Newroz Association in Lebanon marks International Mother Language Day

On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Newroz Cultural and Social Association organized an educational and cultural activity today in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The event was held as part of its ongoing Kurdish language classes for children, emphasizing the importance of preserving the mother tongue as the essence of identity, culture, and belonging.

The activity included a simplified awareness session dedicated to children, highlighting the importance of the Kurdish language as a language of history and collective memory, and its role in preserving and transmitting Kurdish culture across generations. A number of basic Kurdish words were introduced and explained in an interactive atmosphere that strengthened the children’s connection to their mother tongue.

At the conclusion of the event, the children presented an artistic segment expressing their pride in their language. Their voices resonated with Kurdish songs, including the song “Ziman Kurdî,” in a scene that reflected the new generation’s attachment to its language and identity despite all challenges.

The Newroz Cultural and Social Association affirmed that continuing to teach the Kurdish language to children in the diaspora is both a cultural and national responsibility, and a clear message that the Kurdish language will remain alive through the will of its people and their determination to pass it on to future generations.

The association stressed that commemorating International Mother Language Day is not merely a symbolic occasion, but a practical stance affirming that the Kurdish language, despite attempts at marginalization and denial, remains present and deeply rooted in the conscience of its people wherever they may be.

ANHA