January 30, 2022
News
Rana AbdulRazzaq is a mechanical engineer who graduated from the University of Anbar Mechanical Engineering Department in 2012 in Anbar Governorate. Unfortunately, she had no luck getting employed. She was disappointed trying to find a job in the engineering sector. Nevertheless, Rana always loved her department. She liked solving mathematical problems and also always wanted to teach others. Thanks to the support of Caritas Czech Republic and the UNDP, Rana was able to open a small education centre where she gives private lessons and earns a living.
Rana was able to help herself and the region thanks to Caritas Czech Republic
As she could not find a job, Rana decided to offer private lessons to students in her home to help them improve their academic and learning situations, their understanding of the subjects and lessons, and help them earn their degrees. Yet, this initiative was challenging for Rana, as she was facing a number of obstacles. She was tutoring the students at her home which is quite small. Sometimes, when guests or relatives were visiting her, she felt embarrassed and apologized to the students and could not complete the lesson or even the plan for that day. She also faced other significant problems, including not having seats for the students, a whiteboard, and many other teaching materials.
Rana then she heard from people in the region that Caritas Czech Republic, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, supports small projects and provides them with grants. So she thought she would try her luck again and register for this initiative. She submitted her idea for her project, which was to open an institute or a private place where she could give these private lessons. Her vision for the project was welcomed by Caritas’ staff and got approved, So she started taking the Business Management Training and then got the first part of the grant.
"Thank God, I received the first part of grant and was able to open a private institute in which there are many classes, and I bought chairs and whiteboards and other teaching materials," Rana says.
"The main advantage is that I have also hired other teachers who teach other subjects. I believe that this grant was not intended solely for me. It has been a boon to the teachers and staff of this institute, because they now have a source of income. This initiative has benefited the teachers. Nonetheless, everyone in the region has benefited. Previously, students from the Al-Mohammadi sub-district especially 12th grade students, used to travel to Al-Heet district to take the lessons.”
This is the first project of its kind in Al-Mohammadi sub-district and the residents and people of the area are very happy with this useful initiative for their children.
" I hope to receive the second part of the grant in the coming days and develop this institute and purchase the missing supplies. I thank Caritas Czech Republic and the United Nations Development Programme with all my heart for helping me to achievee my dream, because I hoped to start this project for a long time, but my financial situation did not allow me to do so,” Rana concluded.
The project is implemented by UNDP Iraq in partnership with Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) provided through Kfw Development Bank.
