Vejin organization promotes Kurdish language learning in Merîwan

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Vejin Cultural and Artistic Center continues its annual tradition of fostering Kurdish language education among children and youth in Merîwan.

This summer, participants had the opportunity to learn various Kurdish dialects, including Kurmanji (Badini), Kalhori, Sorani, and Hawrami.

Beyond language instruction, these courses also introduce participants to Kurdistan's rich history and geography, fostering a deeper connection to their cultural heritage.

Sami Amini, a course participant, shared, "Everyone in my family spoke Kurdish, so I came to participate in the course to learn my mother tongue."

Bayan Rajabi, a Kurdish language teacher, expressed delight at the increased participation from diverse age groups and backgrounds. "It's a pleasure to see the growing interest in learning both Hawrami and Sorani dialects," Rajabi said.

While Merîwan's inhabitants primarily speak Lower Kurdish and Hawrami, Vejin Center has thoughtfully expanded its offerings to include classes in other Kurdish dialects, catering to the diverse linguistic interests of the community.

Sarkawt Watandust, another participant, explained his motivation for joining the course: "I have been participating for two months because I listen to Kurdish music and songs a lot. Understanding the Kurdish dialects was important to me."

Vejin's managers have observed a significant surge in interest in Kurdish language courses over the past two years. Even Kurds residing in central Iranian cities are requesting online language courses for their children.

Kurdish language teacher Farhad Raush noted, "After the Zhina demonstrations, some citizens have increased their enthusiasm to learn their mother tongue and dialects. This is why Kurds living in Tehran and other parts of Iran are asking us to open online language courses. This indicates a strong desire among many Kurdish citizens in different regions to learn and preserve their mother tongue and keep the original Kurdish national culture alive."

Vejin Cultural and Artistic Center, a non-governmental volunteer-based entity, has been instrumental in promoting Kurdish language education and has also made significant strides in digitizing Kurdish texts, contributing to the preservation and accessibility of Kurdish cultural heritage.