The “Zahret Al-Mada’en” Association

The Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approach, which aims to enhance the effective participation of People With Disabilities and their families in the community rehabilitation process has been the mechanism adopted by of the Center for Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities and Family Affairs Care that is affiliated to the “Zahrat Al-Mada’en” Association in Damascus since 2000, according to the Director of the Association Khawla Kaniri.

She added that the association carries out many  rehabilitation programs and campaigns.

Kaniri told Syria Times e-newspaper: “ The association rehabilitates children with disabilities through early intervention, physical therapy, intellectual development,  recreational activities and trips, psychological support. We also help children with motor disabilities by providing them with mobility aids.”

The association in addition participated in the project recently launched by  the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for opening a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities in the villages of Jabal Al-Sheikh through developing a work plan for rehabilitation and training and qualifying staff to work in the center, according to Kaniri.

As for supporting and empowering women, Kaniri clarified that the association has held many courses to empower the beneficiaries and provide them with the necessary experience to enter the labor market, and to make them self-reliant with a sustainable income that help them bear the burdens of difficult living conditions.

She indicated that the number of female beneficiaries from  the two courses that were held by the Association for Women in the field of home agriculture, in both its theoretical and practical aspects, during the current year has reached 550 women.

“The number of beneficiaries from the sewing courses reached 150 women, and the number of beneficiaries from the first aid courses reached 150 women, while 20 women are getting benefit from the current courses being held by the association in the fields of accessories, embroidery, and crochet,” Kaniri added, pointing out that there are other courses on soap and jam making, bamboo, and literacy.

She went on to say that the association provided the beneficiaries of the previous courses with a home sewing machine, a bag of sewing tools, a first aid bag, agricultural equipment, fertilizer for the soil, an extinguisher and a fire blanket. “180 women registered in the sewing  and the home agriculture courses to be held in the near future.

There are many success stories of women who benefited from the association’s services and set up their own projects as the association follows up on their work to ensure the success of their projects.

In the field of health, the Director indicated that the association provides health services to children with disabilities and their families through continuous weekly visits paid by doctors and through its clinic in the Yarmouk camp area. She added that the association launches awareness campaigns in health,  legal, psychological fields, distributes medicines and holds recreational activities for women.

Kaniri concluded by saying that the association annually offers food baskets to around 1,500 most needy families.

The association was established in 1962 and it includes 7 members. Its headquarters is located in Mazraa area and it has a branch in Al-Midan area.

Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour