Winding along dirt roads on the outskirts of Mosul, 34-year-old Ahmad, together with his wife and extended family, awaited a home visit from our training team. Entering a modest house shared by two families, our staff passed chickens roaming freely in the courtyard. The men gathered on simple mats in the living room, while the women welcomed one another in the kitchen.
After exchanging customary greetings, the family shared memories of their time in a refugee camp during the dark years of occupation from 2014 to 2017. Despite those hardships, they spoke with pride about their newly completed home. Where four families once shared just two bedrooms, there are now two houses providing space and dignity for all.
As the conversation turned to the character trainings which our Operation Mercy team run, Ahmad’s wife shared what she had noticed at home. “I see a difference in Ahmad’s life and character,” she said. “He is no longer angry, but more understanding and patient.”
Ahmad himself recalled a lesson on self-discipline that had left a strong impression on him, particularly the importance of punctuality. One evening, after deciding to go to bed early, a friend called to ask for help on his farm. Remembering the lesson on kindness from the previous day’s training, Ahmad chose to get dressed and go. They worked together for four hours, late into the night. His friend later remarked, “I have noticed a difference in your life. The way you speak—you are calmer now.”
The impact of the training extended beyond Ahmad’s own behaviour. He began reconciling broken relationships, starting by calling someone he had treated unfairly to apologize. When he later visited, he was warmly welcomed and his apology was accepted. Next, Ahmad reached out to someone who had mistreated him. The man began to cry, saying, “How can you apologize to me when I am the one who treated you unfairly?”
Ahmad also reconciled with a friend after a conflict that had lasted five months. Soon, others who were struggling with unresolved disputes sought Ahmad’s help to restore their relationships. After one reconciliation, the grateful parties offered Ahmad money for his time, but he refused. Instead, he and his friends now meet every Friday—their weekend—to collect donations for someone in need of medical care.
Ahmad credits these profound changes in his life to the character trainings, which continue to shape not only his relationships, but his role within the wider community.
