Due to widespread spread of COVID-19 in neighboring countries, as well as the high number of infections, and in order to spread awareness among the residents, the Syrian Society for Social Development team, in cooperation with the UNHCR, implemented an initiative to distribute precautionary materials to face the threat of COVID-19 within the Community-Based Initiatives programme. The latter included protective face masks, soap, disinfectants, and awareness brochures at the Farah Community Center in Adra Al-Balad, Rural Damascus.

Neglecting personal hygiene is considered one of the most important health problems that children suffer greatly from. Therefore, an awareness session was implemented on the 3rd of March, 2020, in cooperation with UNHCR, with the aim of raising awareness on the importance of caring for and maintaining public hygiene at the current time.

Twenty-two boys and girls attended the session that evolved around the importance of hygiene care, and the best ways to wash their hands and sterilize them, whereby a doctor from the local community volunteered to implement the latter. During the session, explanatory videos and slides_ which included the correct ways to wash hands, the importance of using sterilizers, avoiding uncovered foods, foods that strengthen the immunity, important tips for general hygiene, an educational video on how to care for hygiene, and the importance of visiting a doctor when needed_ were presented. Later on, these children had a practical session where they applied what they had learned from the videos and slides.

Furthermore, the children interacted greatly during the session, and directed several questions to the doctor, who in turn answered them all.

At the end of the session, the doctor was thanked for his considerable efforts, who in turn expressed his gratitude by saying: "Thank you for your constant protection and caring for children. I consider this to be the duty of every member of society, whereby no one should fail to provide his experiences or information in order to protect children from all kinds of danger!"

“Viruses pose a great threat to our lives… Today, nonetheless, we learned how to fight them in order to remain safe and healthy!”. This is what one of the children expressed in an awareness session conducted by the mobile team in the Deir Salman area, Rural Damascus, in cooperation with UNICEF.

The session aimed at raising awareness on the importance of personal hygiene and how to maintain it, keeping in mind the dangers of using other people’s belongings. The children also learned how to properly wash their hands and sanitize all touched objects through a set of tools and interactive games.

Furthermore, about 22 children from the local community participated in the session.

At the end of the activity, the team distributed hand sanitizers, and emphasized to the children the importance of transferring this information to the rest of their peers. They also stressed on the importance of social distancing during the current period.

Just like other families that suffered greatly from the crisis, family /B/ consisted of six members_ the parents and their four young children, the eldest being in second grade_ and lived in a modest, damaged house.
The house they lived in lacked many materials necessary to its rehabilitation, for it to become a healthy and suitable place to live in. Unfortunately, the family couldn’t afford such materials due to their dire financial situation.
To make things worse, the mother suffered from nerve inflammation (carpal tunnel) because of all the housework she had to do, such as handwashing her children’s clothes, which was extremely tiresome.

Luckily, the ORV team of the Syrian Society for Social Development in Adra monitored the needs of the poor family, through the Farah Community Center located there. Consequently, they were referred to the In-kind Assistance programme in order to assist them to the greatest extent possible.

Furthermore, the team provided them with a washing machine with two basins to help the mother wash clothes, which would relieve the pressure on her and relieve her pain.

Thus, the joy of the family was great, especially that of the mother, with the help provided by SSSD.
Moreover, family B were intrigued, and wanted to know more about SSSD and the programmes and services it provides, as well as to participate in it and introduce others in need of help.