The roof of the medical point at all-Twaheen, Cadmus, has been leaking inside the building, which damaged both the medical equipment and furniture and offered an unpleasant view, depressing the morale of both staff and patients and causing respiratory and pulmonary diseases.
After the local community reported the problem, an FGD was conducted by ORVs, from which emerged the idea of insulating the roof. After obtaining the approval of the UNHCR and the concerned government agencies, the required materials were procured and delivered to the self-managing group who mobilized the local community.
Work started on 01/08 and finished on 19/08/2018. After cleaning up the roof, burlap sheets and asphalt were spread all over it, especially into the cracks.
The number of beneficiaries reached about 10,000 children, men and women from both host and displaced communities. The following table gives the precise figures disaggregated by age and gender:

In order to enhance the confidence of women in themselves and their ability to help their families and help others, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) in Rural Damascus, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized a community-based initiative under the title "we stand together ”.

The initiative, which was proposed by a group of mothers and elderly people who attend the activities of " Bet Al-Weam" community center within “ our ancient gold “ and “ hear my heart” groups, aims to manufacture clean and Healthy food which can be used for a long period of time (apricot jam - Cheese and sour cream - pickles - grapes leaves) , with the cooperation of the group who proposed the initiative among themselves and and the participation of a group of newly displaced women in the region , and distributing some portions to the families of the new immigrants from the region of Ghouta to the region of Jaramana using the help of SSSD monitoring of the targeted area , which contributed to strengthening bonds of love , spirit of partnership and teamwork among women by sharing their experiences during the implementation .

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 Al Hameh under the title “Road signs” .
The initiative, which was implemented by a group of the local community , with the help of the Child Protection Club at “ Al salam “ Community Center in Al Hameh , aims to install 25 road signs that contribute to guide the new IDPS to the important service centers in the area (the Municipality , the medical center , schools for different ages , the main street , the main square , Commercial market , town neighborhoods , charity associations ) , in addition to setting up guidance signs at dangerous turns to protect drivers and pedestrians from traffic accidents .

Ramadan breakfast tables, organized between SSSD and the local community at Arabesque Community Center.

Because Ramadan is the month of good and gathering of people, we had the idea of "Ramadan gathers us" events. The team of SSSD, in collaboration with the (UNHCR) office and by networking with people from the local community, prepared Ramadan breakfasts in Arabesque Community Center in Aleppo. The breakfasts gathered more than 1200 people. They were distributed on eight Fridays’ evenings that included family discussion about Ramadan and Eid rituals, a series of topics from the society provided by theater aims to support the families and to the community cohesion and in the region.

These breakfasts, with the help of young people from the region, returned to the people’s minds the gathering of large families. they expressed their joy as they said:
- Happiness is often a door open to the laughter of children, thank you because you shook the war’s dust and helped us to see the beauty of life.
-I haven’t felt the family gathering in the last five years, but today with you, I felt as if I’m in my house in the days of Ramadan before the crisis.
- We loved the way you welcomed us, and the play reminded us of our beloved people who are now far away.
- I was not able to get a breakfast like this for my children, and now I’m happy because they ate and had a good time.
- I feel like god have made my dream come true, I had a dram of sitting with you in some restaurant and feed you with my hand, and today my dream came true.
- I felt I’m in some European restaurant. I didn’t even imagen of sitting in a regular local one.
- thank you for shaking our fears and making us have the best time, God bless you. We feel like you’re family to us.
- Today, I had the time of my life, I did not expect to have this much fun, my children also had a lot of fun here. We felt like we are all a one big family.
- Thank you for taking the time to do this. You entered the joy to Kadi Askar and Bab Al Hadeed areas.
- I loved everything about today, I hadn’t have this fun sine 30 years.
One kid said “I saw these things on television before but I thought they were acting, I had the time of my life today, and it is real”.
-another kid said: “I haven’t had barbecue a long time a g. today I had them and they were delicious. I’m so happy”.
-One man said: “ the young people in the center are teaching us the meaning of volunteering and cooperation, you encouraged us to do and dream of stuff we didn’t think we could do them”.
-Another man said: “we felt the spirit of love and care we haven’t felt since the war began”.
-“thank your Arabesque center for all the things you’re doing, you’re developing the talents of children, adults and all ages"
-The people even mad a short song by saying: we had our breakfast, it was delusions. We even gave some to the neighbors. We had Eid cloths, and Ramadan gathers us.”

Based on our belief in safeguarding traditional trades by transmitting the lore to younger generations, thereby protecting the latter from unemployment, the SSSD team in Tartous, in cooperation with UNHCR, organized a CBI entitled Our Trades.
The initiative aimed to teach young men and women of the village of Shandakha the craft of soap handmaking with laurel berry oil. The idea was twofold: on the one hand, old craftsmen would transmit their knowhow to the young; and, by marketing the products at reasonable prices at the “Homemade Market,” people of the area would be protected against the monopoly of laurel oil exercised by some outsider tradespeople, on the other. In fact, the “Homemade Market” is one of SSSD’s decentralized projects aiming to secure a free place to display and sell products of the CBI. Beforehand, of course, young apprentices should follow a training course on the basics of project management and marketing.
The revenues of this initiative, which was completed on 7/2/2018, will be used to fit out a community space in the village of Shandakha, which is to become the villagers’ communal hall to meet and hold various social events.

Hygiene is a mark of civilization, its absence a threat to human health. That is why the team of the Syrian Society for social Development (SSSD) in Tartous, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized a community-based initiative entitled Rass al-Nabe‘ Suspension Bridge clean-up.
The CBI consisted in eradicating the reed stalks that used to grow in profusion on both sides of the bridge, as the spot was infested with rodents and insects. It was also “infested” with few voyeurs who caused serious embarrassment for girls and women on their way to their schools and jobs. The CBI consisted in strengthening the metal railings on the bridge edges and the maintenance of its lighting equipment.
The initiative was implemented in cooperation with the residents of the area. 20,000 people benefited from it, including 3,000 IDPs, and was completed on 17/12/2017.

The Syrian Society for Social Development firmly believes in community participation and, hence, in the importance of safe spaces for holding social activities. Consequently, SSSD’s team in Tartous, in cooperation with the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized a community-based initiative entitled Fitting out a community-friendly space in Taleen.
Most villagers took part in the implementation of the CBI which aimed, thanks to the villagers’ collective efforts, to provide the already established community-friendly space with new tables and to repaint the walls with a special thermal insulating coat to prevent mould and damp. As a result, Taleen has now a safe and healthy community-friendly place where villagers can hold their various social activities.
Completed on 20/12/2017, the initiative benefited all villagers, i.e., 2,500 people, 200 of whom are returnees.

As public safety, especially of the elderly, children and people with specific needs, is a priority, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) in Tartous, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized in Banias a community-based initiative entitled Rehabilitation of the Bus Station Pedestrian Bridge.

This bridge is a vital artery linking the southern part of the city to the Bus Station, thus saving people about 2-km foot walking from residential areas to the Station. A team from the local community participated in carrying out the initiative by installing safety metal railings on both sides of the bridge and repainting the whole metal structure.

Completed on 21/2/2018, the CBI benefited about 9,500 people who live in the southern part of the city which is adjacent to the Bus Station.

As infrastructure upgrade contributes to developing productivity and improving profitability, the SSSD team in Tartous, in cooperation with UNHCR, launched a CBI entitled Rehabilitation of the Khirbet al-Sanasel Road.
This off-road connects farmlands between two neighbouring villages. As it used to be unpaved, it was extremely hard for owners of lands on both its sides to access their own lands, bring over the necessary raw materials or transfer the crops to the city. Therefore, most villagers—farmers in particular—took part in the implementation of the CBI. Gravel was spread all over and subsequently rolled, thus turning the wild, dirty road into a passable one for cars and trucks.
The initiative, which was completed on 11/12/2017, benefited about 1,800 low-income people of both local and IDP communities.

This youth initiative was launched by a group of engineering faculties’ graduates and undergraduate students (in electricity, mechanics, electronics and computer science), with support from the SSSD team in Banias and UNHCR.
The initiative aimed to convey notions of applied popular science by executing some simple technical applications. It targeted all schoolchildren in Banias and its rural areas, especially children who showed keen interest and are skilled in electromechanical device making, so they could demonstrate their talents.
A final exhibition of the students’ models was held at the Cultural Centre in Banias on 27-28 December 2017 as a result of a three-month arduous training.