Context & Challenge
Amid years of conflict and displacement that have affected the lives of thousands of children and deprived many of their right to education and stability, the story of Hiba, a twelve-year-old girl, stands out as an inspiring example of resilience, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges.
Hiba comes from a low-income family and lives with a visual impairment, having lost one of her eyes and replaced it with a cosmetic prosthetic eye. While such circumstances could have negatively affected her self-confidence and educational journey, the opportunity to access supportive educational services gave her renewed hope and opened the door to a brighter future.

Program Response
When she enrolled in the Accelerated Learning Program, Hiba demonstrated a strong passion for learning and a genuine desire to build a better future. However, she needed a safe and supportive educational environment that would address her psychological and health needs while strengthening her confidence in her abilities. Through an integrated package of services, including accelerated education, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), individual follow-up sessions, and awareness sessions for her family, she received the support necessary both at school and at home.

Inclusive Learning Environment
Throughout her participation in the program, teachers and facilitators worked to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment that encouraged her active participation in classroom activities, enabled her to express her ideas confidently, and helped her build positive relationships with her peers. Psychosocial support sessions also played a significant role in enhancing her sense of safety and belonging, while alleviating some of the psychological impacts caused by years of conflict and displacement.

Progress & Results
Over time, the impact of this support became evident in various aspects of her life. Her academic performance improved significantly, achieving a “Very Good” grade and successfully completing the fifth grade, becoming one of the diligent and high-achieving students in her class. Her self-confidence also grew remarkably, and she became more engaged and interactive within a school environment characterized by respect, acceptance, and freedom from discrimination or bullying

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Confidence & Empowerment
Hiba came to realize that disability does not define a person’s abilities or limit their aspirations. Rather, determination, combined with the right support, can open new doors to success. The continuous encouragement she received from her teachers, the support of her family, and her active engagement in educational and psychosocial activities all played a key role in strengthening this belief and motivating her to continue learning.

Next Chapter
Today, Hiba is preparing to transition to formal schooling at the beginning of the 2026–2027 academic year, where she will continue her education in the sixth grade. She moves forward with greater confidence, renewed hope, and a strong belief in her ability to achieve her dreams and build a brighter future.

Voices of Change
Hiba says:
“I learned that my disability does not prevent me from succeeding. I now feel that school is the place where I can learn and achieve my dreams.”
One of her family members adds:
“The program has transformed our daughter’s life. Her focus is no longer limited to studying; she has become more confident, happier, and more engaged with those around her. We now have great hope that she will continue her education and build a better future.”

Impact & Learning
Although Hiba still requires regular medical follow-up to maintain the health of her eye, her journey demonstrates that providing inclusive education, integrated psychosocial support, and active family engagement can make a real difference in the lives of children, enabling them to overcome challenges and reclaim their right to education and meaningful participation in society.
Hiba’s story remains a powerful testament to the fact that investing in children and ensuring their access to safe, inclusive, and quality education not only transforms individual lives but also contributes to building more resilient communities capable of recovery and hope for the future

As part of its efforts to promote recovery and community reintegration, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development continues to implement activities under the RISE project (Reintegration and Support for Empowered Returnees) in the Al-Sabha area and its countryside in the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside, using an integrated approach that combines psychosocial support with economic and vocational empowerment.

The project aims to support women returning from Al-Hol camp by providing a safe environment that helps them regain self-confidence, enhance their capabilities, and prepare them to engage more stably within their local communities. The project is built on the vision that psychological recovery forms an essential foundation for transitioning toward sustainable livelihood opportunities and achieving self-reliance.

As part of this pathway, the foundation implemented a vocational training program in hairdressing and skincare within the Women’s and Girls’ Safe Space (WGSS), targeting 20 women returnees from Al-Hol camp. The participants were selected after having taken part in organized psychoeducation sessions and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs, ensuring integration between recovery needs and economic empowerment requirements.

The training lasted for a full month, from mid-June to mid-July, and focused on providing participants with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to practice the profession competently. The program covered a range of training modules, including:

· Hair care skills, including cutting, coloring, highlights, color stripping, and styling techniques.
· Fundamentals of professional makeup and skincare applications.
· Salon management skills, customer service, and delivering services according to professional and business standards.

At the end of the training, each beneficiary received a comprehensive professional hairdressing kit, aimed at supporting their transition from training to practical application, and enabling them to start small projects that help improve their livelihoods and strengthen their economic independence.

This step is part of the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development’s vision of supporting women and girls through programs that combine protection, psychosocial support, and skills development, contributing to reducing vulnerability and strengthening the ability of individuals and families to build a more stable future.

The foundation emphasizes that investing in women’s empowerment is an investment in social cohesion and the community’s capacity for recovery, and that providing safe and sustainable opportunities for women is a cornerstone of reintegration and local development efforts.

Dan Relief and Development Foundation continues to implement a vocational training program in sewing within the safe space for women and girls in the Al-Sabha area, east of Deir ez-Zor, over a full month from mid-June to mid-July. The program aims to empower women by equipping them with practical professional skills that enhance their opportunities for self-reliance and improve their livelihoods.

The program targets 20 women returnees from Al-Hol camp, providing them with training that combines theoretical knowledge and practical application, contributing to the development of their professional abilities and supporting their integration into society and the labor market.

The training covers a range of core areas in the sewing profession, including learning the basics of the trade, taking measurements, cutting fabrics, operating and using the sewing machine, executing various pieces, as well as developing customer service skills and delivering services in a professional manner, preparing the trainees to practice the profession competently.

At the end of the program, each beneficiary receives a sewing machine, enabling her to begin practicing the profession independently—whether by securing a job opportunity or launching a small project that provides a sustainable source of income, strengthens her ability to be self-reliant, improves her living conditions, and contributes actively to her community.

This training is part of Dan’s efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment by providing them with the skills and tools needed to build a more stable and independent future

As part of its efforts to promote public health and prevent diseases, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development carried out the “Step Towards a Healthy Community” initiative in Al-Jazra Camp in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, through its Health and Community Safety Committees, with the participation of the health team from the Dan Center in the Al-Jazrat area

The initiative came in response to the importance of raising health and environmental awareness in reducing the spread of waterborne diseases, foremost among them cholera, thereby contributing to protecting the most vulnerable groups and enhancing the community’s capacity to adopt preventive practices.

The initiative, which lasted a full week, targeted the residents and families of Al-Jazra Camp, with a focus on children, women, and the elderly. Activities included distributing awareness brochures, conducting five educational sessions covering cholera symptoms, transmission methods, and preventive measures to be followed, along with 30 home visits to reinforce health messages and answer families’ inquiries.

The initiative also focused on encouraging families to apply proper health practices, including regular disinfection of water tanks and maintaining personal and household hygiene, to reduce the risks of disease transmission.

As part of the initiative’s activities, an interactive program for children was implemented to instill personal hygiene habits, alongside a community environmental cleanup campaign in which a number of camp residents participated, aimed at fostering shared responsibility for maintaining a healthy and safe environment.

This initiative reflects the foundation’s commitment to supporting local communities by enhancing health awareness, embedding a culture of prevention, and empowering individuals to adopt practices that contribute to protecting their own health and that of their communities.

Dan continues to implement its humanitarian and development programs aimed at building more aware communities capable of facing health and environmental challenges, based on its belief that prevention and knowledge are the foundation for achieving sustainable development and improving quality of life.

In the Al-Baydar and Al-Alayat areas of rural Raqqa, in partnership between World Vision International (WVI) and DRD Foundation, the Savings for Transformation (S4T) groups continue to deliver a practical and sustainable model for economic empowerment and community resilience, by fostering a culture of saving and investing in local potential

This initiative began with building participants’ capacities through specialized training in savings group management, internal lending, and financial fund administration, enabling them to lead their groups with efficiency and confidence. The project team also provided ongoing follow-up and regular technical support to ensure the smooth functioning of the groups and to enhance their sustainability.

Since the groups were established, 13 regular savings sessions have been held, and the groups continue their work consistently within their operational cycles, with members continuing to save, lend, and repay—a clear indicator of the model’s success and its capacity for sustainability and self-reliance.

During this period, 28 women succeeded in establishing two community savings groups, which mobilized savings and emergency funds exceeding 10 million Syrian pounds, in addition to providing approximately 30 internal loans that supported income-generating projects and addressed urgent household needs. Nearly 70% of participants were able to launch or develop economic activities that contributed to improving their income sources and enhancing their families’ living stability.

These efforts are reflected in real success stories: one participant launched a home-based tailoring project and later expanded it through two consecutive loans; another invested her loan in agricultural seedling production; while another started a layer chicken project that provided an additional source of income for her family. One woman also used the internal lending system to cover essential health needs, before later obtaining another loan that helped her family improve their housing conditions—while consistently repaying her loans on time.

These outcomes confirm that S4T groups go beyond the traditional concept of saving and lending, forming an integrated pathway that strengthens confidence, cooperation, community leadership, and sustainable economic empowerment—rooted in the community’s own potential. They prove that community-led solutions can generate real and lasting change when equipped with the right tools and support.

As part of its efforts to raise community awareness and reduce risks threatening children’s lives, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development conducted awareness sessions targeting students at the Hijin Educational Center in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. This comes amid challenges posed by drowning incidents in water bodies and floods, in addition to the dangers of landmines and explosive ordnance left over from wars, which continue to pose a direct threat to human security and community safety.

The sessions were delivered by the center’s teachers and focused on raising children’s awareness of the dangers of drowning in the Euphrates River, while introducing the safety procedures to be followed, especially during periods of high water levels and floods. The sessions also included educating children about the risks of landmines and suspicious or unfamiliar objects, emphasizing the importance of not approaching or tampering with them, and reporting them to the relevant authorities through safe channels, thereby contributing to reducing incidents and protecting lives.

A total of 218 male and female students benefited from these sessions, in a step that reflects the foundation’s commitment to reaching the broadest possible segment of children and enhancing their ability to cope with risks in their daily environment.

These activities come as part of the foundation’s efforts to instill a culture of safety and prevention among children, empowering them to acquire the knowledge and skills that help them recognize the risks around them and make informed decisions that contribute to protecting themselves and others.

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance women’s protection and empower them economically and socially, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development launched a vocational training program in tailoring within the safe space for women and girls at the foundation’s center in the Al-Sabha area in the Deir ez-Zor countryside.

The training began in June with the participation of 20 women returnees from Al-Hol Camp and will continue over a period of two months, as part of a series of activities implemented by the foundation to support the most vulnerable women and help them build a more stable future.

The program aims to equip participants with essential professional skills in tailoring, enabling them to enter the labor market or launch their own small projects in the future, in addition to providing the necessary tools to help them begin their professional journey.

The training also contributes to enhancing self-reliance, creating opportunities for sustainable income sources, as well as supporting the psychological and social recovery of participants and strengthening their integration into their local communities, thereby reinforcing the role of women as active partners in the recovery and development process.

DAN continues to implement programs aimed at empowering women and girls, stemming from its belief that capacity building and creating economic opportunities are essential pillars for achieving sustainable recovery and strengthening social cohesion.

As part of its efforts to support and develop the education sector, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development concluded a training program targeting teachers at the educational complex in the Al-Shaddadi area, in coordination with the Education Directorate in Al-Hasakah. This initiative aims to enhance the competence of educational staff and improve the quality of the educational process.

This initiative stems from the foundation’s belief in the importance of investing in teachers as the cornerstone of building an effective educational system, by equipping them with the latest teaching strategies, classroom management methods, and active learning skills. This aligns with the transformations taking place in Syria’s education sector, moving from rote memorization and retention toward comprehension and critical thinking, while also leveraging interactive educational platforms and modern digital resources.

The training program was implemented over the period from June 1, 2026, to June 23, 2026, with the participation of 30 teachers (11 male and 19 female) from the educational staff of the Ministry of Education in the Syrian government, all affiliated with the educational complex in Al-Shaddadi.

At the conclusion of the program, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development distributed 30 training kits containing educational supplies and stationery, in support of the teachers and to assist them in applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the training within the classroom environment.

The DAN Foundation for Relief and Development affirms its continued implementation of educational initiatives that contribute to building the capacities of educational staff and enhancing the quality of education, which positively reflects on student learning outcomes and contributes to achieving quality and sustainable education that serves the local community

Dan Relief and Development Foundation continued its efforts to support the education sector during the 2026 general exams, through a series of humanitarian and logistical interventions targeting exam centers in Al-Hasakah, Qamishli, Al-Shaddadi, and the rural areas of Deir ez-Zor, contributing to a safer and more comfortable environment for thousands of students and exam supervisors

During the exam period, the foundation provided over 16,000 drinking water bottles to exam centers, along with supplying a number of centers with essential stationery materials, in a response aimed at mitigating the effects of high temperatures and ensuring the continuity of the exam process under suitable conditions

In Qamishli city, the foundation delivered 4,800 drinking water bottles to the Educational Complex to support exam centers and supervising staff. It also supported exam centers in Al-Hasakah city with a package of necessary stationery supplies, including paper, pens, and whiteboard materials, helping to meet the operational needs of the centers during the exam period

In the Al-Shaddadi area, the foundation’s team carried out a regular daily distribution of 6,000 drinking water bottles to a number of exam centers for basic and secondary education certificates, ensuring support reached students and supervisors throughout the exam days

The foundation’s efforts extended to the Al-Jazrat area in the rural Deir ez-Zor through the “Drop of Support” initiative, implemented by the foundation’s Peace Committee and Community Health Committee in response to the challenges faced by exam centers due to rising temperatures and frequent water outages

The initiative targeted over 700 male and female students and supervisors across three exam centers, with 6,000 chilled drinking water bottles distributed over seven consecutive days, helping to provide a healthier and more suitable environment for students, especially those from displaced families facing additional living challenges

These interventions came in response to urgent needs identified on the ground, where water shortages and high temperatures posed health risks to students and negatively affected their ability to concentrate during exams. The support provided helped reduce these risks and strengthened students and their families’ sense of care and support during one of the most important educational stages

Dan Relief and Development Foundation believes that investing in education is not limited to providing educational services alone, but also includes creating the humanitarian and health conditions that enable students to continue their education safely and with dignity. From this standpoint, the foundation continues to work with local communities and educational authorities to support the educational process and enhance the resilience of students in the most vulnerable areas

As part of enhancing interactive learning methods and connecting scientific concepts with practical reality, the Accelerated Education Centre of the DAN Relief and Development Foundation in the city of Hajin, eastern rural Deir ez-Zor, implemented an external applied lesson for the science subject titled “The Presence of Water in Nature,” targeting second-level students (fifth grade), with the participation of 21 male and female students

Away from traditional classrooms, teacher Khalil Al-Bahr led his students on an educational visit to the Hajin water filtration station, where they had the opportunity to directly learn about water treatment stages and the mechanisms by which water reaches homes. The visit constituted a hands-on educational experience that enhanced students’ understanding of scientific concepts related to water and its importance in daily life

During the tour, students learned about the station’s infrastructure and observed up close the operation of pumps and transmission networks, which helped transform theoretical information into tangible real-world experience and reinforced their sense of the importance of conserving water resources and appreciating their value

This activity is part of the Accelerated Education project implemented by the DAN Relief and Development Foundation, aimed at supporting children who have dropped out of education due to crises and conflicts, and enabling them to return and integrate into the formal education system. Currently, 220 male and female students benefit from the project at the education centre in Hajin city, distributed across three educational levels

In addition to educational activities, the project places great importance on strengthening the role of the family in supporting the educational process, as teachers conduct awareness sessions for caregivers titled “The Importance of Education and Returning to Schools.” To date, the number of beneficiaries from these sessions has reached 1,982 caregivers out of the 3,000 targeted under the project plan.
The educational process is also accompanied by the implementation of psychosocial support (PSS) sessions for students within the Time Up programme, aimed at enhancing their psychological well-being and supporting their ability to learn and adapt