New Beginnings for Returning Families

This time the focus is Sinjar, a region in north-west Iraq that many of you will recognise as the historic homeland of the Yazidi community. In 2014, ISIS targeted this area with devastating violence, forcing tens of thousands of Yazidi families to flee. Many have lived for years in camps or temporary accommodation, unable to return home. Now, more than a decade later, some families are slowly beginning to come back. Yet they are returning to towns where houses, shops, and infrastructure were destroyed, and where the economic foundations of daily life have almost entirely disappeared.

For families considering return, the question is not only “Is it safe?” but also “Can we survive?”

Without viable livelihoods, returns simply are not sustainable. Regenerating small businesses is therefore absolutely crucial as it enables families to earn an income, restore dignity, and begin rebuilding community life rather than facing repeated cycles of displacement.

Through Mosaic’s partnership with the local organisation Ghasin al Zaiton, work is now underway to renovate a small row of shops in one village in Sinjar. These premises will soon provide the foundations for family-run businesses, offering both income and a visible sign of renewal in a community that has had very little external support.

The selection of shop owners is currently in progress. One participant has already been chosen: a widow with four children to provide for. In post-conflict societies, female-headed households are disproportionately common and often face heightened vulnerability - limited employment opportunities, social barriers, and increased financial pressure. When this is combined with belonging to a minority group, the challenges multiply. Supporting women in these contexts is not only an act of compassion; it is a practical step toward stabilising entire families and strengthening community resilience.

This project is also significant because Mosaic is currently the only organisation actively working in this particular village. Access is extremely difficult. To reach the site, our field officer Naeel recently undertook a 3.5-hour journey, passing through more than 15 checkpoints which almost doubled what should have been the travel time. The remoteness and logistical challenges mean that many agencies simply do not reach this community. In fact, the original planned location for the project was changed after our local partner identified that this village was in even greater need. This decision reflects Mosaic’s commitment to working closely with trusted partners on the ground and responding flexibly as situations evolve, rather than remaining fixed to initial plans when deeper vulnerability becomes clear.

By listening to local insight and being willing to adapt, we are able to reach communities who are not only in acute need but are also harder to access and therefore less likely to receive support from elsewhere. Yet the need here is profound. When even a small project takes root in such a place, its impact is magnified: five shops mean five livelihoods, five families supported, and renewed confidence for others who are wondering whether return is truly possible.

As we begin the season of Lent, this work in Sinjar feels particularly poignant. Lent is not always an easy road, but it is a hopeful one. It is a season that speaks of return from the wilderness: of patience, perseverance, and the quiet renewal that comes after long hardship. In this moment we can pause and remember those who remain displaced, who are navigating protracted seasons of uncertainty, and yet also recognise the hope that can be rekindled when we stand alongside communities and sow seeds of restoration.

In villages like this one in Sinjar, those seeds are beginning to take root.

Thank you, as always, for walking this journey with us.