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Protection event: “I have the right to learn”Al-Salam Community Center

Education is a fundamental right of the child.A child begins to learn from the moment of birth through the special care and attention they receive from caregivers, who help to develop his/her mind. This stage is the cornerstone of transition to other stages.
The school is the most important of these stages: the child begins to explore the world around him, learn from his surroundings by integrating with other children and playing with them. He also learns the basics of writing, drawing and the arts, which enhances the growth of his mental abilities and the acquisition of the relevant skills to build one’s character.
The Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), in cooperation with the UNHCR, organized at al-Salam CC, al-Hameh, a campaign that included several awareness-raising sessions on the importance of learning to the child as a basic right. This campaign was concluded on September 30, 2018, by an event reiterating the most important messages conveyed throughout the campaign.
The campaign aimed to stimulate the children’s desire to reintegrate schooling, specifically by building a relation with the school through a different kind of relationship between children and their teachers. This helps to change the child’s negative feelings towards school and ignite in them the desire to commit to it.
The school administration reported that SSSD was the first NGO to intervene in the school because of the geographical remoteness and the difficulty of access to it. One good reaction to the campaign was demonstrated in the explicit desire to organize similar campaigns by other schools of the area, whose principals contacted al-Salam CC for that purpose.

Breast diseases awareness sessions

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. With the aim of raising the level of health awareness and disseminating basic medical and preventive knowledge concerning breast cancer among girls and women, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) team held within the Hear-My-Heart Program, in cooperation with the Syrian Breast Cancer Association and the UNHCR, several awareness sessions entitled Awareness of Breast Diseases and Cancer: Etiology, Symptoms, Early Detection and Treatment Protocols. The sessions were held on 08/22-29/09/2018 in the following districts: Jaramana (Butterfly Effect and Beit al-Wiam CCs), al-Hameh (al-Salam CC).
118 women attended, whose interaction was positive and significant. This was evident through the women’s active participation and questions that enriched the sessions. To encourage the women, the Breast Cancer Association later offered the opportunity to conduct mammography screenings, free of charge, in several centers throughout October for all demanding women.

VT: Cell Phone Maintenance Course—Al-Salam , al-Hameh

In order to improve people’s overall living situation by restoring livelihoods and enhancing the resilience of affected, vulnerable households (woman-headed households, PwSN, unemployed youth), the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held a training course on mobile and cell phone maintenance at the Peace Community Center, al-Hameh, Rural Damascus.
The training included 15 beneficiaries: 5 women and 10 men, of various age groups, who were fully initiated into the intricacies of mobile phone maintenance (software and hardware). By the end of the course and evaluation of the trainees, 6 beneficiaries were directly connected to job opportunities within the same areas.

A Strong Fresh Start Hasan’s Story

Eight-year-old boy Hasan lives with his parents and siblings in…
The boy was sexually assaulted while playing with his mates in the basement of the building. Two of his playing mates, aged 11 and 12 respectively, tied him down and attempted to abuse him sexually. Aware that the boy’s screaming was heard by a neighbor, the aggressors ran away. When the neighbor informed Hasan’s father of what had happened, the latter beat the boy severely and confined him in his room for one month, forbidding him to play with his siblings or go out.


The story began after a SSSD awareness campaign on sexual violence. During the campaign, the concept and types of sexual violence were duly explained, as well as its negative consequences and the risks of non-reporting. Hasan’s mother happened to be one of the beneficiaries. After the campaign ended, the woman asked to talk to our psychologist as she was in a state of extreme confusion and worry for her son.


She related to us the details of the story. To start with, the major problem was how to persuade the husband to reduce the pressure on Hasan in order to allow him to integrate the traumatic episode, then start the therapy to help him overcome its consequences and make a strong fresh start.


We worked with the mother to enhance communication between her and her husband so she could try to convince him to come to the SSSD community center. The husband at first refused to cooperate in solving his son’s problem, insisting on locking him up in his room. Hasan’s mother, however, was not abashed by her husband’s resistance and, supported by the SSSD psychologist, she made repeated attempts to discuss with him the serious consequences of such behavior on their son. After much effort, she was finally able to persuade him. Though a bit reluctantly, Hasan’s father visited the community center, allowing the boy to accompany him.


We talked to him extensively about the need to consider Hasan as a child survivor of a traumatic event, emphasizing the fact that the boy, far from being guilty, was a victim of aggression. Though hesitant at first, the father gradually let himself be persuaded and finally received our arguments positively. So, we agreed with the parents on the therapy plan.
Hasan was eventually referred to a medical institution for a thorough clinical examination to reveal the extent of his injuries. Tests indicated that Hasan had been mildly wounded, which caused moderate infections. The boy received the necessary anti-infective treatment during which the parents had to observe possible stains of secretions on the boy’s bedsheets and underwear and regularly report to the doctor to ensure a proper follow-up and proceed in the treatment plan.


The mother reported that Hasan suffers from bedwetting. We also noticed changes in the boy’s behavior, namely, an evident aggressiveness towards children around him, especially his siblings, and specifically his younger brother whom he beat in a very violent manner.


Hence Hasan was referred to the CC psychologist who started individual sessions with him. Throughout the sessions, we worked on enhancing the boy’s confidence in himself and the people surrounding him and on mitigating his aggressive behavior towards his siblings. Through regualr follow-up, we focused on methods of prevention to protect the body from any risk one may incur and on the correct actions that must be taken in the event of such exposure.


We also worked with the boy’s parents to enhance communication between mother and child and emphasize the importance of an equal, non-discriminative treatment between children to relieve the pressure on Hasan. Over time, their change of attitude has had a positive effect in mitigating the boy’s aggressive behavior towards his siblings.


Hasan was also involved in the CC activities to help him reintegrate the community, especially after his rather long confinement.


Follow-up with the parents was maintained until confirmation that the improvement of Hasan’s behavior was clear and definitive. Finally, the case was closed after completion of the treatment plan. The boy has now fully recovered and returned to normal life with his peers.

 

The Child Protection Club participates in a community-based initiative: Bus Stops at al-Hameh

Resource provision to community is a source of tremendous motivation and encouragement towards self-reliance and autonomy. This is definitely SSSD’s approach to the empowerment of affected communities.
In August 2018, the CBI team supported community members at al-Hameh area in identifying their needs and mobilizing their resources and energies to implement the Bus Stops initiative. Community members themselves had proposed this CBI after observing their own trouble and the trouble of the residents of the area in general due to weather variabilities (extreme heat, wind, rain, etc.) while waiting for transportation in the street.
Having gained a strong sense of initiative during their journey over the past two years, the children of the Child Protection Club at al-Hameh took an active part in the implementation of this collective, community-based activity. They took on the task of painting the bus stops, thus playing an important role in making a reliable, long-term impact.

CBI: Bus stops -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 under the title “Bus Stops” .
During a Focus group discussion conducted with a group of Al Hameh resident at “ Al salam “ Community Center , the problem of lacking Bus stops in the area was Raised , jeopardizing residents - especially children and elders - of being exposed to Severe weather conditions during their wait of transportation . thus a Community based initiative was suggested to design and install three Bus stops in ( Al khabouri junction , Al Hameh junction and Al-Sekkeh ) , using the experience of local blacksmiths . children of the child protection club in the center contributed also in the CBI activities through helping with the paint work of the Bus stops .

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 .

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.”

Vocational Training-Carpentry Course, al-Hameh

In order to empower people and help them generate livelihood opportunities, in addition to enhancing their self-reliance, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD), in cooperation with UNHCR, organized at al-Hameh, Rural Damascus, a vocational training course to teach the trade of carpentry.

Having started on 5/8/2017 and ended on 1/11/2017, the session included 40 beneficiaries, trained according to a two-shift schedule, morning and evening.
The basic indicator for the training was the market survey that, strikingly, turned to be in need of this trade. Therefore, graduates will be actively linked to employment opportunities.

The training has provided the beneficiaries with new experiences that would help them develop their potential and increase their chances of finding jobs in the future.

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