As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the urban environment and enhance the quality of life in areas affected by the lack of public services, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development has completed the rehabilitation of Ugarit Park in Al-Hasakah City, within a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming the park into a safe, green, and well-equipped public space serving children, families, and the local community

An Urgent Need for Safe Public Spaces

Al-Hasakah City suffers from a clear shortage of well-equipped public spaces, which limits children’s ability to play in a safe environment and reduces opportunities for social interaction among community members.

Additionally, many open spaces lack basic facilities such as seating, children’s playground equipment, and proper infrastructure, which negatively affects the quality of life and restricts the use of these spaces for community and recreational activities.

Based on this reality, the Ugarit Park rehabilitation initiative came to respond to a pressing community need, by restoring and developing the park to ensure the provision of a safe and inclusive urban environment.

A Comprehensive Rehabilitation Intervention

The rehabilitation works included an integrated set of technical and engineering interventions, focusing on improving infrastructure and enhancing safety and attractiveness elements within the park. The most prominent works included

· Carrying out comprehensive cleaning of the park grounds and removing waste and obstacles.
· Improving the water drainage system by implementing drainage points and installing dedicated pipes to ensure water flow.
· Installing new rest benches with engineering specifications ensuring comfort, durability, and suitability for public use.
· Supplying and installing modern children’s playground equipment, including swings and slides, in accordance with safety standards.
· Maintaining and updating old playground equipment and replacing damaged parts to ensure safe use.
· Installing solar-powered lighting units with a capacity of 400 watts, enhancing sustainability and providing safe lighting during evening hours.
· Maintaining old lighting poles and improving their operational readiness.
· Spreading soft sand in play areas to reduce the risk of injuries and improve the quality of use.
· Maintaining public facilities such as benches and garbage bins to improve the overall aesthetic appearance.

All works were carried out under the direct technical supervision of the Foundation’s engineers and in coordination with relevant local authorities to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards.

A Space for Childhood and Community Interaction

The project was not limited to infrastructure only but also included the implementation of recreational and awareness activities after the completion of the rehabilitation works, aiming to enhance the use of the park as an active community space.

The activities included

· Group games for children to promote social interaction.
· Outdoor drawing and coloring activities to foster creativity.
· Light recreational competitions to create a positive environment inside the park.

An awareness session was also held for parents and children on the importance of preserving public spaces, the safe use of park facilities, and promoting positive behaviors in shared spaces.

Community Partnership to Ensure Sustainability

The initiative was implemented in coordination with the People’s Municipality in Al-Hasakah and with active participation from the local community, as residents contributed to cleaning campaigns and community support, which strengthened the sense of ownership and responsibility toward the park.

According to the sustainability plan, the park has been handed over to the municipality for management and maintenance supervision, with permanent security assigned to ensure the safety of the facilities and the continued use of the park as a safe and inclusive public space.

Impact Beyond Infrastructure to the Community

The rehabilitation initiative of Ugarit Park represents an important step toward enhancing social cohesion and reviving public spaces in Al-Hasakah City, by providing a safe environment for children, an interactive space for families, and an open venue for community activities.

Thus, the impact of the project extends beyond improving infrastructure to enhancing the quality of life and reconnecting the community with its public space, within a sustainable development vision that places people at the heart of the development process.

Within the activities of the “NAF” project, and during the second year of implementation, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development continues to carry out the “Adaptation” phase, aimed at enhancing the economic stability of the most vulnerable families and empowering local communities to build sustainable and viable business models in the Al-Karamah area of Al-Raqqa Governorate

In this context, during the first phase, the Foundation succeeded in supporting nine productive projects within the livestock sector (sheep and cattle), benefiting nine out of the twelve targeted groups under the project. The support included providing the projects with an integrated package of productive assets and essential operational supplies, consisting of

283 heads of sheep
10 lambs and 5 rams
9 cows with their calves
5 tons of hay
6 tons of white barley
8 tons of black barley
2 tons of yellow corn
7 tons of white bran
3 tons of compound feed

Each group consists of between 15 and 20 members, totaling 200 heads of households, who will directly benefit from the assets and supplies provided, thereby improving their economic opportunities and enhancing their sources of income

The next phase also includes completing the delivery of a set of supporting services and supplies for the projects, including
(Agricultural nurseries – agricultural plowing services – block production factories – construction materials and additional operational equipment)

This intervention is part of an integrated approach focused on supporting collective projects by providing them with the necessary in-kind inputs and assets to launch and develop their economic activities

The support is planned to cover 12 integrated productive groups, along with the implementation of a comprehensive training program aimed at enhancing beneficiaries’ capacities in management, governance, and marketing, in addition to providing specialized vocational and technical training tailored to the nature of each project and its operational needs

During the second phase, the Dan Foundation continues its efforts to complete the provision of the remaining operational assets for the projects, ensuring the sustainability of the production process and improving the efficiency of the projects and their ability to generate stable economic returns over the long term

Through this approach based on economic empowerment and livelihood development, the Foundation seeks to create a tangible developmental impact that contributes to strengthening the resilience of local communities, creating sustainable income opportunities, and stimulating the local economy, thereby supporting development pathways based on self-reliance and community sustainability

Dan Foundation for Relief and Development has completed the implementation of an activity to distribute disaster response and firefighting equipment kits in the villages of Al-Yarmouk and Al-Jarbou’ in rural Al-Raqqa. This step aims to strengthen the readiness of local communities to respond rapidly to fire risks and natural disasters
The activity targeted 10 beneficiaries selected from members of Al-Nour and Khirbet Al-Anab cooperatives, with five beneficiaries from each cooperative. They were nominated to participate as part of specialized teams formed specifically for this purpose
The distributed equipment included a comprehensive set of safety and protection tools, such as heat-resistant boots, helmets equipped with face and neck protection, 12 kg dry powder fire extinguishers, in addition to full firefighting suits, ensuring that the teams are well-prepared to handle various emergency situations

Prior to the distribution, beneficiaries received practical training focused on disaster response mechanisms and firefighting methods, which contributed to enhancing their efficiency and enabling them to effectively deal with potential risks in their areas
This activity comes as part of the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen the capacities of local communities and to build volunteer teams capable of protecting lives and property, and responding effectively to emergency challenges in rural Al-Raqqa

The Farmer Field Schools implemented by the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development in Al-Raqqa Governorate have begun to witness the ripening of the cucumber crop, as participating farmers have reached the harvesting stage. This comes within the framework of a project aimed at empowering agricultural cooperatives and training youth and women in climate-smart agricultural practices
The project includes two field schools, each with approximately 40 trainees, where participants learn modern vegetable farming techniques using greenhouses, agricultural tunnels, and modern irrigation systems
First school: Al-Jarbou’ village – Al-Nour Cooperative, with 42 trainees
Second school: Al-Yarmouk farm – Khirbet Al-Anab Cooperative, with 40 trainees
The project targets youth and women aged 18 and above who are interested in learning, own agricultural land, are able to commit to the training, and reside within the project areas
The foundation confirmed that the beginning of the cucumber crop’s ripening marks an important step toward achieving the project’s goals, as it enables farmers to apply modern skills in practice, increase productivity, and strengthen food security in the region

As part of the Dan Foundation’s commitment to supporting vocational education and enhancing opportunities for young people to enter the labor market, the Foundation implemented a qualitative step by distributing 94 integrated technical baskets to vocational training students in the city of Raqqa. These baskets were carefully designed to meet the practical needs of each profession individually

The importance of these baskets is not limited to being training tools alone; they represent a fundamental pillar for empowering trainees to apply the skills they have acquired practically, contributing to refining their abilities and transforming their theoretical knowledge into tangible expertise that enhances their professional readiness.

The distribution included students from six vital professions that are witnessing increasing demand in the labor market: Electronics Maintenance, Men’s Tailoring, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Resin Art, Pastry Making, and Photography. The receipt and inspection process was carried out with high precision to ensure the quality of the materials, followed by organizing a smooth distribution process that lasted for three days.

This activity is part of an integrated training program benefiting 94 male and female trainees at the two vocational training centers affiliated with the Foundation in the city of Raqqa, where participants undergo theoretical and practical training lasting three months. Upon completion of this phase, the trainees will be distributed to more than 30 workshops in the labor market, aiming to enhance their practical skills and gain additional experience, including communication skills and understanding the fundamentals of various professions.

Through these initiatives, the Foundation seeks to empower trainees to build independent career paths, ultimately leading to the establishment of their own projects and contributing effectively to the development of the local economy.