The Mirzo Institute for Music (MIM) opened last year to aid survivors of the Islamic State (ISIS) group’s genocidal campaign beginning in 2014 with music.
“We want everyone to join these music lessons. We want more women who have been rescued from Daesh to join us in order to forget [the trauma they endured under ISIS]," Amira Barakat, a student in the newest session, told Rudaw on Friday, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
Sixty-five men, women, and children have taken courses taught by three teachers at the center thus far. They have theoretical and practical training three days a week, two hours each.
“It is a great feeling to perform on the tambour [musical instrument]. It feels great to make music while also singing,” Salih Qasim, another student, told Rudaw.
