrounded by ISIS, by killing, abduction and injustice. People were leaving their houses without food, water or clothes. We all wished to die and not see children starving, girls committing suicide. Everybody was afraid, some ran to the mountains and others didn’t know what to do. Neighbors deceived each other, women and girls being kidnapped, men and boys being killed these are all the actions of the terrorist group ISIS. We escaped once ISIS entered Sinjar, before they got to our village. So many people who didn’t have cars were walking and were captured by ISIS. A military group has withdrawn, therefore, the Yazidi men had fight and defend their families and the people till they get to the mountain.

We ran to the mountain and stayed there for 8 days and left on the 9th day. On the mountain, the trees and the rocks were our shelter. We had no food to eat or water to drink. Children and mothers were crying. But if it wasn’t for the strength of the Yazidis, we would have all been dead. On the road to the mountain stayed a group of Yazidi men to protect those on the mountain and stop ISIS from reaching to them.

We walked for 12 hours till we reached the Syrian borders. We kept on walking, leaving Sinjar behind with tears in our eyes, escaping death and fear. From Syria we to Kurdistan where they welcomed us there warmly knew the hardships that we went through.

I met road to success Roads of Success staff in our camp. They opened the door of hope in front of me through TOT as I joined mentorship program is the beginning to overcome my psychological distress .The new challenge is that I must learn English language and that’s what I was provided by ROS through the Tech over Trauma program and I have a language so that the program helped me to enroll at the University of Liberty in the United States where I was one of the students who learned through the Internet provided by ROS to us in the camps.

This step supported me to be accepted at the college in electronic journalism department to be a journalist to raise the voice of my oppressed people and my broken homeland so I decided to work hard and read and learn to be an educated and qualified person for this task.

By Chelsey Gonzalez