Three new Small Scale Local Projects for Syria for 2021 were signed at the Czech Embassy in Damascus

The projects will be implemented under the government's "Provision of Humanitarian, Development and Reconstruction Assistance to Syria 2020-2021" program. Approximately half a million CZK will be allocated to each of the selected projects.

Specifically, these are the following development projects:

1. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo („Rehabilitation of a Kindergarten School of The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Aleppo“). The aim of this project is to provide material support for the reconstruction of a charity nursery operating in the city of Aleppo under the Greek Orthodox Church administration. The city of Aleppo and the wider area is still struggling to recover from the post-conflict period, and funding for the reconstruction of all social infrastructure, including such an important segment as education, remains very slow and insufficient. By supporting the reconstruction of this kindergarten, about 20 new jobs will be created, but above all, it will serve approximately 125 children from families in need, free of charge.

2. Greek-Catholic village by the church of St. George in the city of Jdeidet Artouz ("Establishment of a Newborn Children Center in Jdeidet Artouz"). This project builds on the already successfully implemented several projects in previous years (2017, 2018). This scheme aims to support the creation of a centre for newborns and their mothers from socially disadvantaged and vulnerable families. The centre will be run by the administration of the Greek Catholic Patriarchate and is located in the city of Jajatat Artuz in the province of Damascus countryside. The city is home to a large Christian community and, in recent years, to a large number of internally displaced persons who have moved to the city from less stable rural provinces around Damascus. The funds in this project would be used for construction and reconstruction activities and for the equipment of the centre itself.

3. Al-Najat Charitable Society ("Support for Local Processing of Agricultural Products in Al-Dumina / Homs"). Support for this project is focused on local production of crops and dairy products and for their subsequent professional processing and distribution to the wider community Al-Dumina of Homs Province. It is an agriculturally underdeveloped area with disrupted infrastructure, mainly due to the long-running conflict, where many Syrian families live in need with poor access to basic foodstuffs. It is a long-term self-sustaining project that will create jobs, but above all, it will provide vegetables, fruit and dairy products to vulnerable families on the brink of poverty. The financial contribution would help to provide crop processing equipment as well as the payment of three experts to oversee the overall process.