Damascus

To empower juveniles to find a job after leaving the Female Juvenile Center in Damascus,SSSD in cooperation with UNFPA conducted vocational training courses in the center, namely, hair stylist and wool knitting.
Hair stylist course
First stage/ Beginner level included teaching scissor-over-comb technique and the right way to use the comb for hair sections, as well as discussing general hair stylist etiquette.Second stage included teaching haircuts: layered, dégradé, long and short carré, and garson. As well as cutting hair with a razor, hair trimming, getting rid of split ends, cutting bangs and sideburns.
Third stage: skin care and eyebrows. How to use tweezers, filling eyebrows, and choosing the best eyebrow shapes according to face-shapes.
Fourth stage/ hair coloring: hair dyes and different color ranges, how to blend dyes and prepare color composition, choosing the right dye colors for skin color. Then practical hair coloring for trainees who wanted to color their hair or repair its color.
The final stage included how to apply color using meche (caps) and using foils (highlight) and how to blend and prepare the mix.
There was a weekly open day, at which the girls practically learnt different braid-styles and simple hairstyles. The girls were so happy and determined to work in hair styling once they leave the juvenile center.

Wool knitting course
First stage: the right way of holding the wool needle, different types and sizes of needles, and different types of wool.
Second stage: included introducing the girls to knitting stitch patterns (size and number) and then they started off with practical knitting. At the beginning they knitted wool hats based on their color preferences. Later, they knitted scarfs, foot-warmers, gloves, sweaters and jackets.

Gender-based Violence (SGBV)

Damascus

"Small Steps" Campaign and Events

2018-11-01

With “small steps” and eyes gleaming with hope, the children filled the ceremonial halls in the governorates of Damascus, Sweida, Aleppo, Hama, Tartous, Homs and Hasakeh, where the Syrian Society for Social Development (SSSD) is carrying out its activities. And with joyful voices, they sang the slogan of the Rights of the Child Campaign, which was carried out throughout November:
My rights are many,
but with one small step
I own myself…
and them in the process!
The campaign included a variety of activities targeting children, adolescents and caregivers. It aimed at raising awareness about the rights of the child and the importance of all children’s access to them, and was concluded with a number of events to celebrate World Children’s Day.
During the events, the children presented artistic performances that emphasized the rights of the child, provided for in the 1989 UN Convention, and highlighted the causes of children’s exposure to risks, such as child labor, school dropout and even delinquency. These causes include not only depriving the child of care in general and family care in particular, but also neglecting and marginalizing children during childhood and other growth stages, which negatively affects them, and then the community as a whole.
The children’s interaction with the events’ activities and artistic performances was truly remarkable. Making use of their various talents, they were able to convey the message to their peers, as well as to their parents, teachers and other groups that attended. The Small Steps Campaign and Events constituted a strong step towards achieving a safe and healthy childhood and a new space for children—provided by SSSD in cooperation with the UNHCR.