Dan for Relief and Development Foundation (DRD) has begun distributing productive equipment to 50 women and girls in Raqqa City who successfully completed vocational training in tailoring and dressmaking, as well as pastry and confectionery production. The activity is part of the “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Raqqa and Al-Hasakah” project, implemented in partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)

The assistance included the distribution of 25 modern industrial sewing machines to participants trained in tailoring and dressmaking, in addition to 25 electric dough mixers and 25 gas-powered household ovens equipped with four burners for participants trained in pastry and confectionery production.

The equipment is intended to help beneficiaries transition from vocational training to launching their own productive activities, enabling them to apply the skills they have acquired and establish sustainable sources of income.

DRD previously concluded a three-month vocational training programme targeting 50 women and girls from the most vulnerable groups, including survivors of and women and girls at risk of gender-based violence (GBV).

During the training, participants acquired practical and vocational skills in tailoring and dressmaking, as well as pastry and confectionery preparation, using approaches aligned with local market needs. This contributes to enhancing their employment and income-generating opportunities and strengthening their ability to establish small businesses.

The programme went beyond technical training, with participants also receiving specialized sessions on business development skills to strengthen their capacity to launch, manage, and sustain small businesses. The sessions covered key topics including budgeting, business planning and management, and marketing.

The programme is part of DRD’s broader efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment and equip women with practical, market-relevant vocational skills, helping them access employment or establish small businesses while strengthening their financial independence and ability to improve their livelihoods within a safe and women- and girl-responsive environment.

DRD continues to implement vocational training and livelihoods programmes that respond to the needs of the most vulnerable groups, with a focus on linking acquired skills to employment opportunities and market demands, contributing to economic recovery and more sustainable livelihoods.

Dan for Relief and Development (DRD) implemented a community health initiative entitled “Pulse of Life” in Jazrat Al-Milaj, rural Deir ez-Zor, from 10 to 15 August 2026. The initiative included the distribution of 30 blood glucose meters and their supplies to the most vulnerable cases, alongside free blood glucose testing, health awareness activities, and training on the proper use of the devices

The initiative was launched in response to the challenges faced by the poorest households in accessing essential healthcare services, particularly regular blood glucose testing for people living with diabetes. These challenges are compounded by the high cost of medical tests and the distance some families have to travel to reach laboratories, creating additional financial and health burdens, particularly for older people and patients.

As part of the initiative, 50 free blood glucose tests were conducted to support the early identification of cases requiring follow-up and to determine which beneficiaries were most in need of home glucose monitoring devices.

In response to the health needs of the targeted households, 30 blood glucose meters, along with all necessary supplies, were distributed. In addition, 100 testing strips were provided. Practical training sessions were also conducted for beneficiaries on how to operate the devices, read and record results, maintain the equipment safely, and use it correctly.

The initiative also included health awareness sessions addressing the symptoms of diabetes, prevention methods, the importance of healthy nutrition and physical activity, and the regular monitoring of blood glucose levels. These activities contributed to strengthening beneficiaries’ ability to manage the condition and reduce the risks of related complications.

The initiative was implemented with the participation of volunteers and health personnel, as well as members of the Health Committee and Peace Committee, who contributed to planning, coordination, field supervision, and the organization of sessions and activities. Their involvement further strengthened the role of community committees in responding to local needs.

The initiative helped reduce part of the direct financial burden on targeted households and strengthened their ability to monitor their health conditions, while also increasing awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection of chronic diseases.

The “Pulse of Life” initiative is part of broader efforts to support the most vulnerable groups, improve access to essential healthcare services, and promote a culture of prevention, community cooperation, and locally led responses to health needs in the region.

Dan for Relief and Development (DRD), in partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), has completed the distribution of barley to livestock farmers in villages affiliated with the Sanjak Saadoun Council, near the city of Amuda in northern rural Al-Hasakah, as part of the activities of the “Women’s Empowerment in Raqqa and Al-Hasakah” project

Based on defined eligibility criteria, the activity reached 75 women from 11 villages who own or manage small livestock herds. Each beneficiary received one ton of barley and 10 kilograms of feed supplements.

This support aims to improve livestock health and productivity, reduce animal husbandry costs, and strengthen livelihoods based on livestock rearing, contributing to increased household income and improved capacity to cope with economic pressures.

To further enhance the impact of this intervention, DRD also conducted a four-day specialized training for women livestock farmers. The training covered livestock nutrition management, methods for improving productivity, and approaches to reducing animal husbandry costs, strengthening participants’ knowledge and skills while supporting the sustainability of their income sources.

The “Women’s Empowerment in Raqqa and Al-Hasakah” project is implemented through an integrated approach combining food security, sustainable livelihoods, and protection, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable women and girls, with a particular focus on survivors of violence, female-headed households, and displaced women.

In addition to supporting small-scale livestock farmers, the project includes economic empowerment pathways through vocational training and entrepreneurship support for 50 women in Raqqa, as well as conditional cash grants to establish income-generating businesses based on approved business plans. The project also supports the formation of women’s groups and provides training on disaster risk reduction and early warning systems to protect agricultural assets from climate-related shocks.

The project also includes protection activities, including community awareness, psychosocial support for women, and emergency cash assistance for critical cases, based on protection assessments that uphold privacy and confidentiality.

Through these interventions, Dan for Relief and Development seeks to strengthen food security and the stability of productive household assets among female-headed households, support sustainable economic empowerment pathways, and enhance women’s ability to gradually transition from reliance on humanitarian assistance toward productive livelihoods and improved income sources. The project also engages beneficiaries and local stakeholders in planning and follow-up, contributing to the sustainability of its outcomes.

Dan for Relief and Development Foundation, in partnership with World Vision International (WVI), has completed its support for collective enterprises in Al-Karama area, rural Raqqa, by delivering equipment and productive assets to two groups comprising 33 beneficiaries, with the aim of enabling them to launch their enterprises and move into the operational and production phase

The handover, carried out on 3 August, included a diverse range of large-scale agricultural and construction equipment, reflecting the scale of support provided to the enterprises and their potential to generate collective and sustainable sources of income.

Agricultural and Construction Equipment to Launch Two Collective Enterprises

The first group, comprising 14 beneficiaries, received an integrated package to launch a collective agricultural enterprise. The package included an agricultural tractor and its attachments, including a plough and disc harrow, as well as repair and maintenance tools, a hydraulic jack, and a grease gun. Safety equipment was also provided, including a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

These assets will enable the group to provide agricultural services in the area and operate them collectively, creating income-generation opportunities while strengthening the sustainability of the enterprise.

The second group, comprising 19 beneficiaries, received productive assets and equipment to establish a collective enterprise in the construction sector. The support included a dump truck for transporting construction materials, block-making machines, multiple molds for producing blocks in different sizes, and a generator, in addition to quantities of cement, white gravel (Gharabia), and black Euphrates sand, as well as safety equipment.

These assets will enable the group to begin production and provide construction-related services, creating new opportunities for its members to generate income and work collectively.

During the next phase, both groups will focus on operating the assets, organizing work and management mechanisms, and developing relationships with local markets. This will help ensure the optimal use of the equipment and support the long-term sustainability of the enterprises.

This intervention reflects the project’s approach of moving beyond direct assistance toward empowering communities to own productive assets and manage income-generating enterprises, while simultaneously strengthening beneficiaries’ technical, managerial, and financial capacities.

Continued Support for Livestock Enterprises

This support builds on the project’s interventions in the livestock sector, where Dan for Relief and Development Foundation supported nine productive sheep- and cattle-rearing enterprises, benefiting nine groups out of the 12 groups targeted.

The support package included 283 sheep, 10 lambs, and 5 rams, as well as 9 cows with their calves. It also included operational supplies and feed, consisting of 5 tons of hay, 6 tons of white barley, 8 tons of black barley, 2 tons of yellow corn, 7 tons of white bran, and 3 tons of compound feed.

A total of 200 heads of household benefited from these enterprises, with each group comprising between 15 and 20 members.

From Assistance to Economic Empowerment

Through these interventions, Dan for Relief and Development Foundation, in partnership with World Vision International, reaffirm their commitment to supporting economic recovery in Al-Karama and strengthening the capacity of local communities to develop more sustainable sources of income.

The interventions go beyond addressing immediate needs by enabling communities to access productive assets, strengthen self-reliance, and contribute to the local economy

As part of the “Women’s Empowerment in Al-Hasakah and Raqqa” project, Dan for Relief and Development (DRD) completed a specialised training for women livestock keepers in the Sanjak Saadoun sub-district council, in the rural area of Amuda, Al-Hasakah Governorate, in partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)

In rural Amuda, the training targeted 89 women livestock keepers from 11 villages within the Sanjak Saadoun sub-district. The four-day training aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills in livestock feed management, contributing to improved productivity, reduced livestock-raising costs, and enhanced livelihoods and household economic security.
The training covered a range of practical topics, including feed management and understanding different types of fodder, preparing balanced rations, and properly preserving and storing feed. It also highlighted the links between proper nutrition, animal health and productivity, and the economic viability of livestock farming.

This training is part of the project’s interventions to support women engaged in livestock production. Eligible beneficiaries will also receive barley feed rations and feed supplements, helping households preserve their productive assets and improve their returns.
The “Women’s Empowerment in Al-Hasakah and Raqqa” project follows a Nexus approach, integrating food security, sustainable livelihoods, and protection from gender-based violence to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable women and girls in rural Amuda, Al-Hasakah, and Raqqa City. The project focuses particularly on survivors of violence, women-headed households, and displaced women.

Areas of Work and Economic Empowerment
Food Security and Livelihoods:
The project supports women livestock keepers through the distribution of feed rations to eligible women in rural Amuda, alongside practical training on integrated feed management to improve productivity and reduce economic costs.

Other Economic Empowerment Pathways:
The project provides vocational and entrepreneurship training for 50 women in Raqqa, along with conditional cash grants to start income-generating businesses based on approved business plans. It also supports the formation of women’s groups and provides training on disaster risk reduction and early warning systems to protect agricultural assets from climate-related shocks.
Protection:
The project includes community awareness activities, a structured psychosocial support programme for women, and emergency cash assistance for critical cases, based on protection assessments that uphold privacy and confidentiality.

Through these interventions, Dan for Relief and Development aims to strengthen food security and the stability of productive household assets, particularly for women-headed households, support sustainable economic empowerment pathways, and help address protection gaps while promoting a safer and more inclusive community environment.

The project also places a strong emphasis on sustainability by strengthening community ownership and involving women beneficiaries in planning and decision-making. This supports a gradual transition from reliance on assistance towards self-reliance and production, while working with local authorities to ensure continued technical oversight of women’s groups and start-up businesses after the project ends.

As part of monitoring the implementation of the NAF Project activities, implemented by DAN Foundation for Relief and Development in partnership with World Vision International (WVI) in Al-Karama, eastern rural Raqqa, WVI Program Director Lauren Marriott conducted a field visit to assess progress achieved during the project’s second year of implementation

The second year focuses on the recovery phase, following the completion of the first year, which focused on humanitarian response and relief, and paving the way for the transition to the empowerment phase in the project’s third year.

The visit began with a follow-up on Saving for Transformation (S4T) sessions. Lauren observed the mechanisms through which savings groups operate, members’ adherence to the methodology, and the progress of savings and internal lending activities. She also held direct discussions with beneficiaries about key achievements, positive changes in their economic and social conditions, as well as challenges affecting the sustainability of the groups. Discussions also explored ways to strengthen their effectiveness and further develop the groups to ensure that their impact continues beyond the project’s completion.

The visit also included peacebuilding activities, where she met with members of the Girls’ Peace Club and observed sessions focused on identifying and designing youth-led community initiatives. The discussions highlighted the role of these initiatives in strengthening social cohesion, promoting a culture of dialogue, and encouraging meaningful youth participation in community life, recognizing young people as key partners in supporting peace and building more cohesive communities.

As part of the project’s livelihoods component, the Program Director visited productive businesses supported through the project, including sheep-rearing and cheese and dairy production initiatives, as well as vocational training and technical guidance activities provided to beneficiaries.

She also met with project owners to discuss implementation progress, opportunities to improve technical and managerial performance, ways to increase productivity and profitability, and measures to strengthen the businesses’ resilience to economic challenges. The discussions also explored future options to ensure the sustainability of these businesses and expand their developmental impact.

As part of its efforts to promote economic empowerment and support self-reliance, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development distributed vocational equipment to 40 female beneficiaries returning from Al-Hol Camp on July 23, 2026, at the Women’s and Girls’ Safe Space (WGSS) in the Al-Sabha area of rural Deir ez-Zor.

The equipment distribution came after the beneficiaries completed vocational training in sewing and cosmetology, aimed at helping them transform the skills they acquired into practical opportunities and sustainable sources of income, while enhancing their ability to become self-reliant and support the stability of their families.

The activity included 20 beneficiaries from the sewing training, with each receiving a sewing machine, in addition to 20 beneficiaries from the cosmetology (hairdressing) training, each of whom received a comprehensive set of essential equipment needed to practice the profession.

The cosmetology equipment kit included: a wooden hairdressing table with a mirror, a hairdryer, a hair straightener, a curling iron, hair scissors, combs, a barber apron, a hair coloring cap, hair dyeing tools, a water spray bottle, a makeup palette, towels, and two plastic chairs.

“An Integrated Path to Recovery and Integration”

This activity is part of the RISE project implemented by the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development to support women and children returning from Al-Hol Camp, and to enhance their integration into their communities through a comprehensive package of mental health and psychosocial support services, alongside protection and economic empowerment interventions.

“From Training to Economic Opportunity”

The distribution of vocational equipment to 40 beneficiaries in 2026 represents a continuation of the economic empowerment pathway within the project. The vocational training enabled participants to acquire practical skills in sewing and cosmetology, while the provision of equipment gave them the essential tools needed to begin practicing their professions and benefit from the skills they gained.

Through these interventions, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development emphasizes the importance of transitioning from short-term aid provision to creating opportunities that help beneficiaries build their capacities and strengthen their self-reliance, thereby laying the foundations for recovery, integration, and long-term stability.

The Dan Relief and Development Foundation, within the framework of the “Women’s Empowerment in Raqqa and Hasakah” project in partnership with NPA, concluded the vocational training program in the field of sewing, which targeted 25 women and girls from the most vulnerable groups, including survivors of gender-based violence and those at risk, in the city of Raqqa.

The training was implemented in cooperation with the Bahar Organization, inside the Women’s and Girls’ Safe Center (WGSS), and lasted for three months, during which the participants received practical and theoretical training on the basics and skills of sewing, enabling them to practice the profession and opening up opportunities for them to enter the labor market or launch their own projects.

This activity comes within the Foundation’s efforts aimed at economically empowering women by providing them with sustainable vocational skills that align with local market needs, thereby enhancing their financial independence, contributing to improving their living conditions, and reducing their exposure to gender-based violence.

The program witnessed great commitment from the participants throughout the training period, and concluded with a ceremony during which training completion certificates were distributed to the trainees, in appreciation of their efforts and perseverance in acquiring professional skills.

Dan is also preparing in the coming phase to distribute sewing tools and supplies to the graduates, with the aim of supporting them in starting their home-based projects or joining the labor market, thereby enhancing their opportunities to achieve sustainable income and build a more stable future.

This training comes within the “Women’s Empowerment in Raqqa and Hasakah” project, which aims to support the most vulnerable women and girls, enhance their economic and social capacities, and link vocational training to real opportunities for sustainable livelihood.

The Dan Relief and Development Foundation, within the framework of the “Women’s Empowerment in Raqqa and Hasakah” project in partnership with NPA, concluded the vocational training program in the field of pastry and bakery production, which targeted 25 women and girls from the most vulnerable groups, including survivors of gender-based violence and those at risk, in the city of Raqqa.

The training was implemented in cooperation with the Bahar Organization at the Women’s and Girls’ Safe Center (WGSS), and lasted for three months, during which the participants acquired practical skills in preparing pastries and baked goods according to professional methods that take into account the requirements of the local market, contributing to enhancing their opportunities for work and production.

The program aims to economically empower women by providing them with applicable vocational skills that help them establish small projects or work in this field, thereby enhancing their financial independence and supporting their ability to improve their living standards, within a safe environment that takes into account the needs of women and girls.

The program concluded with a ceremony distributing training completion certificates to the participants, in appreciation of their commitment and successful completion of the training stages, in a step that represents the beginning of a new phase of professional and economic empowerment.

Dan is scheduled to distribute work tools and supplies specific to pastry and bakery production to the graduates, helping them to start their productive projects and transform the skills they acquired into a sustainable source of income.

This activity comes within the Foundation’s efforts to enhance women’s economic empowerment and support the most needy groups, by providing vocational training programs linked to labor market needs and contributing to building sustainable livelihoods.

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.