These projects were designed to provide support to various Syrian entities and charitable organizations.

The funding for these endeavors is coming from the Czech government's "Reconstruction Program for the Czech Republic in the Middle East region for the period 2022-2024."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic is contributing to mitigate the consequences of the conflict in Syria and the overall recovery of the country in the most affected areas.

Specifically, these are the following development projects:

 

1. Project title: "Improving the living conditions and access to services for boys and girls in two Juvenile Centers in Damascsus and Homs.”

Project Location: Juvenile Observation Center for boys in Jouret Ash-Shayyah, Homs and Social Education Institute for Girls Bab Musalla, Damascus

Implementer: Terre des hommes Lausanne – Switzerland.

FDC CZ contribution: CZK 582,966

Expected impacts and sustainability of the project outcomes:

With funding from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Damascus, now TDH is dedicated to implementing comprehensive juvenile justice interventions tailored to support youths at various stages of their interaction with the legal system, encompassing pre-detention, during detention, and post-detention reintegration phases. This Project is designed to meet the critical needs of two juvenile centers, focusing on a range of activities aimed at significantly enhancing the conditions and support available to young individuals in these settings.

The Project intervention strategy is multi-faceted, targeting several key areas to ensure a positive impact:

• Improvement of Basic Humanitarian Conditions: The project is committed to provide essential assistance to children who come into contact with the law. The project goal is to significantly elevate the humanitarian conditions within juvenile centers, ensuring that all children receive the necessary support during their time in the legal system.
• Enhancement of Living Conditions for Girls and Boys: By focusing on the living conditions within detention centers, The project aim to cover all basic needs of the young inmates, thereby preventing any additional trauma that could arise from their stay. This Project is crucial for fostering a safe and supportive environment that nurtures their well-being.
• Provision of Hygiene and Dignity Kits: Accessibility to personal hygiene items is a fundamental aspect of maintaining dignity and self-respect. The project distribution of hygiene and dignity kits is a step towards ensuring that all children have access to these essential items, promoting cleanliness and personal care.
• Rehabilitation of WASH Facilities and Sleeping Equipment: The overhaul of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, along with the provision of adequate sleeping equipment, is not only beneficial to the current residents but also to future young individuals who will enter the center. These improvements are vital for creating a healthy and conducive living environment.

Through these interventions, The Embassy of The Czech Republic in Damascus with cooperation with TDH is steadfast in its commitment to transforming juvenile centers into places of hope and opportunity, where every child is given the chance to thrive and envision a brighter future ahead.

 

2. Project title: "Establishing local tailoring workshops to train IDPs women in order to find additional sources of income in Qatana, Damascus Countryside”

Project Location: Qatana, Damascus Countryside.

Implementer: Church of  St. Elias  in Qatana.

FDC CZ contribution: CZK 483,210                                                            

Expected impacts and sustainability of the project outcomes:

This Project is designed to empower, educate, and employ over 20 internally displaced women monthly, totaling approximately 240 women annually, in the fields of sewing, manufacturing, and repairing clothing. This endeavor aims to serve over 10,000 individuals residing in the vicinity of the church. The objectives are multifaceted, focusing on:

• Community Integration: Facilitating the integration of internally displaced women into their new communities, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support.
• Economic Empowerment: Creating additional income sources for these women, thereby enhancing their financial independence and stability.
• Skill Development: Imparting a sustainable skill set in sewing and garment repair that women can utilize throughout their lives, offering both personal growth and professional opportunities. Women will also be taught to produce products used in the health sector, such as medical gauze, head and foot coverings used in hospitals, and textiles used to help fractures in human limbs.
• Supporting Local Needs: Assisting local residents who are unable to afford new clothing by providing repair services for existing garments or crafting new items at nominal costs. The church plans to further support this Project by financing the necessary raw materials in the future.

This sewing project is particularly significant in Qatana, a city where residents face limited purchasing power for new clothing and where the project's unique value proposition encounters minimal competition, making it a viable and profitable venture.

The primary beneficiaries are the women participants, who gain through skill development and economic empowerment. Additionally, the broader community of Qatana, including individuals unable to purchase new garments, public sector employees, healthcare workers, and uniformed personnel, stand to benefit from the affordable clothing services provided.

This project leverages the church's available space, harnessing high-quality human potential and the collective efforts of all involved, aiming for a substantial and positive impact on the local community.

 

3. Project title: "A project to establish a nursery for aromatic and medicinal plants to empower and train Al Awras village's women in Homs Countryside”

Project Location: Al- Awras fields - Homs countryside.

Implementer: Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary

FDC CZ contribution: CZK 464,490                                                                                                            

Expected impacts and sustainability of the project outcomes:

The project envisions the establishment of a nursery specializing in aromatic and medicinal plants on the fertile agricultural lands provided by the church at no cost. This Project not only aims to utilize the untapped potential of these lands but also to create a significant impact on the local community and environment through various means:

• Optimal Land Use: By cultivating these fertile yet unused lands, the project aims to develop them into productive areas. The profits generated from selling the agricultural crops will benefit the church and the community at large.
• Women's Employment: Approximately 200 women will find employment opportunities within the nursery and the broader agricultural project. This Project serves as a vital source of income for them, empowering them financially and socially.
• Specialized Training: The project is committed to training about 200 women in the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants, as well as in the extraction of raw materials. This specialized knowledge enables them to supply these valuable resources to pharmaceutical companies and industries focused on deriving products from plants.
• Sustainable Development: Emphasizing sustainable development, the Project aims to train women to become financially independent, capable of developing their agricultural lands, or even expanding their business by acquiring new lands for cultivation.
• Continuous Education: Offering monthly training courses, the project plans to educate over 50 women each month, totaling around 600 women annually. This continuous education model ensures a steady flow of skilled individuals capable of contributing to the agricultural sector.
• Community Support: To foster a culture of self-reliance and entrepreneurship, the project will distribute approximately 500 plants monthly at no cost to local residents. This gesture is designed to encourage individuals to start their own ventures, using these plants as a foundation for generating additional income.
• Annual Contribution: In a broader effort to support community entrepreneurship, more than 6,000 plants will be provided annually to families, aiding them in establishing their projects and enhancing their financial stability.

This project not only represents a strategic utilization of church-owned lands but also a comprehensive approach to community development, women's empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Through its multifaceted objectives, it aims to create lasting positive impacts on the lives of individuals and the community as a whole.

 

4. Project title: "Installing and operating solar system and water pump for irrigation water system for a 50-hectare of Latakia Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese farm"

Project Location: Latakia Countryside

Implementer: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Latakia

FDC CZ contribution: CZK 446,940                                                                                                                            

Expected impacts and sustainability of the project outcomes:

This Project seeks to enhance water availability for the irrigation of a 50-hectare farm in additional for 24/ electricity, which plays a pivotal role in supplying agricultural products to numerous families. The successful implementation of this project is anticipated to yield several significant benefits:

• Year-Round Water Provision: The project aims to ensure a consistent supply of water for agricultural purposes throughout the year, addressing the critical challenge of seasonal water scarcity and ensuring the farm's productivity is not hampered by climatic variations.
• Irrigation for Extensive Farmland: By facilitating irrigation across 50 hectares, the project directly supports the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural products. This capacity to irrigate expansive land areas is vital for sustaining and potentially increasing the farm's output, directly benefiting the local food supply chain.
• Employment Creation: Approximately 25 job opportunities will be generated through this project, providing local residents with valuable employment prospects. These roles are likely to span various aspects of the irrigation project, including construction, maintenance, and farm operations, contributing to the local economy and community livelihoods.
• Supporting Families: The Project is poised to offer both direct and indirect support to around 500 families. Direct support encompasses the provision of agricultural products, enhancing food security and nutrition. Indirectly, the project stimulates the local economy through job creation and increased agricultural productivity, contributing to the overall well-being and resilience of the community.

Overall, this water irrigation project represents a comprehensive approach to addressing water scarcity, electricity problems, boosting agricultural productivity, enhancing employment, and supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of families. Its successful execution is expected to have a far-reaching positive impact on the community, underscoring the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and infrastructure development.

 

5. Project title: " Helping IDPs through training them in Agricultural products manufacturing project in Maskana Village in Homs Countryside"

Project Location: Maskana Village in the southeastern countryside of Homs.

Implementer: Al-Najat Charity .

FDC CZ contribution: CZK 477,945                                                                                            

Expected impacts and sustainability of the project outcomes:

This project is poised to inaugurate a center dedicated to the production of high-quality agricultural products derived from local farmlands, coupled with a sales and marketing hub aimed at promoting these products. This Project is designed to catalyze new income streams for the residents of a village by leveraging the agricultural potential inherent in their lands.

The center's core mission is to empower women by imparting skills and knowledge necessary for producing sought-after agricultural goods. These goods are highly anticipated by consumers in neighboring cities and include a variety of semi-raw materials like mint, sevillea, and aromatic plant leaves, which hold significant value to pharmaceutical labs and companies in the realm of natural product extraction. Additionally, the center will focus on transforming agricultural yields into consumer-ready products such as red and green teas, jams, chocolate, saffron, tomato molasses, olive oil, and delicacies like stuffed eggplant.

A key component of the project also involves livestock management to produce milk and cheese, further processed into secondary dairy products. This comprehensive approach ensures that the beneficiaries, particularly the village's women, gain from consuming these products at home and generate income through their sale.

Targeting an initial group of 100 women, the project aims to create a ripple effect of skill and knowledge transfer within the community, fostering sustainable development. The training center, established amidst the agricultural lands, will provide all necessary resources, including equipment and educational courses, facilitating these women to efficiently harness the agricultural resources available to them.

The project sets forth several ambitious goals:

• Boosting Agricultural Production: By motivating local residents to enhance agricultural output, this Project seeks to bolster social cohesion and deter migration by offering viable economic opportunities within the village.
• Economic Upliftment: It aims to significantly increase the economic value of agricultural products through processing and industrialization.
• Promotion of Organic Farming: A commitment to spreading clean, organic agricultural practices that eschew chemical fertilizers and pesticides aligns with global trends towards healthier living.
• Provision of Healthy Foodstuffs: The project endeavors to produce nutritious food items, directly contributing to the well-being of the community and providing new income avenues for economically disadvantaged families, enabling them to afford education for their children.
• Women's Empowerment: Central to the project's philosophy is empowering women towards financial independence, leveraging a sustainable development model that emphasizes education and skill-sharing among women.

This project represents a holistic approach to agricultural development, women's empowerment, and economic revitalization, setting a sustainable path forward for the village and its residents.