The “Al-Subki Park Friends” Society

Out of their love of  “Al-Subki” park in Damascus, dozens of residents in Al-Subki district and nearby districts established in 2021 a society called “Al-Subki Park Friends Society” with the aim of restoring the beauty and the glory of the park in which they spent unforgettable  beautiful times during their childhood.

This society is taking part in the 43rd International Festival of Flowers , which is being held at the “ Tishreen” Park, to give visitors an idea about its goals and agenda.

“ One year before we got the license from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the members of the society had worked on improving the situation of the park through plating flowers and trees,” Mrs. Nour Al-Houda Al-Nahhas, the society’ secretary, told Syria Times e-newspaper.

She made it clear that the society is  interested in increasing green areas and disseminating awareness about the need for protecting the environment in general.

“The society holds many activities  in schools that are located near Al-Subki district such as the “ Dar Al-Salam’ School. We disseminate awareness among school students  about the ways of protecting the environment and planting trees to implement these ways on the ground,” she added.

The society has held many activities in the park such as planting 120 flower saplings in cooperation with Persons With Disabilities from the Charity “Al-Rajaa” Society and writing and hanging awareness posts in Al-Subki park and practicing sports there.

“We plant trees  on the occasion of World Environment Day and Labour  Day …We also hold painting forums for children in the park and clean the park when it’s crowded in the evening, so we make people aware of the importance of keeping the park clean. I can see from my house how sanitation workers clean the park every morning, but some people who come to the park do  not keep it clean….. The society is composed of 60-70 members, while its friends are 6000,” Mrs. Nahhas said.

She asserted that the society seeks to network with other societies specialized in environment with the aim of expanding its activities to cover other parks in Damascus and in other governorates.

She believes that the international flowers festival is an opportunity to talk with both participants and visitors on issues of common interest.

The parks that spread across Syria play environmental, social and recreational roles, as they are considered a destination for citizens, especially children, during holidays and hours of rest, to have fun and to enjoy looking at planted flowers and trees.

Reported by: Basma Qaddour