April International Days… Stages for Raising Awareness and Reviving Human Values
Every April witnesses a number of international days that highlight important humanitarian issues. These occasions provide an opportunity to raise awareness, spread knowledge, and encourage positive interaction among communities. Within this framework, GOPA-DERD’s team, implemented a set of various activities in various regions.
In Latakia, and in the occasion of with World Autism Awareness Day, GOPA-DERD’s Community Center’s team, implemented an awareness session for mothers on the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder and educational approaches for children with autism. In addition, educational tools were created to support children’s learning and develop their various skills.
The team also carried out an inclusive activity for a number of children with children with autism spectrum disorder with the aim of promoting social interaction among them through educational skills such as distinguishing between different textures, developing self-care skills, and learning about the four seasons and the five senses.
With the aim of highlighting ways to improve the quality of life of autistic children and their families, and to raise awareness of effective communication mechanisms with them, in order to support their integration into society, GOPA-DERD’s Community Center’s team in Daraa Implemented a recreational for 15 children with autism spectrum disorder, with the participation of caregivers. This took place in cooperation with the UNHCR.
In turn, GOPA-DERD’s “SPACE” Center’s team in Aleppo organized a number of various activities for women and children in both Qadi Askar and Hreitan areas.
The activities included awareness sessions for women about the concept of autism spectrum disorder, its causes, symptoms, and ways to deal with children. In addition, an interactive activity entitled ”Myth and Fact” was implemented to correct some common misconceptions about autism and to reinforced the correct information in a simple and enjoyable way.
The team also organized a meaningful puppet show for children, which helped deliver awareness messages in an engaging way suitable for their age and promoted values of acceptance and inclusion.
At the end of the activities, the children participated in an art activity involving handprints, through which they expressed their support and solidarity with their peers with autism.
GOPA-DERD’s “SPACE” Center’s team in Deir ez-Zor, organized various activities for a group of children with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers.
The activities included recreational games for children that help develop their talents and mental awareness, along with the distribution of gifts, and activities for their caregivers on how to deal with and guide them. This took place in cooperation with DKH.
In conjunction with International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, and in an interactive environment that integrates learning with play and simulation, GOPA-DERD’s “SPACE” Center’s team in Qadi Askar, Aleppo, implemented an awareness session for a group of children about the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war.
The session focused on promoting vital safety behaviors, such as immediately stopping and informing adults upon seeing any suspicious object. The children also learned about warning signs by coloring them.
GOPA-DERD’s “SPACE” Center’s team in Deir ez-Zor, also carried out a set of various activities and awareness sessions for a number of children in the village of Al-Masrab in the western rural of the city.
The sessions focused on mines, explosive remnants of war, and the dangers of approaching or tampering with them. This took place in cooperation with DKH.
In a related context, GOPA-DERD’s team, with support from SHF, also carried out a number of awareness-raising activities for children in the village of Marat in the eastern rural of Deir ez-Zor.
The activities included field visit, and a set of purposeful and recreational activities about the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war.
In Latakia, GOPA-DERD’s “Relief” Center’s team, in cooperation with WFP, implemented a set of awareness sessions on the remnants of war, presented by a team from the Syrian Civil Defense in the Qastal Maaf area in the rural of the governorate.
The sessions included an introduction to unexploded ordnance, its types, and methods of contacting the specialized teams in case they are seen. These sessions targeted a number of workers who will be cleaning the forest roads and fire lines of grass and small bushes within the areas of Qastal Maaf, Rabi’a, and Kinsabba.
On the occasion of World Health Day, and with the aim of promoting comprehensive health awareness among women, GOPA-DERD’s “A Safe Maternity” program’s team in Aleppo, implemented a set of various activities in Al-Bayada area, in cooperation with ACT Church of Sweden.
The activities included awareness and interactive sessions on the concept of public health, reproductive health, and ways to maintain it through balanced nutrition, physical activity, regular medical checkups, and attention to mental health.
The importance of family planning and its effective role in preserving the health of mothers and children was also highlighted, through spacing births, reducing health risks, and enabling families to provide better care for their children, which positively impacts the health of the entire community.
On the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day, GOPA-DERD’s “SPACE” Center’s team, in cooperation with DKH, organized a recreational day for children.
During the day, the children showcased their various talents through a set of creative activities, including drawing, singing, music, and poetry recitation. In addition, an art exhibition was carried out to featuring their drawings and handicrafts, which reflected their artistic abilities.
Mohammed, one of the participating children, expressed his happiness at taking part in the exhibition, considering the opportunity to display his artwork to everyone a unique and unforgettable experience.
In Homs, and with the aim of enhancing creative thinking skills among young people and activating the role of innovation in arts and crafts, and on the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day, GOPA-DERD’s “Darb” Center’s team, implemented a set of various activities and sessions over two consecutive days, for more than 70 young people aged between 18 and 29 years.
On the first day, under the title “The Philosophy of Light and Shadow - Seeing Beyond the Ordinary,” the team implemented an artistic activity in which a collection of professional paintings based on contrast techniques were displayed, a detailed explanation was given, and then the participants practically applied and executed the paintings based on the explained techniques.
The following day, with the aim of raising awareness about creative recycling and changing young people’s view of old materials and transforming them into artistic and economical tools used within the home, the team carried out an outdoor activity that included a sustainable design workshop entitled “Yesterday’s Waste… Today’s Treasures,” during which leftover fabrics, old jeans pieces and cotton fibers were used to produce useful household tools and create handbags.
GOPA-DERD’s “Darb” Center’s team at the safe space for youth in Latakia, also organized an event that presented an unconventional experience to dismantle the stereotypical image of innovation, and to raise awareness among young people about ways of creativity and transforming innovation from a slogan to a practice. This took place in cooperation with UNFPA.
In turn, GOPA-DERD’s Community Center’s team in Latakia implemented an artistic and musical activity, in which the participants expressed their various talents. This took place in cooperation with UNHCR.