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 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.

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.