In spring 2023, the documentary Daughters of the Sun by Reber Dosky shed light on the struggles of young Yazidi women rebuilding their lives after being abducted by ISIS. After watching it, educator Margaret connected with survivor Faiza, who shared that education was their greatest challenge. Determined to help, Margaret traveled to Kurdistan in May 2023 with filmmaker Reber Dosky and Soroptimist member Angela Smits to gain permission to teach and live in Mam Rashan IDP Camp. Her goal was to teach English, computer skills, and bring music to the camps. Upon their return, Yazidi@School was officially registered as an NGO in the Netherlands in August 2023, initiated by Carla van Os.

Despite limited resources, Margaret launched a pilot program that September, teaching camp staff and teenagers with little more than a suitcase of teaching materials and flutes. It soon became clear that in-person teaching across 14 Yazidi camps would require large-scale infrastructure, so after three months, the program transitioned online. In March 2024, Yazidi@School officially began offering free online English lessons, with volunteer teachers joining from around the world.

Today, volunteers teach over four hours weekly, from A1 to C2 levels. Many students are young adults, including college students and teachers living in camps. The program helps bridge the education gap left by the 2014 genocide, building communication skills through structured lessons and meaningful reading.

Yazidi@School continues to grow—welcoming more volunteer teachers and resources to expand its reach. Through consistent, compassionate education, we aim to empower Yazidis to pursue higher education, careers, and hope for a brighter future.