The Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) organized an event in Nabd Center, Salkhad celebrating World Autism Awareness Day, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The event was organized as a closing ceremony to a series of awareness sessions for adolescents conducted throughout schools, in cooperation with the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor, As-Suwayda, and the Sports National Union, Salkhad.
The event included: a play shedding light on the most common traits of autistic children and the proper ways of dealing with them; a choir performing several songs about the aspirations of autistic children. Concluding the event, the parents and their special needs children made big kites and drew autism logos on them, and then the children stood up forming a train shape and releasing their kites up in the sky.
Observing the facial expressions of the parents of children with special needs, the team sensed an inclination toward more acceptance, comfort and positive reception.
Number of Beneficiaries: 150 (children and their parents)

With “small steps” and eyes gleaming with hope, the children filled the ceremonial halls in the governorates of Damascus, Sweida, Aleppo, Hama, Tartous, Homs and Hasakeh, where the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) is carrying out its activities. And with joyful voices, they sang the slogan of the Rights of the Child Campaign, which was carried out throughout November:
My rights are many,
but with one small step
I own myself…
and them in the process!
The campaign included a variety of activities targeting children, adolescents and caregivers. It aimed at raising awareness about the rights of the child and the importance of all children’s access to them, and was concluded with a number of events to celebrate World Children’s Day.
During the events, the children presented artistic performances that emphasized the rights of the child, provided for in the 1989 UN Convention, and highlighted the causes of children’s exposure to risks, such as child labor, school dropout and even delinquency. These causes include not only depriving the child of care in general and family care in particular, but also neglecting and marginalizing children during childhood and other growth stages, which negatively affects them, and then the community as a whole.
The children’s interaction with the events’ activities and artistic performances was truly remarkable. Making use of their various talents, they were able to convey the message to their peers, as well as to their parents, teachers and other groups that attended. The Small Steps Campaign and Events constituted a strong step towards achieving a safe and healthy childhood and a new space for children—provided by SSSD in cooperation with the UNHCR.