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.

For years, the agricultural sector in northern Raqqa has suffered from the impact of ongoing conflict, resulting in the deterioration of agricultural systems, destruction of infrastructure, and limited access to modern farming technologies. These conditions have left agricultural cooperatives and small-scale farmers increasingly vulnerable to challenges.

Technical Capacity-Building Project

In response to these challenges, DAN Relief and Development launched a project aimed at strengthening the skills of agricultural cooperative members through the establishment of “Farmer Field Schools.” The project is being implemented in Yarmouk Farm (Khirbet Al‑Inab Cooperative) and Jarboua Village (Al‑Noor Cooperative), focusing on climate-smart agriculture techniques for vegetable production in protected environments.

The project includes creating a model environment featuring one greenhouse and 0.2 hectares of plastic tunnels at each site. These training platforms have become key hubs for exchanging knowledge and modern agricultural practices among farmers, enhancing the community’s ability to adapt to climate change.

Project Benefits and Outcomes

The project helps develop farmers’ skills in several areas, including:

Sustainable Production: Promoting climate-smart agriculture practices such as efficient irrigation systems, integrated pest management, and soil health.

Improved Productivity: Through protected agriculture techniques, farmers can increase productivity, improve crop quality, and extend the growing season.

Economic Empowerment: The project reduces farmers’ reliance on external aid, strengthens food security, and creates opportunities for diversifying income sources.

Community Collaboration and Learning: It encourages participatory learning among farmers and fosters innovation within cooperatives by transferring knowledge to the wider community.

Activities and Progress

Since the project was launched in September 2025, DAN has conducted training sessions on cooperative management and cooperative marketing. Agricultural activities have also begun: plastic greenhouses were installed in November 2025, seedlings were distributed in November in designated trays, and the irrigation network was prepared. Crops were protected from cold using white mesh and black mulch.

Future Outcomes

The project is expected to enhance agricultural communities’ capacity to face climate change challenges and improve resilience to future climate-related shocks. It also contributes to building a sustainable farming model in conflict-affected areas, strengthening food security and economic stability in the region.