HomsTimes

The “Childhood, Motherhood, and Special Needs Care Office” has established itself as a key humanitarian initiative in rural Idlib, after beginning as a volunteer effort in Homs in 2012. Over the years, it has grown into a vital support network for children, women, people with disabilities, orphans, and displaced families who were forced into camps due to the violence and displacement caused by the former regime.

Origins Under Siege

According to the organization’s director, Maha Ayoub, the initiative began with 64 volunteers in northern Homs, working under siege and heavy bombardment. The office was targeted twice, resulting in the deaths of educator Nawal Al‑Youssef and teacher Maryam Al‑Dali in 2016—among the first humanitarian workers killed in Syria.

Rebuilding After Forced Displacement to Idlib

Following the forced displacement to Idlib in 2018, the organization resumed its work with only 11 volunteers, despite the harsh conditions of the camps, lack of funding, and absence of official licensing or banking channels. Over time, the team overcame these obstacles and continued serving displaced families living in tents and makeshift shelters.

Target Groups: Children and People with Disabilities

The organization focuses on:

· Children, providing food, education, and recreational activities

· People with disabilities, around 3,000 individuals, receiving food, clothing, medication, assistive devices, and free physiotherapy

· Orphans, numbering 2,700 children

· Vulnerable families living in camps

Long‑Term Programs for 14 Years

Its ongoing programs include:

· Major sacrificial meat distributions

· Ramadan iftar meals

· Eid celebrations for orphans and camp residents

· Psychological support activities and social integration events

Infrastructure and Development Projects

Beyond relief work, the organization invests in sustainable development, including:

· Drilling wells for clean water

· Constructing permanent housing units and concrete villages

· Paving internal camp roads

· Implementing sanitation projects

· Building modern schools

Support for Education and Healthcare

The organization sponsors university and institute students, supports Quran memorization centers, and equips mosques and prayer halls. In healthcare, it operates:

· A neurology clinic

· A free physiotherapy center for displaced and low‑income patients

Achievements After Liberation

Following Syria’s liberation and the fall of the former regime, the organization expanded its work by:

· Rehabilitating a major well in Al‑Rastan

· Installing a solar‑powered well

· Developing another main well

· Building Al‑Ahmadi Mosque in Al‑Rastan

· Equipping Omar Ibn Al‑Khattab Mosque in rural Hama with solar energy

· Opening Quran memorization institutes in Al‑Rastan and Ghranata

Honoring the Families of Martyrs

The organization places special emphasis on honoring the families of Syrian revolution martyrs, reaffirming its commitment to supporting them and preserving the values of sacrifice and dignity.

A Humanitarian Vision Toward “Zero Tents”

Ayoub concludes with gratitude to all who supported the Syrian people, emphasizing the organization’s ultimate goal: achieving “zero tents”, replacing displacement with stability, and transforming suffering into hope.