“Together to Build a Promising Generation” was the title of the two-month event carried out by the Syrian Society for Social Development team at the Arab Cultural Center in Kafr-Souseh. The event came as the series of activities’ closure of the Child Protection Programme implemented at the Lam‘et Dahab Center, in cooperation with the Damascus Health Directorate and the Polyclinic Centre, Diabetes Department.

The event brought together local community children with their diabetic peers, and comprised a group of acts presented by the participating children, including drama sketches, dancing, choir singing and taekwondo katas. The audience, which comprised caregivers and locals, as well as the Health Director in Damascus and a group of doctors working at the Ministry of Health, cheerfully interacted with the children’s performances.

At the end of the event, one of the caregivers shared her joy for participating and stated her opinion by saying, “I am thrilled that my son boldly went on stage and talked about the everyday suffering diabetic children go through. Thank you for this opportunity.”

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A group of adolescents- from Ghosen Community Center, Izra, Daraa- proposed organizing a musical show celebrating summer and Eid Al-Fiter. Their initiative came to life within two months from the opening of the center; the volunteers and the management of the center happily welcomed the initiative.

The adolescents were pleased with the center, as it provided space for singing and musical performance rehearsal, they also expressed their need for more spaces in the area, where young people and adolescents would be given the chance to practice their hobbies and develop their skills.

The adolescents were in full charge of organizing the musical show and received logistical back up from the center’s volunteers. The show was conducted on 1 June 2019 and was the first fruit of cooperation between the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Out of the belief that every beginning comes to an end and drawing on the importance of conveying the idea to the beneficiaries pertaining closing down some of the centers attached to the Syrian Society for Social Development, SSSD team in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized an event titled “We Walked Together” as a closing ceremony to Al- Mahatah Center for Temporary Care.

The event included diversified shows: a musical performance by Al-Fourqa Al-Nouhasiyyeh, theatre scenes, expressionist and Western dance shows, mental calculations, and some songs. The shows were performed by more than 100 children from the child friendly space at the Al-Mahatah Center.

As part of the closing plan of the center, the team conducted children sessions and activities, asserting the importance of flexibility, adjustment and acceptance of life changes. Concluding the sessions and activities, the team distributed letters of appreciation and thank you notes to the children.

Some of the comments made by the children:
“We trained a lot and exerted huge efforts; today we are proud of ourselves, offering the best and conveying our message to the community.”
“Joining this center, we learnt on day one that cooperation is the foundation of getting anything done, it is the foundation of success. Today at the event this was visible.”
“We are beginning to accept the fact that our trip together is coming to an end. We promise you that we will be successful and distinguished in every aspect of our lives.”

On grounds of the importance of sports on the physical, psychological and social aspects, and the role sports play in boosting ethical and peace values of people;
Out of the belief that it is crucial to strengthen the role sports play in the lives of people, the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) organized an event titled “Let’s Walk for Development and Peace”, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), celebrating the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace.

The event included: (1) a procession around Citadel of Aleppo, (2) a sports festival organized at Aleppo Citadel Amphitheatre, covering a musical performance by Al-Fourqa Al-Nouhasiyyeh, some sports activities performed by children with special needs, a Taekwondo performance, group dances, a boxing show, a performance by SSSD Choir, honoring of football and basketball teams (males and females).

The total number of beneficiaries was 1500, including 300 children with special needs and their parents, 1000 males and females aged 12-18 years, 200 SSSD staff (facilitators and other employees).
Some of the comments of the beneficiaries:

• I have seen many beautiful shows and amazing talents; the children were trained well. It is the first time I witness such shows.”
• It felt great being honored on stage for winning in the football match tournament. I love my medal.”
• The event is lovely and well organized; it is held in a beautiful place. I hope more similar events will be held and we would be given the chance to participate in more than one show. It is the first time I visit the citadel.”
• We learnt discipline, participatory work, and optimism skills by practice and relentless trials until we hit our target.”
• We acquired new skills being part of the tournament teams and when other teams were honored for winning the first place, we were happy for them as if we ourselves were the winners.”
• Attending this event, made me realize the importance of sports, and from now on I will practice sports during summer to maintain my physical and psychological wellbeing.”

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The Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) conducted a joint activity between the teachers and the adolescent students to instill the spirit of participation and joy and to strengthen the bond between the teachers and students. This activity was carried out to tackle school violence prevalence in the local community observed by SSSD team, aiming at moving away from traditional molds of teacher-student relationship.
20 teachers and 12 students were part of the activity.
The activity greatly affected the adolescents; they now see their teachers in new eyes. They got along very well during games.
One child commented, “I have never thought I would witness such a day, at which I could play with my teacher, who had been angry all the time.”
Another child said, “I was surprised to see my teacher, who had been my third grade teacher. Thank you very much for this lovely opportunity.”
As part of the activity, the adolescents were introduced to the sufferings the teachers face while managing big classrooms, up to 60 students per class, and the absence of support jeopardizing the quality of teaching and exerting a lot of pressure on teachers. During the games, the team focused on the idea that it is crucial for students to trust and follow the instructions of the teacher and how it impacts their future.
One teacher said, “When I know how to make the student feel loved and secure, he will like his school. A child is like a seedling and a teacher is like the source of light and nutrients.”

Out of the belief of children’s right to free-of-violence- education, the child protection team of the Syrian Society for Social Development conducted an awareness session for 22 teachers at Farah Community Center, Adra Industrial City, as part of a campaign titled “My School, My 2nd Home”. The session was conducted on 26 March 2019 to prevent the proliferation of school violence, based on collected data from the center’s case manager and the children enrolled in the child protection club.

The session raised awareness about the adverse effects of school violence, especially on the wellbeing of children. Teachers’ reactions toward the facilitation tools (a group game, brainstorming, discussion and dialogue, and display of photos) were positive, the tools helped them recall negative experiences with their teachers. “the negative experiences I faced should prohibit me from repeating the same negative acts with my students,” one teacher attending the session commented.
The teachers talked about some alternative solutions to replace school violence (verbal and physical), namely, constructing effective communication with children based on their age group and directing children’s energy toward beneficial actions and useful deeds. They affirmed the importance of conducting regular meetings to discuss in depth the adverse effects of violence and learn about the means of effective communication. They also expressed their willingness to meet up with students’ parents in the upcoming months during the sessions of the campaign.
It is worth noting that at an early stage of the planning of the campaign, many teachers had opposed the idea of the campaign, considering it pointing fingers toward them, accusing them of being violent with the students. However, the team managed to persuade them, after conducting several visits to the schools throughout the local community. The team explained the real spirit of the campaign and the dire need for it, and stressed the critical role of the teachers in limiting this negative phenomenon and coming up with alternatives, given the fact that they are the major players who contribute to the children’s future.

Following the observation of the case manager in Al-Hameh area in Qudsaya District of Rif Dimashq, and conducting needs assessment to the children enrolled in the child protection club, SSSD team found out that the level of awareness of the local community toward the side effects of negligence is low and only little attention is paid to the mental scars it causes and the ramifications on children’s emotional health and behavior. Therefore, SSSD team invited the caregivers to attend an awareness session at Salam Community Center, Al-Hameh on 17 March 2019.

The session tackled the stages of child development in terms of characteristics and needs, and the dangers children might go through in case they were neglected, such as, mental scars and their different types, beggary, school dropout, smoking, and acts of misdemeanor. Additionally, the attendees, 25 women were given the chance to talk about the problems they face with their kids and they were guided to meet up with the psychologist to benefit from the comprehensive services of the psychosocial support program and this what indeed several women did upon concluding the session.