Self-help for Syria
Economic empowerment is at the heart of FIRDOS' strategy to help the residents of sixty Syrian villages to help themselves.
The schoolhouse of Aen Frekha is bursting at the seams. The men and women of the small village have assembled to elect their Village Committee. This Committee serves as the interface between villagers and the development fund FIRDOS in Damascus. FIRDOS stands for Fund for Integrated Rural Development of Syria and was founded in 2001 by Mrs. Asma al-Assad, the country's first lady.
With its "We help you help yourself" slogan, FIRDOS supports the citizens of sixty villages in rural Syria. The organization's work focuses mainly on economic empowerment: Citizens can apply for micro-loans between 100 and 500 US dollars, with which they can start their own business. The only prerequisite is that the applicants present a convincing business plan to the development fund, which currently employs 20 people.
The schoolhouse of Aen Frekha is bursting at the seams. The men and women of the small village have assembled to elect their Village Committee. This Committee serves as the interface between villagers and the development fund FIRDOS in Damascus. FIRDOS stands for Fund for Integrated Rural Development of Syria and was founded in 2001 by Mrs. Asma al-Assad, the country's first lady.
With its "We help you help yourself" slogan, FIRDOS supports the citizens of sixty villages in rural Syria. The organization's work focuses mainly on economic empowerment: Citizens can apply for micro-loans between 100 and 500 US dollars, with which they can start their own business. The only prerequisite is that the applicants present a convincing business plan to the development fund, which currently employs 20 people.
The spectrum of start-ups is broad – many people use the loans to buy livestock. One villager has bought himself a cow and now sells the milk to his neighbors. Another bought a barber's chair. Some women have pooled their money to buy sewing machines and take a sewing course. They now produce clothing for a Damascus fashion company from home. FIRDOS granted them loans for the machines, provided them with contact persons to whom they could market their service and organized a training session for the women. "Such programs provide sustainable support to the country's economic development and encourage women to be self-sufficient," the project team agrees.
In addition to providing financial support, FIRDOS is also supporting Syrian villagers with ten educational programs that range from scholarships for students to mobile computer buses. Two of these buses are currently in service, and they are sent all over the country on dusty roads to introduce school children to the Internet. In order to improve the level of education in rural areas, mobile libraries are also traveling throughout the area. They offer a lending service for Arabic and English books to children between 5 and 16, as well as to teachers.
In addition to providing financial support, FIRDOS is also supporting Syrian villagers with ten educational programs that range from scholarships for students to mobile computer buses. Two of these buses are currently in service, and they are sent all over the country on dusty roads to introduce school children to the Internet. In order to improve the level of education in rural areas, mobile libraries are also traveling throughout the area. They offer a lending service for Arabic and English books to children between 5 and 16, as well as to teachers.
Village committees (VC), which are made up of people elected by the citizens of each participating village, are the interface between the villagers and the development fund in Damascus. Depending on the size of the village, the VC is made up of 5 to 7 people. The committee members are volunteers and support a total of 60,000 village inhabitants. Each VC has a head, a deputy and a micro-finance specialist. The specialist must have basic knowledge of accounting, and receives further training from FIRDOS staff. The committees are made up of an equal number of men and women. They have a say in how the micro-loans are allocated. In some cases, they even act as personal guarantors.
Since the beginning of the year, a Roland Berger Strategy Consultants has been advising FIRDOS on the strategic realignment and reorganization of its business. In the coming year, partnerships will be forged with 60 additional villages, and the educational program offer will be expanded.
If you have questions or comments regarding this story, please don't hesitate to contact us:
Since the beginning of the year, a Roland Berger Strategy Consultants has been advising FIRDOS on the strategic realignment and reorganization of its business. In the coming year, partnerships will be forged with 60 additional villages, and the educational program offer will be expanded.
If you have questions or comments regarding this story, please don't hesitate to contact us:
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