Child sponsorship update from Damascus, Syria

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Damascus (Qodsaya) Syria 2008.

I would like to take the opportunity at the beginning of this report to thank you for your generous and continuous support to the SOS Children's Village of Qodsaya.

The Village was a home for many children for the last 27 years, now it's a home for 76 children - 11 children are new, and 4 children went back to live with their biological family.

January 16th - February 2nd, the midyear holiday:
Some of the children went to visit their biological families, and others stayed at the Village, but during this holiday, some activities were done. The children went to the Arabic cultural centre to attend some dancing performances. They also were invited by "Maye Scaaf" who is a very popular and famous actor in Syria, to attend a play at the theatre named "Looking for the Sun".

One the entertainment side, all the Village was invited to a resort in the south of Damascus "Hr. Mountain Resort". In that resort there are too many games to play, and different sports like: bowling, golf, basket ball and swimming, the children played with the games and did some sports then they had a very delicious lunch, after that they head back to the Village happy and tired as they enjoyed their time over there.

In the first week of February the Village was a little bit busy in arranging the wedding of a settled youth, her siblings are still in the Village, and the Wedding was wonderful, we wish her all the best. The Children also went for a visit to the location of "SpaceToon", a space channel, so they discovered how the people work in this field.

February 2nd - June 1st, 2nd semester at school:
As February is the best time for planting, the "Besançon", a private school in Damascus, donated some plants to be planted in the Village. Therefore, a day was set and some of the students came to the Village with the help of the children in the Village, they planted 100 plants in the whole Village, then they all had a branch, and played basketball. It was a great experience for both, the students and the children.

In March, the Syrian Television came to the Village to record a video clip for SOS song performed by a famous singer "Mayada Bselees" and there were too many famous Syrian actors in it, Ofcourse, the Children participated in it, and enjoyed it so much.

On 26th of March the village celebrated the mother's day in a restaurant. The children joined the ceremony. They had brought some nice presents to their SOS mothers.

Some volunteers came to the village with an idea of taking the children for a walk to a nearby mountain, after studying the idea, the children went for this walk with the volunteers under the supervision of the educational team.

Children growing up at Damascus, Syria

In April, the children were invited by the Austrian UNDOF (Feitl Club) to visit their location nearby Homs, a city in Syria, a place named Al-Fawar Spring. The children went to the location and they were very happy and excited. They had lunch and played a lot over there.

Concerning what they are doing in school, they are taking some literary courses in some subjects. Now they are achieving some improve at school. The results of the exams were better than the last year.

In June, all the children did their end year exams, then after they were done they went for a visit to their biological families. We always ensure the relation between the child and his/her biological family.

Several meetings of the national education committee were held every month, with the participation of the both villages. In these monthly meeting they discuss any new methods, challenges or achievements at any facility. Moreover, SOS mothers are following up the Development plans of children.

The Children also attended two plays at the theatre in June. One was under the name: "Penguin" and the other one was during the Flower Fair, it's an annual Fair, usually held in a famous and big park in Damascus named "Tishreen".

On July 16th, the school results came out, and a happy atmosphere was lying over the Village as everyone passed the exams with good results, they celebrated and had a very wonderful party, they invited all the biological families and all the workers in SOS Children Syria, and many presents were distributed to the most distinguished children. It was a very happy party.

On August 10th, for the first time a one-week summer camp was done for all the Children and Youths in both Damascus and Aleppo, with Total 200 persons. The Camp was in Kafarsetta, a small town near the sea. In that camp, many activities was going on, there was painting, photographing, singing, dancing, waxing, and many other things. The participants were divided into groups; each group was involved in one of the mentioned activities.
On the last day, a fair was done in the camp and it was very beautiful. Then in the night, they made a farewell party, they danced, the children did some plays and they sang beautiful songs. They also went to visit the Marqab Castle; it's an old castle in Tartouse, a city near the sea. In fact, it was an educational entertainment camp.

Events at Damascus, Syria

01st of September, Ramadan began; it's a month when all the Muslims must fast from the dawn till the sunsets for one month. The thing that makes this month beautiful is that all the family gathers to the table and had the meal. It is full of wonderful atmosphere, and when it's over the Feter Eid comes. In that month, the children were invited to many restaurants.

Sometimes, the Village did breakfast for all the children and they eat all of them in one room together.

On September 29th, most of the children went to visit their biological families and they spent the Eid al-Feter over there.

On October 10th, The Arabic Cultural Center in Damascus made an activity for making Kites, some of the Children participated in this activity, and after they made the Kites they went to Qasyon Mountain in Damascus, a mountain known near Damascus, to fly the Kites. They enjoyed it a lot.

October 24th, they also, as every year, participated with some SOS mothers in the Terry fox in Damascus. It was a special experience for them.

Again, the Austrian UNDOF (Feitl Club) brought a magician to the Village on October 26th; he made a lot of plays and tricks for the Children, they very happy that you can hear their laughs from out side the village.

I would like to share a short happy story from an SOS youth in Damascus; she entered the Village knowing that she has no biological family. This year, many efforts were done looking for any relative by the educational staff. After asking and seeking in many places and going back to here original town, they found a second-degree relatives, they told them about the Youth, and the relatives responded "ok, we'll see her and there is a distinguish mark in her hand, if it's their then she is our relative". So a gathering was set between the relatives and the girl, when they saw her and the mark, they were quit sure that she is their relative. The meeting was full of emotions, good ones, they were happy, and so she was. The girl felt secure as she new that there is family waiting and cares for here.

At the end, I appreciate very much your contribution. It is, indeed, very important to build a successful future for our children and facilities.

Wishing you a happy new year, may it be full of joy and happiness.

Sincerely yours,

Maamoun Kadkoy
Village Director