“I forgot when was the last time I made sweets. Today while I was making sweets at the center, I asked the staff to bring in some flour and ghee, and I felt as if I was talking to my own kids, whom I have not seen for many years. This feeling of joy is priceless!”
The joy of Eid is only complete with the presence of sweets, which bear eid’s spirit and a special symbol among people. SSSD team at Arabesque Community Center coordinated efforts with people from the local community to make sweets for Eid Al-Adha. The community- based initiative was carried out in cooperation with UNHCR to bring joy and happiness to the hearts of the inhabitants of Bab Al-Hadid. One- hundred fifty women and adolescent girls worked for two days to make several types of Eid sweets that were distributed to the families in need, especially the most vulnerable. “Thank you very much for bringing in happiness to our hearts, to our area. Arabesque you are at the core of our hearts.”
Similar to the joy of the people receiving the sweets, the joy of the women and adolescent girls making the sweets was overwhelming: the spirit of cooperation, laughter, folklore songs, and cheers were remarkable.  “This initiative brings in good memories about the long-forgotten gold days.”

In order to increase the safety and protection factors for the families in Shat-ha, the Syrian Society for Social Development team in cooperation with the UNHCR organized a community initiative entitled "Shat-ha Leishmania pest control CLI”.
During the FGDs, the urgent need to control the insect pest that caused leishmania was observed. It requires spraying of the insecticide in an aerosol form. Insecticides are surface pesticides that do not harm human, animal or plant health. Therefore, the people proposed a CLI to spray the places where this insect was collected and to use appropriate pesticides under the supervision of specialists to reduce the spread of this insect, its harmful effects and eliminate its breeding grounds.

In order to increase the safety and protection factors for infants and newborns, the Syrian Society for Social Development, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized a community initiative entitled " my new baby"
The husbands of the pregnant women in the village of Al-Asharnah in Al-Sqailbia cooperated and exchanged experiences in cutting the wood, painting it and then making wooden beds for their babies. The women explained that when their children grow a little, the beds will be presented to another family waiting for a new baby to ensure the continuity of the CBI.

“What an unforgettable trip! It’s the first time in my life I see a place that beautiful!”
With these and other words, the children expressed their happiness with the Children of the Child Protection Club CLI implemented by the Child Protection Club team at the Peace Community Center, al-Hameh, with the support of SSSD and UNHCR.
The activities of the CLI included a recreational trip for more than 100 orphaned children to al-Azem Palace through which the Club’s youngsters introduced the children to the Palace’s wings and history, in addition to various recreational activities.

During our course to develop communities, and restore community unity, driven by our belief in the importance of mutual community mobilization, SSSD team in A-Hosn CC, in cooperation with UNHCR SoH launched “Handicraft skills” CBI aiming to provide knitwear for children, school students, and older persons from both Host and displaced communities, to protect them from winter cold.
Several women from local community who are experienced in knitwear participate in this initiative aiming to produce hats and scarfs for children and students to protect them from rain and cold during school hours, in addition to produce clothes for older persons made of wool to help them get through cold winter.
The women helped provide several types of knitwear to be presented for students and older persons, using pre-made lists organized in cooperation with the dignitaries of the area, to come up to a comprehensive initiative that includes all beneficiaries in-need in local community.

“Cleaning-up Rableh Village’s Streets” CBI - Rableh Village - Al-Qusair Countryside - Homs.
During our course to promote public hygiene concept in society, and the importance of preserving a civil appearance in Rableh village, as well as protecting families – especially children – from the health risks caused by garbage piles, as well as health risks caused by insects that swarm in dirty spaces. SSSD SoH team in Al-Qusair CC, in cooperation with UNHCR SoH, implemented a CBI under the title “Cleaning-up Rableh Streets” in Rableh village, Al-Qusair countryside, Homs.

Over 50 participants from all age groups, and both local and displaced communities, took part in this initiative. Starting by cleaning up the streets, collecting, and disposing all garbage into the landfill. After the cleanup, the participants mowed the grass, and repainted all sidewalks and lighting poles to bring life back to the way it used to be before the crises.

Students and teachers of Rableh schools participated as well in the activities of this initiative motivated by teamwork ethics, and promoting public hygiene as a base of civilized education and morality.

“THEY make up one half of society”—On the basis of this fact, and believing in the crucial role of women, and in order to enhance the community’s participation in finding solutions to their problems and meeting their needs, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) conducted on 03/10/2018 in Rural Damascus, in cooperation with the UNHCR, a community-based initiative (CBI) entitled Wardrobe Making.
The idea of the CBI emerged during a focus group discussion (FGD) session held with women, displaced and heads-of-household, in which they raised the problem of storing clothes in bags after washing them because there were no wardrobes in their homes. In the meantime, clothes had been exposed to wear and mold as a result of rodents and moisture.
20 women participated in the CBI and made 20 wardrobes with the help of beneficiaries of the Vocational Training and Livelihood Toolkits Program. The women’s enthusiasm was remarkable; so was their keen desire to experiment in totally new things. The CBI fostered a spirit of cooperation among women, establishing the skill of dialogue by accepting the different views that were presented regarding work proceedings, not to mention the experience the women gained in woodworking.
Every participant ended possessing a wardrobe for her family, increased her sense of responsibility and confidence in her ability to contribute in supporting her family and, last but not least, felt a great joy when the wardrobe was finished!

Workshop on "Building and Managing CBIs" - Hama and Masyaf.
In order to familiarize Syrian youth with the concept of CBIs, the Syrian Society for Social Development organized a workshop entitled "Building and Managing CBIs" in Hama and Masyaf in cooperation with the UNHCR. The workshop included:

- The concept of society.
- Identification of community needs.
- Community problem solving methodology
- Design and preparation of the CBI.

The workshop was attended by a group of young men and women who have the desire to initiate and solve the problems of their society and to leave a positive impression. The concept of CBIs has been widely recognized and the tools needed to design and manage effective CBI that basically serve the Syrian youth, society and the most vulnerable groups.

Based on our wish to support community-based solutions, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), implemented a community-based initiative under the title “Bus Stops” .
During a Focus group discussion conducted with a group of Al Hameh resident at “ Al salam “ Community Center , the problem of lacking Bus stops in the area was Raised , jeopardizing residents - especially children and elders - of being exposed to Severe weather conditions during their wait of transportation . thus a Community based initiative was suggested to design and install three Bus stops in ( Al khabouri junction , Al Hameh junction and Al-Sekkeh ) , using the experience of local blacksmiths . children of the child protection club in the center contributed also in the CBI activities through helping with the paint work of the Bus stops .