Dimasheq – Damascus – Berlin – Special:
The Damascus Foundation for Culture, Thought, Arts and Development has signed a cooperation and partnership agreement with the German War Child Relief Association, aimed at developing joint programmes and projects in the humanitarian, social and development fields, and supporting initiatives targeting the most vulnerable groups in Syria.
The agreement comes within the framework of the two parties’ efforts to establish sustainable cooperation that brings together the expertise and available resources of the German association with the presence and work of the Damascus Foundation inside Syria. This would enable the implementation of projects that respond to the actual needs of local communities, particularly in Damascus and areas affected by the events of past years.
The areas of cooperation include supporting children and families affected by the consequences of war, contributing to humanitarian and social programmes, as well as educational, cultural and development initiatives. The two parties will also work on developing projects aimed at improving living conditions and strengthening the ability of local communities to recover and achieve stability.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the two parties by Syrian scientist and inventor Dr. Adnan Wahoud, Vice President of the War Child Relief Association, and Syrian writer Ibrahim Al-Jabin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Damascus Foundation.
The two parties stressed that the agreement provides a framework for organising cooperation, exchanging expertise, preparing joint projects, and attracting the necessary support and partnerships for their implementation, in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable in Syria and Germany, while ensuring transparency, proper management of resources, and their delivery to the intended beneficiaries and target groups.
Ibrahim Al-Jabin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Damascus Foundation, said that the agreement “opens a new avenue for the Foundation to build international partnerships capable of transforming solidarity with Syrians into practical and sustainable projects inside the country.” He noted that the current stage requires directing efforts towards helping Syrian society overcome the consequences of the past years, alongside revitalising cultural, social and development activities.
He added that the Damascus Foundation seeks to establish a network of cooperation with Syrian and international institutions and associations whose objectives align with the Foundation’s vision, so that its work does not remain limited to direct humanitarian responses, but extends to long-term projects that invest in people, education and culture and empower local communities.
Dr. Adnan Wahoud said that “this partnership is particularly important given the cultural and development-oriented approach of the Damascus Foundation on the one hand, and the nature of our association’s work and its focus on children and families affected by wars and crises on the other. This opens the way for developing joint programmes that benefit from the German side’s accumulated experience and the Damascus Foundation’s knowledge of the local reality and needs in Syria.”
The German War Child Relief Association is a humanitarian organisation that focuses particularly on children and families affected by wars and conflicts and the difficult humanitarian and social conditions resulting from them. Through its activities and partnerships, the association has sought to provide various forms of support and relief during the years of the Syrian revolution. It contributed to the construction of schools, medical clinics and charitable food centres, with one of its most prominent projects being the establishment of the model village of Al-Toubat in Idlib Governorate, alongside its humanitarian and educational activities in Damascus and its countryside.
The cooperation between Wahoud and Al-Jabin dates back to the early years of the Syrian revolution, both in humanitarian and cultural work, with the encouragement of the late Syrian thinker Professor Issam Al-Attar. Their cooperation later extended to translation projects, including Wahoud’s translation of Al-Jabin’s novel Ayn Al-Sharq (The Eye of the East) into German. At the time, the proceeds from both the Arabic and German editions were allocated to supporting medical clinics in northern Syria, sponsoring orphans, and joint educational initiatives.
The Damascus Foundation for Culture, Thought, Arts and Development was established in the Syrian Arab Republic under Decision No. 2547 issued by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour on 6 July 2025. The Foundation works to launch and support cultural, intellectual, artistic and development projects, while building local and international partnerships that contribute to restoring the role of civil society and culture in Syria’s recovery and reconstruction process. It places particular emphasis on its partnerships with the Syrian Ministry of Culture and the National Higher Authority for Transitional Justice.
Following the signing of the agreement, the two parties are expected to begin implementing the projects agreed upon, while determining work priorities and stages. The agreement will serve as a framework for cooperation between the two organisations and for developing joint initiatives during the coming period.
