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A Community Initiative to Make Wooden Beds for Newborns

In an effort to help the local community solve its problems, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) team, in cooperation with UNHCR, implemented an initiative to make wooden beds for newborns as part of the Community Initiatives Programme at the Amal Community Center - Hay Al-Fardoss, Aleppo.

The initiative aimed at protecting newborns from rodent harm, reducing the community’s financial costs due to the increase in prices, and minimizing the accumulated costs of having children.

During the initiative, wood was cut according to the agreed lengths, and then assembled to make beds. Later on, mattresses were made, and the complete beds were distributed to pregnant women and newborns.

A number of carpenters from the local community participated in the implementation of the initiative, as well as some beneficiaries of the Livelihood Tool-kit Programme. In addition, a number of Hear-My-Heart women participated in making mattresses for each bed. The total number of the initiative’s beneficiaries was about 56 families.

In conclusion, the interaction was positive and significant during the initiative, whereby the carpenters showed great enthusiasm during the working days. One of them said: “Your initiative is bringing us back the hope of our country to heal and recover from the crisis. I am proud to be with you and participate.”

Also, one of the women said during the distribution of beds: "Al-Hamdou Lillah, thanks to God, and thanks to your beds, my children are now protected from rodents that filled our house and made us worried."

 

We Will Make It, No Matter What

Here is a real-life story of a young girl, Shahed Zuhair Othman, a 15- year-old, coming from a big family, three sisters, three brothers and the parents.

 The family had to flee to Al-Boubiyeh village for one year due to force majeure in Al-Hader village, the family’s home town.

 Harsh circumstances negatively affected Shahed and she dropped out of school for two years. 
The outreach volunteers attached to the Syrian Society for Social Development introduced the offered services to Shahed and she decided to visit Al-Hader Satellite Center to get to know all the programs. 
The facilitators closely observed Shahed during the educational classes and noticed her poor mental wellbeing and her fear about her educational future, until one day their efforts started to pay off, when the Geometry facilitator asked the students to assist him in solving a geometric problem.

 Shahed seemed hesitant, she raised her hand and then backed off, but the facilitator kept encouraging her, until she was able to recall some of the related rules. “I never thought I would be able to recall very old stuff,’’ she happily said.

 
Later on, in one of the Arabic language classes, Shahed read aloud a poem and the facilitator was impressed. “Each day I read aloud several lines of poetry at home; I am practicing to regain my skill,” Shahed proudly commented.

 
As for the French language, the facilitator noticed that the children showed lack of interest due to the absence of qualified language specialists; nonetheless, the children gradually showed substantial improvement, particularly, Shahed who was among the top students in the language, encouraging her classmates and assisting them in learning.

 
The improvements of Shahed’s emotional wellbeing and educational level were great milestones; however, passing the national exam of the ninth grade was a cornerstone that made her and everyone else proud and happy.

 She received a total mark of 165 and 18 in French.

 
Shahed is still determined to build up her educational reservoir, up-to-date she does not get bored of visiting Al-Hader center.

 

UNHCR

Overcome Obstacles

Marah, Mohammed, Farah, and Ahmed are siblings aged 19,18, 17 and 15. Their close-knit relationship and support are impressive and this manifested when their mother passed away in 2005, the eldest sibling Marah was only 6 years and the youngest, Ahmed, was 2 years; the mother’s death prompted them to stick together sharing responsibilities, the girls handled house chores and the boys worked with their father in his sewing workshop, which was located in their temporary home during years of the Syrian Crisis.

Currently, they returned to their permanent residence in an area called Telephone Hawaai. 
After some time has passed, their father got married to another woman and she gave birth to two children, Ali and Alia.

In addition to the huge responsibilities of the older siblings, they had to take care of their new siblings. The crisis had its toll on Aleppo City and the four siblings had to drop out of school, Marah, Mohammed, Farah and Ahmed quit when they were in the eighth, seventh, sixth and fifth grades respectively.

Their father did not believe in the importance of education, he himself had dropped out of school at the age of 12 dedicating his entire life to sewing works. 
One day, the mobile team attached to Al- Beit Beitak Community Center visited the family, where the kids expressed their interest to sit for the exam of the basic education certificate and the father showed no objection.

Tough circumstances and the siblings’ weak educational levels did not stop them from pursuing their dream, they regularly attended the educational sessions and relentlessly worked on developing their skills in preparation for the exam, they became idols of hard work and determination among their peers. 
During Math class, Mohmmed asked the facilitator to study at the center for long hours after the classes, in preparation for the exam, and the center’s team responded to his request.

Marah expressed her gratitude, “Here our focus level is better than home and we can directly inquire about things we do not understand.” 
Summoning all their awareness and strength capacities, the four siblings exerted their utmost efforts; however, with the harsh circumstances, only Rama managed to pass the exam, while the other siblings acquired diversified skills in analysis, drawing conclusions, reading and writing, school and education discipline. 
“Not a problem at all, Marah’s success is our success, next year we’ll sit for the national exam of the ninth grade, we will commit to classes in the center, if this won’t drive you bored.” Those were the words of the ambitious adolescent, Ahmed, reflecting strong will, high self-confidence, and resilience.

 

Questscope

Activity for school drop- outs children

Working on reintegrating school drop- outs, the Syrian Society for Social Development conducted educational activities. introducing children to Arabic grammar rules.


The activities were held at Amal Community Center, Aleppo City in cooperation with the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). One of the activities revolved around demonstrative pronouns. The children learned this, that and their plural forms through handcrafts.


One child commented: “I was so happy today learning the demonstrative pronouns, learning something new was fun.”
Another child said, “I recall learning the demonstrative pronouns when I was in the second grade, but luckily your way is much easier”

 

Together We are More Beautiful Event - World Autism Day

An idea that has been alive in our hearts for a long period of time and later came to life as a campaign that included awareness sessions for all age groups, elaborating on autism disorder.
Concluding the campaign, the sun shone brightly on an event held on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day. “Together we are More Beautiful Event was jointly held by the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) and the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).


Al-Fourqa Al-Nouhasiyyeh and SSSD’s Choir launched the celebration and then children with special needs along with their parents, enrolled in SSSD’s programs, friendship groups and Home-Based Rehabilitation Programs, performed different shows (dancing, singing, acting, musical performance). During the shows the organizers conducted some contests and distributed rewards. The event was concluded by a special joyful song. Along with the organizers were the children of the child protection club attached to SSSD.


Here are some comments by the parents of the children:


“When I came back home, my son was so happy, I did not have to give him a tranquilizer, he quickly fell asleep.”
I was so surprised to see my shy child dancing; I find myself speechless to express my happiness; this day is a positive sign that good times are awaiting my child and I.”


“I was so touched watching the theater scene, tears fell down my cheeks remembering how the community used to reject my daughter. Had not have I been at the Syrian Society for Social Development in Aleppo, my daughter would have been living in isolation at home.”


“My daughter came back home and kept talking to her father about the celebration, how she danced and all the things she was involved in. I felt a lot of support today; in the past, I felt I was abandoned.”



“It is the first time I see my son happy and I see someone taking care of him. In the past, he was bullied and was subject to harsh words.”

“I love the way you take care of children, the very young ones and the older ones, even though there was large number of people, but you were always smiling and understanding.”

 

We Walked Together

Out of the belief that every beginning comes to an end and drawing on the importance of conveying the idea to the beneficiaries pertaining closing down some of the centers attached to the Syrian Society for Social Development, SSSD team in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized an event titled “We Walked Together” as a closing ceremony to Al- Mahatah Center for Temporary Care.


The event included diversified shows: a musical performance by Al-Fourqa Al-Nouhasiyyeh, theatre scenes, expressionist and Western dance shows, mental calculations, and some songs. The shows were performed by more than 100 children from the child friendly space at the Al-Mahatah Center.


As part of the closing plan of the center, the team conducted children sessions and activities, asserting the importance of flexibility, adjustment and acceptance of life changes. Concluding the sessions and activities, the team distributed letters of appreciation and thank you notes to the children.


Some of the comments made by the children:
“We trained a lot and exerted huge efforts; today we are proud of ourselves, offering the best and conveying our message to the community.”
“Joining this center, we learnt on day one that cooperation is the foundation of getting anything done, it is the foundation of success. Today at the event this was visible.”
“We are beginning to accept the fact that our trip together is coming to an end. We promise you that we will be successful and distinguished in every aspect of our lives.”

 

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