Under the gracious patronage of the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Sameera Naji Khdim, the Unit for Persons with Special Needs, in cooperation with the Student Activities Division, organized a humanitarian sports carnival under the slogan “When hearts come together… steps begin to move.” The event featured the participation of a distinguished group of heroes with Down syndrome from the Sandi Organization for the Care of Persons with Special Needs, and was held on the college’s sports fields on Monday, 15 December 2025.
The carnival witnessed broad official and community attendance, including representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Head of Student Activities at the University Presidency, as well as a number of department officials at both the university and college levels. The event was also attended by the Assistant Dean for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Salah Khairi Jaber, the Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs, Dr. Nadia Mohammed Jawad, in addition to the college’s staff and female students.
The activities commenced with the playing of the Iraqi national anthem, followed by the presentation of a selection of enthusiastic patriotic songs. This was succeeded by welcoming the heroes with Down syndrome and their families, after which a series of sports and recreational competitions began. The children participated in an atmosphere filled with joy and delight, engaging in various activities such as ball-collecting and running contests. The carnival concluded with the distribution of shields and commemorative gifts to all participating children, affirming the values of encouragement, equality, and inclusion.
The carnival also featured a distinctive symbolic segment in which the children placed their fingerprints on a map of Iraq, a scene that vividly expressed deep national belonging and reinforced the meanings of community participation and human solidarity.
The families of the children expressed their profound gratitude and appreciation for the efforts exerted in organizing this carnival, emphasizing that such initiatives provide an important humanitarian outlet and a genuine opportunity to integrate their children into society, enhance their self-confidence, and promote a culture of support and care for this cherished group.
The events of this exceptional humanitarian day concluded with the taking of commemorative photographs, followed by accompanying the children and their families on a tour of the university’s facilities and the Equestrian Club, in a gesture that reflected the spirit of generosity and social responsibility embraced by the College of Science for Women.
