Baghdede launches Syriac language course and youth activities to preserve heritage and identity

BAGHDEDE, Iraq — In a continued effort to preserve the Syriac language as a living mother tongue and to strengthen cultural identity, the local committee in the Nineveh Plains town of Baghdede (Qaraqosh), in cooperation with the Education Foundation, launched a beginner-level Syriac language course named in honor of martyrs Zuhair and Louay.

The course will be held at the local committee’s headquarters twice a week, with each session lasting one hour. A total of 26 participants have enrolled in the program. The opening session began with a moment of silence in remembrance of the martyrs of the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo d’Bethnahrin, MUB), the victims of the Al-Kut fire tragedy, and the martyrs of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people.

During the session, the Education Official highlighted the significance of such courses, especially amid a renewed interest in reviving the Syriac language and appreciating its rich spiritual, cultural, and literary legacy. He encouraged participants to remain committed to learning their ancestral language as a means of reconnecting with their roots and preserving their spiritual and social identity.

Volunteer instructors Salah Sarkis and Hazem Daaboul underscored the importance of regular attendance, active participation, and completing assignments to gain the most from the course.

In related news, the Beth Nahrin Youth organized a recreational trip to the Bndwaya Resort in Nineveh. The event brought together young people from Nineveh, Arba’ilo (Erbil), and Nohadra (Dohuk) in a joyful and fraternal atmosphere.

The outing included various entertainment activities, cultural competitions, and performances of national and folk songs that celebrated both Syriac and Iraqi identity.