"From now on, I will make time to take care of myself. I will revert to beneficial things and keep away from social media."

"I am so happy to be part of this initiative; it introduced me to mature people coming from different age groups, their experience made me realize that there are beneficial things to enjoy, other than social media channels."

"This initiative stressed the importance of continuous communication with our kids to ensure they do not use cell phones for long periods of time."

The above-mentioned comments were made by the women and girls who attended awareness raising initiatives throughout the community centers attached to the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) during September, namely, Shams Center in Al Shaar, Arabesque Center in Bab Hadeed, Amal Center in Al Fardos, Mosaic Center in Al- Asharfiyyeh, Sada Satellite Center in Sakhour, Al-Hader Satellite Center in Rural Aleppo.

The initiative "Use me Safely" was launched by women committees who actively attracted the largest possible number of females from all age groups, with the aim to raise their awareness levels about the negative effects of the overuse of social media channels, especially domestic violence.

Based on community assessments, the women committees plan to launch a complementary initiative to train females on handicrafts, namely, wool knitting (incorporating beads and making flowers). Handicrafts would help them invest their free-time in beneficial things and keep them away social media.

Here are comments made by two women from the women committees:
"The upcoming initiative, wool knitting training next month, is very important. It will occupy the free-time of girls and women to learn something beneficial."
"We worked on attracting new females to ensure the wide spread of awareness among people. The success of this initiative motivates us to launch more initiatives."

Out of the belief that art is an international language every human being can speak, taste, and enjoy, the Syrian Society for Social Development, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees organized an exhibition "Made with Care and Love" in the Gallery of Fine Arts, Aleppo.

The exhibition showed the paintings and pieces of handicrafts made by beneficiaries as part of the summer club activity-series, with the hope of encouraging them to grow their artistic skills. The team responsible for child protection program selected the best pieces to be displayed in the exhibition. A large number of beneficiaries from all the centers throughout Aleppo City and Rural Aleppo showed their pieces of art in the exhibition and around 1100 people attended the exhibition (men, women, children, and adolescents).

Many beneficiaries were happy to share their feelings with us:
"A dream is one step away!"
"I am in the process of realizing my dream."
"Nothing is more beautiful than art."
"When you nurture and support a kid, he/she makes beautiful things."

The children parents also expressed their sense of pride for seeing their kids' pieces of art displayed in the exhibition.

"Oh guests coming from the distance. Your visit is sweeter than the nights of Eid."
"A warm welcome! Had we known earlier of your visit, we would have spread flowers all over the place."

With these beautiful sing hymns, the women from Beit Al Eila welcomed the women from Shams Community Center offering them flowers.

Aiming at reviving the spirit of friendship and strengthening social bonds among people coming from different backgrounds, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organized a gathering for 30 women to celebrate the occasion of International Friendship Day.

The gathering included some singing, contests, and group games. Further, the women from Shams Center prepared and offered Tabuleh Halabia and Wark Enab, sharing its recipe with other women who loved the food.

The gathering was concluded by taking a group photo, which of women held hands to symbolize friendship and solidarity, with the hope of enjoying more upcoming gatherings.

A glimpse of the comments the women made means the world to SSSD team:
"I was so happy, I felt I was close to others and there is still goodness among people."
"Jazakum Allah Khair. On your joyful days, I will be there for you."
"You revived the old good days we have been missing. I hope you would organize more gatherings."

Aiming at increasing the educational and general knowledge of children, the Syrian Society for Social Development conducted an activity about water pollution, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at Amal Community Center in Al Fardos Neighborhood, Aleppo City.
The activity included some handicrafts manifesting the water pollution problem in a miniature and realistic way, encouraging children to propose solutions.

"When I grow old, I want to be an environmental engineer, so that I keep nature and water free of pollutants and thus the world would be sustainable," one child enthusiastically said toward the end of the activity.