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ISIS isn’t a new headline I read about a few times a month. Sometimes I wish it was. It’s not something I’ve learned about in a documentary or book any more. It’s real.

Five years. It’s been five years. Five years since the Yazidi genocide perpetrated by ISIS began in Sinjar, Iraq on August 3rd, 2014. In some ways this has felt like the blink of an eye. In some ways it has been.

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.

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.

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.