As part of a women’s empowerment project in Raqqa and Al-Hasakah, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development conducted a training course on disaster risk reduction. The course took place at the foundation’s center for “Disaster Risk Reduction and Gender-Based Violence Activities” in the village of Sanjak Saadoun, rural Amuda, and lasted for three days

The training targeted two groups, each consisting of 8 female participants from the same village and surrounding areas. It focused on strengthening the capacities of emergency response teams for disaster risk reduction, led by women.

The course covered key topics, including: disaster risk management and local hazards, safety and security during emergencies, fire prevention and suppression, flood preparedness and response, first aid and emergency response, and community awareness and preparedness.

The training combined theoretical sessions with practical exercises, enabling participants to gain the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary for emergency response.

On the final day, essential disaster risk reduction toolkits were distributed to the participants to support their preparedness and enhance their ability to respond effectively within their communities. The materials provided to each participant included: a firefighting suit, thermal safety boots, thermal gloves, a helmet, a face shield, a 12 kg powder fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit.

This training course is part of the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development’s efforts to strengthen local communities’ ability to face disasters and reduce their impacts, by building women’s capacities and enabling them to play active roles in emergency response and protecting their communities. Such interventions contribute to enhancing community readiness and spreading a culture of prevention and preparedness, positively affecting individual safety and the sustainability of local development.

The foundation believes that investing in women’s capacities and equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools is a fundamental pillar for building more resilient communities capable of facing challenges and crises, thereby strengthening women’s role as key partners in protecting society and supporting recovery and development pathways

As part of the activities of the Vocational Training Project – Third Cycle, Dan Relief and Development implemented a “Child Protection” initiative aimed at promoting safe and child-friendly spaces within the local community.

The initiative included providing one of the public parks in the city of Raqqa with seating and waiting benches, as well as garbage bins, which contributes to improving the public environment, promoting cleanliness, and providing a more comfortable and safer space for children and families.

This initiative was implemented in coordination and cooperation with the Local Administrative Council, reaffirming the importance of community partnership in supporting sustainable humanitarian and development initiatives.

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.

Vocational training is one of the most important tools for empowering youth and creating new opportunities that help them build a more stable and independent future. In communities facing economic and social challenges, vocational programs stand out as genuine opportunities to turn ambition into practical skills that can generate employment and strengthen community participation

In this context, Dan Relief and Development Foundation has launched the third cycle of its Vocational Training Program, starting with a photography course for 14 young women at the Foundation’s Vocational Training Center in Raqqa.

This course offers ambitious young women a unique professional skill that opens new horizons in the world of creativity and work. Over six months, participants will receive comprehensive theoretical and practical training in the fundamentals of photography, including camera techniques, lighting principles, visual composition, and photo editing skills.

The program aims to equip participants with the professional abilities needed to turn their passion for photography into real job opportunities—whether by establishing their own photography studios, working as freelance photographers for events and occasions, or engaging in commercial and artistic photography fields.

Through its vocational training programs, Dan Relief and Development Foundation reaffirms its commitment to supporting and empowering youth by providing them with practical skills that help them build sustainable careers and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

The Dan Foundation for Relief and Development (DRD), in partnership with DCA, continues to implement interventions aimed at supporting farmers and enhancing their ability to restore their sources of income, through a qualitative project in the village of Al-Bayda in the countryside of Ain Issa district in Raqqa Governorate. This intervention comes after DCA teams completed the clearance of two agricultural fields from unexploded ordnance, which paved the way for DRD to work directly with the landowners to revive their agricultural activity, which had been halted for nearly ten years.

As part of this intervention, two agricultural wells were drilled in the two targeted land plots and equipped with the necessary equipment to ensure sustainable irrigation water supply. The wells also underwent operational tests to verify their readiness to meet actual irrigation needs. In addition, the farmers received certified wheat seeds suitable for the local climatic conditions, in quantities sufficient to cultivate an area of two hectares, in accordance with the recommendations of the local Agriculture Directorate.

To encourage the transition towards more efficient irrigation techniques, each farmer was provided with a sprinkler irrigation system, contributing to reducing water waste and replacing traditional surface irrigation methods with more sustainable practices. The intervention also included the establishment of a Farmer Field School in the village, serving as a practical training platform to help farmers apply climate-smart agriculture principles, including modern irrigation techniques, proper agricultural practices for wheat cultivation such as seeding and fertilization rates, integrated pest management, and other methods that enhance productivity and sustainability.

This intervention represents a pivotal step in supporting livelihoods, enhancing local food security, and empowering farmers to restore their vital role in sustainable agricultural production