The sun-drenched ruins of destroyed Yezidi mausoleums and libraries in Bashiqa cast long shadows on the ground as Ghalia Sliman, alongside her family, stepped once more onto the land they called home.

The year was 2017, and the terrors and turmoil of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) occupation, although ceased, still haunted the remnants of their once-bustling town. Amidst the skeletal frameworks of wrecked homes and dreams, a flutter of resilience flickered in 11-year-old Ghalia’s eyes.

In a heart-wrenching flashback, 8-year-old Ghalia’s world collapsed in 2014 when ISIS insidiously enveloped Bashiqa. Despair, displacement, and loss were compounded when her father died from a heart attack as the family fled. Ghalia’s family initially sought refuge in the historic Lalish temple, some 50 miles north of Bashiqa, and later, in the temporary shelters of Sheikhan camp.

As Ghalia walked through Bashiqa once again, she felt determined to build a brighter future for herself and her family. Education, once abruptly halted, resumed its role in Ghalia's life.

Alongside her oldest sister, they took on jobs to support their family while striving to excel academically. But her aspirations soared beyond textbooks and classrooms. Ghalia's thirst for knowledge and a desire to improve her soft skills led her to seek out opportunities for personal growth.

In June 2023, she was selected to participate in the Positive Youth Development (PYD) training program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported Shared Future project, which illuminates paths for Iraqi youth, fostering trust amongst diverse ethnic and religious groups and empowering them to sprout businesses from the seeds of their potential.

Through the training program, Ghalia discovered ways to manage her time more effectively, protect herself in the digital world, and cultivate a positive mindset amidst challenges. “I used to click on any link I received, but now I know that I should not do that before checking if it is safe or not,” said Ghalia. By August 2023, Ghalia, now 17, took part in a nine-day training activity focusing on topics like self-control, forming new habits, active listening, empathy, resilience, and dignified communication.

“I learned how to dismiss the negative thoughts that I used to have,” Ghalia shared with newfound confidence, “The habits session helped me in having only positive thoughts.” Following the training, Ghalia and a team of other local young women received a generous grant of $2,500 from USAID to realize a community service project to install solar-powered lights in town, promoting safety in an environmentally-friendly way.

Starting in October, the two main parks of Bashiqa were bathed in the soft glow of 39 solar-powered LED lamps once the sun went down. Ghalia’s community, once veiled in darkness, is now lit up, helping residents feel safer when moving about at night. “I feel that I am empowered,” Ghalia confided, eyes reflecting the lights that now shone brightly in Bashiqa, “and it is deeply rewarding to etch a positive mark upon the heart of my hometown.”

In Ghalia’s journey from the anguish of a troubled past to becoming a beacon of hope and empowerment, USAID’s Shared Future project is helping diverse youth impacted by displacement return home and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.