Gender-based violence threatens women and girls as well as men and boys all over the world, thus, preventing the creation of a safe environment. Mitigating this risk will be achieved through raising awareness and engaging men and boys in activities to combat violence against women and girls. in order to lead a life full of love and understanding and to achieve equal opportunities for both parties.

Based on the request of the women of the local community to talk with men about the issue of violence, its effects and risks, the Syrian Society for Social Development in cooperation with United Nation Population Fund implemented an activity for men entitled “Stronger Together” at the Safe Space for Women’s Support in the Aran area in the countryside of Aleppo

The activity included a presentation of an acting scene explaining the importance of a man helping his wife to raise children and reduce household burdens and work on the land, in addition to clarifying the causes, factors and effects of violence.

The session contributed to strengthening the responsibility men feel towards women, so that they would be able to create a space of support and safety for them, and to stand by them in all of the different areas of their lives. At the end of the session, the attendees expressed their following thoughts:

"With a sweet, little word and a some act of help, we can actually support our wives and make them feel less tired for a change.’’

“No matter how difficult the circumstances are, violence has no justification, and we must respect women and confront these outdated customs and traditions and kiss them goodbye.”

With every seed that we planted, we sowed love.We were happy like little children while we were planting and we will continue the journey so that we can always benefit the people of the area.” This was expressed by one of the women who participated in the initiative to grow vegetables at home, which was held in the village of Al Wadhihi in Aleppo.

In an atmosphere full of joy, 16 women and children from the local community participated in planting a variety of vegetables in the home gardens of 75 families of displaced and returnees, with the aim of securing healthy food for these families.

 Moreover, this was done with the intent to benefit and make use of the large household spaces in the village and providing children with a culture of caring for the land and raising the standard of their health.

This community initiative was carried out in cooperation between the Syrian Society for Social Development and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Because children need a healthy body to help them grow properly during their different life stages, the Syrian Society for Social Development, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have implemented a series of joint sessions between the home rehabilitation program for people with disabilities and the health point in the Al Hader community space.

The sessions targeted caregivers and their children, and included a theatrical performance and interactive games directed at developing motor activities and encouraging independence.

During the sessions, emphasis was placed on the need to take care of public health, and attention to personal hygiene (teeth, nails and hair), in addition to taking care of good nutrition and adequate sleep for parents and children. The concept of reproductive health for mothers and the importance of breastfeeding the child was also clarified.

In the end, a set of simple tools were distributed that can help parents as well as children lead a healthy life. One of the children expressed his thoughts, saying: "I will take care of my hygiene more in order for my body to become better and healthier."

With the aim of raising the awareness of young people about the thinking process that they need at this age, and introducing them to how to use the six thinking patterns to deal with life events, such as the use of neutral thinking when dealing with conflicts, creative thinking when creating new things, and emotional thinking to stimulate good communication.

The psychosocial support team conducted a session entitled (The Six Thinking Hats) at the Mosaic Community Center in Aleppo, in cooperation between the Syrian Society for Social Development and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

During the session, a variety of activities were applied for each type of thinking, such as competitions, theatrical performances, telling an imaginary story, and embodying a silent painting by young people.

The interaction was reported as very large within the session, as the adolescents expressed their thoughts, saying:

“I was glad that I got to know the patterns of thinking, and I want to start to pay attention to make a balance between neutral, critical and emotional thinking, because as I now think of my personality and how it must seem to others, I think I’m seen as biased and cruel.”

"I was having fun while I was getting to know the patterns of thinking. I always thought that I loved being creative, but it was the first time I learned how."

After the end of the session, the parents of the young people expressed the positive change they witnessed in their children, which motivated the rest of the parents to send their children to attend these sessions.

Aiming at facilitating the movement of persons with special needs across faculties and education centers in Aleppo University, a group of youths volunteered to install 35 cement ramps.

The youth-led initiative (YLI) was supervised by the volunteers of the Syrian Society for Social Development and funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The 10 youths were from Aleppo City and formed a self-managed group, 4 of them were experienced in calculating the dimensions and degrees of the ramps and determining their locations, while the rest were experienced in building up the ramps.

The YLI aimed at encouraging students with special needs to carry on with their higher education, improve their lifestyle, and make them feel the care and support of the community.

The administrative staff of Aleppo University was very cooperative. The target students expressed their gratitude for the initiative. “From now on, I can easily move around campus without worrying about any difficulties and without asking anyone for help. I can go up the stairs on my own. I can carry on with my education without worrying about my whereabouts,” as put by one of the special needs students.