Two Syrian villages awarded over improving living environment; preserving child rights issues
Syria, Culture, 2/2/2004

In two separate ceremonies held on January 19 and 20th in Ghassanieh village, in Aleppo governorate, and in Homret Ghannam village, in al-Raqqa governorate, respectively, awards were provided to two selected villages in the two governorates over their performance which excelled in improving their living environment.

Damascus UNICEF office program coordinator and officer in charge, Narindar Sharma, and the representative of the ministry of health, Mohsen Kanaan, who is the healthy villages department director at the ministry awarded the prizes to these two "healthy villages." The governors of both Aleppo and al-Raqqa praised the initiative and extended their full support to this program. The governor of Aleppo matched the same amount of the award from his own account on the award ceremony Damascus UNICEF office program coordinator and officer in charge, Narindar Sharma, said that healthy villages program in Syria started 7 years ago with the participation of the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. He added this experience has grown during this period from 3 villages to 352 villages all over the country.

He indicated that in an effort to encourage the country's initiative and the good work done, two villages were selected. One in Aleppo and the second is in al-Raqqa. These villages have improved their living environment and also addressed the child rights issues and therefore, are known for child friendly villages, along with nearly the criterion of a healthy village.

Following the awarding ceremony, head of the village committee in al-Ghassanieh village said that a family and health survey was made to define developmental priority for the village, and numerous services projects were completed in the village in close cooperation between the people of the village and the sectoral team program administration.

He indicated that among many other activities this joint venture resulted in building a potable water well at a cost of 780,000 Syrian pounds, while a water reservoir was built and a water network installed covering 70% of the houses of the village. The village elementary school was renovated at a cost of 80,000 SP of raised public funds; the village school's courtyard was expanded by citizens; a sewage system network was installed at a length of 4086 meters and main streets were asphalted and certain branch streets at an area of 11,675 square meters and a new preparatory school was built.

He added, thanks to the collective spirit attitude the citizens donated due sums for building a headquarters for the municipality, a kindergarten, and a health center.

However, the financial award given by UNICEF to al-Ghassanieh healthy village was but a strong impetus to continue developmental and cooperative activities carried out by the citizens of the village to improve the quality of their life. This, however, is made a reality with the actual participation of the local community in helping them to help themselves through maintaining self- reliance.

He expressed thanks for the award which will support the project of building a children's park in the village.

With a similar but of no less important experience, the Homret Ghannam village in al-Raqqa, the village health center was expanded with the equipment furnishing its two new rooms as a dentist clinic and a laboratory center.

New courses on eradication of illiteracy, parental care, and health services were conducted. A second elementary school was built, alongside with a preparatory school. Vocational qualification courses for women especially sewing were also carried.

UNICEF's award for the village will be used in building a small garden for children equipped with basic entertainment needs for a children playground. The award, however, is also an encouraging element for the village and other villages in the governorate to continue abiding by the criterion of the Child friendly community.

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