An open day increases engagement between refugees and Syrian displaced people

Communication can be as vital as food and water. Information and communication provide insight into people’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices and offers active innovative tools to better support them.

By Vivian Tou'meh  |  28 Sep 2017

Communication can be as vital as food and water. Information and communication provides insight into people’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices and offers active innovative tools to better support them.

Yesterday, 26 September, UNHCR’s partner Al-Nada has organized an open day called “Al Mahaba Tajmaona”, (Love brings us together) in collaboration with UNHCR’s outreach volunteers targeting 40 refugees from different nationalities and 20 Syrian displaced people living in different areas in Damascus and its rural.

“This initiative aims at encouraging refugees to attend the awareness sessions and activities at our community centres and to reinforce the engagement and communication between the both communities, refugees and displaced people.”

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Refugees together with displaced people participate in an open day called “Al Mahaba Tajmaona”, (Love brings us together) organized by UNHCR's partner Al Nada in collaboration with UNHCR’s outreach volunteers. © UNHCR/V. Toumeh

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Refugees together with displaced people participate in an open day called “Al Mahaba Tajmaona”, (Love brings us together) organized by UNHCR's partner Al Nada in collaboration with UNHCR’s outreach volunteers. © UNHCR/S. Shekfeh

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Refugees together with displaced people participate in an open day called “Al Mahaba Tajmaona”, (Love brings us together) organized by UNHCR's partner Al Nada in collaboration with UNHCR’s outreach volunteers. © UNHCR/V. Toumeh

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Refugees together with displaced people participate in an open day called “Al Mahaba Tajmaona”, (Love brings us together) organized by UNHCR's partner Al Nada in collaboration with UNHCR’s outreach volunteers. © UNHCR/V. Toumeh

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Zahraa, a Somali refugee writes on the board “for ever UN), expressing how much she loves UNHCR © UNHCR/V. Toumeh

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Refugees together with displaced people participate in an open day called “Al Mahaba Tajmaona”, (Love brings us together) organized by UNHCR's partner Al Nada in collaboration with UNHCR’s outreach volunteers. © UNHCR/S. Shekfeh

Said Rafif, Psychosocial Support Coordinator at Al-Nada, who suggested the idea of this initiative, as she had witnessed lack of communication and engagement between both communities during the psychosocial support activities.

According to Jawaher, an outreach volunteer with UNHCR, this is a first step for improving communication between the two communities, such engagement can facilitate communities’ ability to voice their views and concerns. This will allow them to take an active role in the decisions that concern their recovery. This contributes to well-informed and better quality programing that has greater impact on reducing vulnerability and building more resilient communities.

Rafif said, “We encourage refugees to participate in our psychosocial support awareness sessions, so they can be know who to deal and communicate with each other, how to act with challenges and change their behaviours.”

For instance, at the community centres, refugees and displaced people can participate in many life skills training courses like hairdressing and sewing, where distinguished and skilled people can be referred to apply and make use of small business grants.

Syria is one of the most difficult and complex locations to carry out humanitarian services. Over six years of conflict poses significant challenges for UNHCR teams to provide relief and recovery assistance to communities affected by the conflict including Syrian displaced people and refugees who are still living in Syria despite many challenges.

In light of the current circumstances and to reach more communities on the ground, UNHCR with partners has opened over 75 community centres functioning in eleven governorates and increased the network of its out-reach volunteers to 1,588 volunteers.

“This event was organized with Al-Nada charity and with the efforts of our outreach volunteers, these volunteers always listen to people’s needs and opinions and we use this information to improve our programs and operations.” said Rihab Dablo, Protection Associate at UNHCR.