Community engagement raises families’ awareness and helps to protects their children’s future
UNICEF disseminates life-saving information to vulnerable families in Deir ez-zor
Deir ez-zor city, Syria: In Deir ez-zor governorate, the destruction of public infrastructure, due to the long years of conflict, has left communities struggling with dysfunctional education, health and water facilities. Coupled with economic hardship, many families they must navigate to meet their children’s basic needs and not compromise on their education, health or safety.
Children who live in under-served remote places or informal settings often lack access to basic health and key social services. Their families are also often worse off financially and will need special efforts to be reached.
Together with partners, UNICEF works with the communities to understand their needs and motivations, identify their strengths, and lower barriers to positive change.
“Whether it is parents of out-of-school children, mothers refusing to vaccinate their children or people concerned of the spread of cholera, we aim to raise awareness on key issues and engage communities in reducing existing risks,” explained Rosam Al Ali, UNICEF’s social behaviour change facilitator in Deir ez-zor.“ As part of our integrated community engagement and raising awareness initiative, we seek to reach the same community with a comprehensive package of information on different critical subjects using multiple approaches and follow up sessions,” she added.
As part of the initiative, a UNICEF -supported partner conducted an open day with different activities for children and families in the neighbourhood of Yousof Al Azmah school in Deir ez-zor city during the mid-year academic break in January 2023. The activities ranged from information-sharing on key topics such as resuming education, adhering vaccination schedules, preventing and treating cholera to outdoor exercises, games, songs, and plays for the children in the school yard.
“It is important to share information in a timely manner, in an easy-to-understand format and without any misleading details. Today, we are conveying messages on cholera to caregivers and children,” said Raghad. She conducted one of the awareness-raising sessions at the school. “The information we are sharing can save lives and it is critical we share it through the right channels,” underscored Raghad.
“I previously took part in several sessions on the importance of giving my baby her vaccines, said 23-year-old Maria, the mother of little Malak. “I was not convinced in the beginning, but after few sessions, I started vaccinating her and I am happy I did,” she added during a follow up session with a group of mothers who had previously missed their children’s vaccines.
Thirteen-year-old Fatima - who had never been in school before - was also reached during the sessions during the open day. The session on the importance of education convinced her family to enrol her in school. “I am in Grade 5 now although I am 13. “Thanks to the community workers who talked to my family, I was enrolled,” she added, smiling.
In Deir ez- zor governorate, since beginning of 2022, UNICEF reached through this integrated initiative more than 30,000 people including children and caregivers with awareness-raising sessions on the importance of education. These sessions were part of the back to learning campaigns. Similarly, over 160,000 people were reached with informative messages on cholera. These community engagements were possible because of the support of EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
