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Hand-Made

Manual labor and handicrafts give us inner balance and a sense of trust and success in human relationships. This is why art must be for everyone.
In this context, on 14/08/2018, in collaboration with the UNFPA, SSSD organized at the Electricity Institute temporary shelter in the ‘Adra District, Rural Damascus, a session entitled Hand-Made.
The session, which was held within the Hear-My-Heart Program, included 16 women and aimed to break the routine and introduce the participants to a new skill of manual labor. The women interacted remarkably and engaged in the activities with passion. They also expressed their pleasure and a strong desire to do similar work in the future.

Vocational Training: Sewing Course, Adra, al-Farah Community Center

In order to improve the overall living conditions by restoring livelihoods to vulnerable affected households (women-headed households, PwSN and unemployed youth) and consolidating their social and economic resilience, SSSD, in cooperation with the UNHCR, organized a vocational training course in sewing at al-Farah CC, ‘Adra Industrial Zone, Rural Damascus.
The training was attended by 40 women who were divided into two groups. At the end of the training, it is expected that women will gain a trade that will help them economically by linking them directly to the labor market.

With will there is no handicap

Love and giving are our priorities. No one in the community should be left behind. Everyone should be at the heart of life. That is why the SSSD team, in cooperation with the UNHCR, offered medical assistance to IDP arrivals from East Ghouta who live currently in the temporary shelters of Adra al-Balad (Institute of Electricity, Faihaa Center).

As of April, customized medical assistance has been provided to 155 cases. Assistance included wheelchairs for the disabled (children and adults), blood pressure gauges, nebulizers, medical crutches (axillary, elbow, tripods), medical glasses, etc. Assessing people’s needs had been done beforehand by SSSD volunteers to monitor those in need of medical assistance, as well as case studies in order to provide the best service possible.

The impact of these relief actions was immediately tangible in the words and expressions of the beneficiaries. They freely expressed to what extent these services would improve their quality of life and enable them to access a certain measure of autonomy, to work and support themselves and their families.

" we stand together ” CBI—Jaramana, Rural Damascus

In order to enhance the confidence of women in themselves and their ability to help their families and help others, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) in Rural Damascus, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized a community-based initiative under the title "we stand together ”.

The initiative, which was proposed by a group of mothers and elderly people who attend the activities of " Bet Al-Weam" community center within “ our ancient gold “ and “ hear my heart” groups, aims to manufacture clean and Healthy food which can be used for a long period of time (apricot jam - Cheese and sour cream - pickles - grapes leaves) , with the cooperation of the group who proposed the initiative among themselves and and the participation of a group of newly displaced women in the region , and distributing some portions to the families of the new immigrants from the region of Ghouta to the region of Jaramana using the help of SSSD monitoring of the targeted area , which contributed to strengthening bonds of love , spirit of partnership and teamwork among women by sharing their experiences during the implementation .

CBI: Road signs -Rif Dimashq , ALHameh

Based on our wish to support community-based solutions, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), implemented a community-based initiative Al Hameh under the title “Road signs” .
The initiative, which was implemented by a group of the local community , with the help of the Child Protection Club at “ Al salam “ Community Center in Al Hameh , aims to install 25 road signs that contribute to guide the new IDPS to the important service centers in the area (the Municipality , the medical center , schools for different ages , the main street , the main square , Commercial market , town neighborhoods , charity associations ) , in addition to setting up guidance signs at dangerous turns to protect drivers and pedestrians from traffic accidents .

And a safe bed we made

Rima, a woman from northern rural Aleppo, was forced to flee her hometown because of the poor security conditions. She and her family of 7 children—the eldest of whom is 12 and the youngest 4 months old—currently live in an unfinished house at Daff al-Sakhr, Jaramana district, Rural Damascus.
From the Child Protection case manager who follows up on the family’s file we learned that four-month-old ‘Abd was suffering from a severe allergy resulting from his sleeping on the floor in a cold house full of dust. His mother had to take him repeatedly to the doctor to ease bouts of coughing and wheezing. Not to mention the risk of being bitten by rodents that swarm in unfinished buildings.
Then it occurred to us to tell the beneficiaries in the carpentry course (Vocational Training Program) about the family’s predicament and see whether they could be of help. Soon enough, a small, simple, lovely bed was specially made for ‘Abd!
When we went to Rima’s house to check on the family and deliver the bed, she warmly greeted us and was sincerely thankful. Then, without a second thought, she made the bed and put the baby in it.
‘Abd’s siblings rejoiced, though with a sigh. “Sister, you remind us of the bed we used to have back home,” said one of the baby’s brothers. “Just for ‘Abd?” asked his sister. “But we’re still sleeping on the floor, all the rest of us!”
I explained to them that the bed was now necessary to heal their little brother’s discomfort, that many many families had lost their homes and all their furniture as well.
Indeed, in the current circumstances of the war, where so many families have lost their homes and furniture, vocational training is proving useful in the sense that it can help a large number of internally displaced families meet some of their urgent needs for relative comfort and safety.

Walking Together

Anas, 17, was born in rural Aleppo. He grew up there, living with his parents and brother. His father used to work in agriculture, but as the crisis intensified in 2011, Anas was forced to leave with his mother and brother to Deir al-Zaur. His father did not wish to leave so he remained in his hometown.
Thus, Anas became the family’s sole breadwinner. The young man, who was a hard-working student, had to leave school because of the poor economic situation, so that his brother might continue his education.
Three years after they were first displaced to Deir al-Zaur, the family had to move again to rural Damascus and settled in the city of Jaramana. Here Anas managed to land a job at a plastic factory, with long working hours. He was determined, however, to pursue his education and not to let those random conditions get the best of him.
At this point, Anas heard about our community center in Jaramana through one of our ORVs. He came to the CC and began to attend day educational classes for basic certificate students while still working at night.
During the classes we found that Anas had some problems with his younger brother. So, both brothers were integrated into two separate groups of the Mentoring Program, thereby introduced to collaborative communication and peer relation. Their relationship gradually began to improve. Their mother was then invited to attend women’ sessions and was followed up by the CP case manager.
At the end of the school year, Anas took the final exams for the basic education certificate, but success was not his ally in the first time. So, he decided to intensify his efforts next time and with the beginning of the schoolyear enrolled again in the educational sessions held at the CC. This year came with promising results for both Anas and his brother… Thus, Anas had realized his first dream. Though he still has to pass the high school certificate exams with a good score before trying to realize his greatest dream: entering the Faculty of Economics.
After Anas’ success in the exam, he heard about the carpentry course (Vocational Training Program) and wanted to learn this trade to avoid being exploited as he was at the plastic factory. As he is considered his family’s sole breadwinner, he was accepted in the course and proved an exemplary trainee, fully committed to learning.
At the end of the course, his request form was presented to the Livelihood Toolkits Program competent committee in order to obtain a carpentry toolkit according to the established standards. In parallel, he was linked to a carpentry workshop where he was paid enough to meet his needs and the needs of his family.
During a follow-up visit to his place of work, the master carpenter expressed his satisfaction with Anas’ quality of work and commitment. As for Anas himself, he expressed his happiness in these terms:
“I’m very happy and feel relieved. The situation at home with Mother and my brother has significantly improved,” he said. “I enjoy my job a lot. Master likes me and lets me go to the activities at the center. I even enrolled in an accounting course so I may develop myself in this domain.”
“A man is one who, using his will, decides himself his future,” he added.

Celebrating Eid with you is still lovelier!

A tiny word with a vast meaning, Eid combines joy and love, refreshes tolerance and the desire to visit relatives and reconnect with friends…
On this occasion, the SSSD various teams in Rural Damascus, in cooperation with the UNHCR, carried out six sessions entitled Celebrating Eid with you is still lovelier! between 19 and 26 June at the Beit al-Wiaam and Butterfly Effect CCs (Jaramana district), the Peace Center for Development (al-Hameh), the Farah CC (‘Adra) and Dar al-Karama for elderly care.
The sessions were attended by 391 beneficiaries from the Hear-My-Heart and Dhahab Ateeq programs. They included several art performances, competitions and games and were concluded by offering the traditional Eid sweets and a small present for each beneficiary.
Everyone participated in competitions and games with great joy and enthusiasm and certainly enjoyed the artistic performances. The fact that we celebrated together that happy occasion had a great impact on the hearts of the beneficiaries.

“Too early to work!” – A campaign and event against child labor

How many children you know who engage in jobs totally unfit for their age and physical ability? Children who do jobs that deprive them of their basic rights, like playing and education? And the number of working children whom you don’t know is far greater than those you know!

SSSD conducted a survey at al-Hameh, Rural Damascus, on the number of working children, the nature of their work and the conditions they face at work. As a result, it turned that boys aged 12-17 are employed in workshops of a hazardous nature (carpentry, blacksmithing and car repair workshops). Their female peers, on the other hand, work in biscuit and cheese factories located in the area and other suburbs under overwhelming conditions (long working hours, low wages, cruelty and mistreatment). Children under 12 are less employed and most sell biscuits, socks or bread.

On the basis of this survey SSSD, in cooperation with UNHCR, organized the Too early to work! campaign, which aims to combat child labor and raise awareness about its dangers as well as about the importance of education as an inalienable right. The SSSD team carried out a series of activities at the Peace Community Center, al-Hameh (Rural Damascus), that were concluded on June 25, 2018, with the performance of songs and dances, a video projection, poetry recitation, discussion and dialogue. The children of the Peace Center, in cooperation with the children of the Child Protection Club, themselves from al-Hameh district, were the performers, since SSSD has a firm belief that community must inevitably address its own challenges.

The event was attended by 178 beneficiaries of both genders and different age groups and met with high appreciation by the community, which was obvious in the audience’s interaction throughout the whole performance. “I was deeply moved by the sad child’s expression when deprived of playing with his companions because of work,” said a mother. “To the point that I even cried for fear that my son would be exposed to such terrible stress.”

Event: “Too early for us!”

“In order for the flower to bloom, it must grow under sunshine and be given all possible care. Our children are like flowers. They need so much love and care to exercise their rights properly. We mustn’t let child labor take away their childhood.”
On June 20, the world at large celebrates the World Day Against Child Labor to emphasize the importance of social protection in keeping children away from work. With SSSD’s commitment to raise awareness about CP-related risks, an event was organized, in cooperation with UNICEF, at the Dafa Center in Sett Zeinab, Rural Damascus. About 300 children and caregivers took part in the event in which the children attending awareness sessions during the past month performed songs and drama sketches carrying messages and key points to stimulate community discussion and dialogue on child labor.
The audience’s feedback heralded a new wave of hope to change the reality of child labor in this region.

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