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The Hygiene Train - Al-Hamah

On the occasion of the World Handwashing Day, the SSSD WASH team at al-Hameh, Rural Damascus, carried out an activity on hand hygiene entitled the Hygiene Train, which targeted a primary school. The event included various “stations,” each of which teaches the children the proper way and times of handwashing. “Stations” included puppet theater, drawing and coloring, hygiene cheers, a video clip about hand hygiene, face coloring, dancing with cartoon characters, singing and, to crown it all, practical handwashing. The team formed “trains” of children, each train stopping at a “station,” with all children getting off at all stations. The children and school teachers joyfully welcomed the event, at the end of which a bar of soap and a towel were offered to each of the beneficiaries, totaling 200 people.

The Cleanest Classroom - Al-Hamah

The SSSD WASH team of al-Hameh CC, Rural Damascus, effectuated a visit to a primary school in the district. It was agreed with the administration to organize a Cleanest Classroom competition among the school classrooms. The students would clean up their classrooms and care too about the cleanliness of their clothes and bodies for a whole week. The prize consisted in a recreational activity that included games, dancing and singing with cartoon characters. The winning classroom was also rapturously honored before all students by offering them a “cleanliness cup.” In the end, bars of soap were distributed as a present to 750 students in order to encourage them pay attention to the cleanliness of their school, as well as to their personal hygiene.

Prevent Tooth Cavity and Head Lice for Children - CPI

Community- led initiative “Prevent Tooth Cavity and Head Lice for Children”, Athar Al-Farashah and Beit Al-Wiam community centers, Rural Damascus, Jaramana.
Drawing on the belief “We Care about your Health”, especially taking care of children’s health at early ages, and due to the severity of head lice and tooth cavity spread among very young children, SSSD team, in cooperation with UNHCR, organized a community- led initiative (CLI) in Rural Damascus, titled “Prevent Tooth Cavity and Head lice for Children” on 12-10-2018.
The idea of the CLI came to life during a focus group discussion with the children who expressed their toothaches, their fear to visit the dentist, and their parent’s financial strains to treat them. They also mentioned that their friends suffer from head lice and spoke about the negative side effects on their health, everyday life, and daily routine, be it at home or school. 
SSSD cooperated with Dr. Aghiad Daheem, who was enthusiastic to volunteer and help IDP kids. 50 children, boys and girls, received full- dental treatment. This kind gesture stressed the importance of community participatory work drawing on the abilities of each individual, offering help and supporting vulnerable groups.
4 barbers who benefited from the livelihood tool-kit program performed haircuts for 100 children, boys and girls. Those barbers believe in social responsibility, especially after receiving the tool kits that enabled them to provide for themselves and support others.
Dental treatment and haircuts were preceded by health awareness campaigns pertaining the importance of keeping the hair clean and treatment steps to end head lice, as well as, shedding light on kids’ tooth problems, how to prevent them through oral health and regular dentist visits. To break kids’ fear of dental treatment, the campaigns included entertainment activities, at which the dentist participated.
The adolescents from the mentoring program and child protection club participated in carrying out the activities of the campaign, including the entertainment activities. 
This CLI had huge positive impact on all the participants and left unforgettable imprints, particularly raising awareness about health care to prevent tooth and hair problems. In addition to promoting the spirit of humanitarian assistance and aid.

Girl’s Right to Education

In cooperation with UNHCR, SSSD carried an awareness campaign pertaining girl’s right to education in Deir Al-Asafir, East Gouta.

The campaign targeted women, adolescent girls and boys. One woman said, “A woman is like a school, when you teach her, as if you are teaching a whole family.” Another woman said, “I was illiterate; however, I am learning and now I know how to read my name and a bus’s plate. I believe that education is essential to a girl’s life.”


The adolescent activity included drawing a tableau that was placed on the school’s wall expressing girl’s right to education. “I am starting to like school more,” according to an adolescent girl. Toward the end of the activity adolescent boys conveyed supportive messages to the girls: “Be strong” “Defend yourself” “It is your right to learn”.

 

"Small Steps" Campaign and Events

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.

 

The Old-But-Gold major event-Rural Damascus

A senior is a bridge that links our past to our present, through whom we can foresee our future. Older persons have accomplished their duty to society. That is why we felt it our duty to honor them, by offering them the appreciation and love they needed so much. For this reason, SSSD, in cooperation with the UNHCR, held in Rural Damascus on November 1-2, 2018 an Old but Gold celebration event on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons at the Peace Center for Development (Hameh) and the Butterfly Effect & Beit al-Wiam (Jaramana) community centers.
390 elderly persons from the Old-But-Gold Program participated. The event included various recreational activities: popular linked poetry (zajal); competitions and games; a medical awareness activity about the methods to prevent some diseases to which older persons are particularly prone, the importance of exercise, healthy food and regular tests; traditional songs; the “discover a talent” activity; songs performed by children; comic drama sketches performed by SSSD volunteers; poetry; as well as an exhibition of products made by the Old-But-Gold ladies. The event was concluded by offering sweets to all and a small present for each beneficiary.
The older people participated in the activity with sheer joy in their hearts and broad smiles on their faces. They were deeply moved by the SSSD gesture, overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude and appreciation they longed for. We sensed that in their simple words: “It had been so long since we last met with friends from whom we were separated by circumstances.”
For all of the above reasons, we will never hesitate to resnew such meetings with them.

The Children of the Child Protection Club Community-led Initiative-al-Hameh

“What an unforgettable trip! It’s the first time in my life I see a place that beautiful!”
With these and other words, the children expressed their happiness with the Children of the Child Protection Club CLI implemented by the Child Protection Club team at the Peace Community Center, al-Hameh, with the support of SSSD and UNHCR.
The activities of the CLI included a recreational trip for more than 100 orphaned children to al-Azem Palace through which the Club’s youngsters introduced the children to the Palace’s wings and history, in addition to various recreational activities.

 

I got my life back

A 45- year old woman, Mrs. Souad lost her husband and currently lives with her son and daughter in-law. Her son is her only provider and she cannot live independently.
Souad was one of the visitors to Al-Farah Center in Adra, participating in the center’s campaigns. During one of the campaigns that addresses psychological violence, she opened up her heart, sharing one of the many difficulties she was going through. She spoke about being rejected as an elderly in the family.
Afterwards, the lady was interviewed in private to explain her situation. After the death of her husband, she faced a lot of pressure and suffered from constant fatigue. She always felt uncomfortable at home. Her daughter in-law mistreated her, avoiding speaking or sitting with her. Her son hardly provided the family’s basic needs, suffering from a financial hardship. He verbally abused his mother negatively criticizing her and bombarding her with cruel words, whenever she dressed up or picked up bright color clothes… Souad felt that she was a heavy burden.
Being under constant pressure, Souad’s psychological wellbeing was jeopardized and she suffered from depression. She experienced loss of appetite, constant feeling of grief, and sleeping disorder. She always said, “Life has no meaning, I no longer enjoy it.”
We proposed referring Souad to the psychologist and explained the type of service she would receive. Upon agreeing to our proposal, the journey began:
We worked on psychologically empowering the lady, teaching her the correct ways of communicating with her son and daughter in-law, and helping her out of the depression. We also enrolled her in the livelihood program to support her in learning a vocation to effectively invest her time and provide for herself.
Souad was one of the participants of the sewing course in the center. It was visible that the lady had a strong will and was very cooperative.
Her behavior swiftly and positively progressed, in no time she became more interactive with the participants. One day, Souad brought her daughter in-law to the center and expressed being proud of her! The noticeable improvement of their relationship was a nice surprise.
The lady overcame her depression. Positively speaking about life, she enjoyed the course and valued the time she spent. Having a purpose in life, Souad aims to progress in sewing and start her home- based project.
We worked for three months with Souad and within that short span of time, she radically changed, repeatedly saying “I got my life back”. We were so happy to see her smile. Her smile gave hope to everyone!

Seeing Life through a new lens

Wafaa is a 51-year-old woman, married, with two daughters, who used to live in Jobar and work as an elementary teacher. The family suffered from financial hardships, the husband had to sell the house and buy a small house in Jaramana. During the crisis, the house was completely destroyed by a mortar shell. As a result, the family was forced to rent out a small house.
Via word of mouth, Wafaa heard of Al- Wiam Center and the provided services. She visited the center requesting support to solve her differences with her husband.
She was referred to the GBV case manager, who interviewed her. She explained that she was married at 21 without her parent’s blessings. In the beginning her relationship with her husband was good; however, their financial distress and constant movement from one place to another negatively affected them and triggered problems between the couple. The husband started abusing, beating, and humiliating his wife in front of their kids. He even caused permanent back injury to her. Their intimate life almost ceased and he violently had sex with his wife on rare occasions.
This harsh reality was negatively reflected on the lady’s relationship with her kids and the whole family. She suffered from substantial psychological pressures and a huge disappointment, as she was not able to maintain a perfect family.
Wafaa was referred to the psychological section for support. Her workplan covered the following:
-overcome the shock, being verbally and physically abused by her husband.
-Assert the positive aspects of her personality.
-Compare the pros and cons of her relationship with her husband to reach a conclusion regarding their marriage.
-Regulate sleeping time and take regular walks.
-Practice relaxation techniques.
She was also enrolled in the women sessions and GBV campaigns, those interventions had positive impact on the lady and her relationship with her husband and daughters.
Tracking Wafaa’s case, our interventions had big impact on her. We quote her:
“I am able to communicate with my husband and deal with his anger. My relationship with my daughters is better. I used to come to the center with my head filled with negative thoughts. The sessions worked as a magnet that pulled my negative thoughts and charged me with positive thoughts. My spirit was revived and each passing day I came back home showing love to my daughters and husband and offering new gestures. Gradually, I re-communicated with my friends, whom I hardly contacted in the past, due to my psychological situation. I learned about women rights and children rights, and I advise women suffering from GBV to seek help from this center to regain control over their lives.”
Today, Wafaa is an active member in the women’s committee. She plays a critical role and participates in all the campaigns, encouraging women to learn about their rights and claim them.

Vocational Training: Sewing and Brocade course-al-Hameh

In the framework of early recovery and livelihoods improvement, empowering women heads-of-household with a profession and developing their skills has proved essential. Hence SSSD organized, in cooperation with the UNHCR, a vocational training course for 15 women in damascene brocade (aghabani embroidery) at al-Salam Community Center, al-Hameh.
Immediately after the training, the women underwent a life skills and entrepreneurship course to increase their chances of income provision and meet their basic needs. SSSD made sure the beneficiaries were directly connected to the labor market. Very grateful and happy, one of them said, “My gratitude goes to SSSD who helped me take the right path and learn a trade that I can practice to help my family. I hope similar courses are held on a regular basis so that a maximum number of people might benefit, as my fellow women and I did

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