The activities of the developmental "Bridges" initiative began in the town of Jadida Artaouz in the Damascus countryside. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and in cooperation with the Qatana District Administration, the initiative aims to transform values of mutual respect and community coexistence into tangible field practices in the town's alleys and neighborhoods.
The initiative, which launched yesterday, seeks to provide wide spaces for dialogue and civil solidarity, with active participation from religious, academic, and social figures. Through tools of joint collective action, they aim to strengthen cohesion among the different components of Syrian society and preserve human bonds among its members.
Sports and environmental activities
The initiative's activities, continuing over a full week, include a package of sports, cultural, and student activities distributed across the town's schools. These include environmental initiatives such as launching general cleanliness campaigns and tree planting, alongside technical maintenance of Al-Farooq School benches and honoring sanitation workers.
Interactive programs include friendly football and chess tournaments to provide real opportunities that bring people together through activities meeting their field needs, turning words into actions capable of building mutual trust and developing the contemporary developmental environment in the region, away from stagnation.
Documenting volunteer efforts
Bashar Al-Haraki, founder of the Bridges initiative and director of the Bevol International Volunteer Platform, told SANA that the week in Jadida Artaouz constitutes the first launch station, with plans to expand geographically to cover various Syrian regions.
Al-Haraki pointed out that the initiative seeks to transform needs into executable activities, emphasizing the official documentation of volunteers' work via the initiative's account on the Bevol International Platform for Volunteer Work. This allows young cadres to benefit from motivational points, rewards, and moral advantages granted by the platform to volunteer pioneers.
Role of local partnership
For his part, Waleed Al-Misri, mayor of Jadida Artaouz, emphasized the local authorities' efforts to make the event a success, serving as a developmental model to be emulated in governorates. He highlighted the role of partnership in transforming ideas into reality, translating individual responsibility in serving one's community.
For her part, Jamana Al-Baqaa'i, director of the initiative, stated that "Bridges" is the inaugural work that will be renewed in different areas to expand youth empowerment and consolidate shared leadership skills, ensuring that developmental dialogue remains an ambassador protecting civil peace in the country.
The activities in Jadida Artaouz intersected with the Ministry of Culture's sustainable plans to sponsor civil initiatives, aiming to empower local communities in cooperation with volunteer organizations. The ministry seeks to utilize digital platforms to document and motivate youth efforts, consolidating the role of civil work in maintaining the country's service and educational infrastructure.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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