The population of Iraq has suffered from decades of conflict, resulting in humanitarian catastrophes and a disproportionately large number of orphans. Under the leadership of His Eminence Sheikh Bashir Husain Al Najafi and his foundation, Al Anwar Al Najafiyah, visitors of Amir Al Moโmineen in the Holy City of Najaf commenced humanitarian work to uplift the residents of the city and Iraq in genera
l. The activities over the last decade have included food distribution, medical aid, clothing, blankets, and even gifts. The longterm solution for the elimination of poverty is the education of the population, which has largely been neglected for many years. Thus, the Dar Al Zahra School was formed in 2009 under Al Anwar Al Najafiyah to cater to the needs of orphans in and around the Holy City of Najaf. Initially, the school was located in a commercial area in the old city and catered to 200 students, many of whom were orphans. Education experts from the Najaf and Kufa University were consulted in setting up the school, which served levels KG to Grade 2. As the students grew along with new enrollments, Dar Al Zahra School moved to a bigger campus in 2011 to an area designated to Al Anwar Al Najafiyeh in the new city for educational institutions. Here, the school has been catering to over 500 orphans from Grade 1 to 6. With the success of the Dar Al Zahra School and growing demand from the local population, a new state-of-the-art, multi-purpose campus was planned in 2014. Located adjacent to the existing school, the new campus will take Dar Al Zahra School to new heights as it aims to serve a student population of 1,500 โ doubling its current capacity โ with a goal to be the best primary school in the Republic of Iraq. The new campus is now completed and students will move to their new home in February this year.
