founding story

The Founding Story of Ilm wa Difa’ Foundation
From a Seed of Volunteering to an Institution that Creates Impact

The story began at the end of 2012, when the Civil Action Committee in Syria was formed as one of the civic and community initiatives that emerged in the early days of the Syrian revolution, with the aim of supporting families affected by repression and displacement.

From the very beginning, it was clear that education—especially children’s education—was the most essential entry point for protecting human dignity and rebuilding the social fabric on the foundations of freedom, responsibility, and democracy.

The Launch: Education as a Priority

The “Together for a Free and Democratic Syria” movement was the primary supporter of the committee during its early phase, providing initial financial resources and essential social connections. This support created a genuine environment for the committee’s work to take shape.

The committee’s team initiated small educational projects in several areas, which quickly evolved into active centers serving hundreds of children:

• Latakia: A kindergarten for children aged 3 to 6 was established in 2013 and continued operating until the end of 2019, offering a safe environment for learning and growth.

• Damascus and its countryside: The journey began with the “House of Love” initiative—the team’s first fully integrated educational experience.

The House of Love: The Major Beginning

The House of Love was born through cooperation between the Civil Action Committee and several local civil groups, in addition to support from the Patriarchate and prominent community figures. This backing provided a safe umbrella that enabled the team to operate.

The house was originally an unfinished residential building donated by one of the residents for temporary use as a center. Through the efforts of the team, and with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the space was equipped with doors, windows, desks, and stationery, becoming a fully functional educational center.

Within a short period, The House of Love became a pioneering model for supportive education for children who had dropped out of school or were academically vulnerable. It offered daily lessons in Arabic, English, and mathematics, alongside artistic, musical, and theatrical activities.

Although a later dispute with the property owner led to the suspension of the project, the spirit of the team did not fade. On the contrary, this experience became the seed that would later grow into the establishment of Ilm wa Difa’ Foundation.

From Initiatives to an Institution

Throughout this journey, Alwane Association in France worked alongside the Civil Action Committee, providing support and guidance since 2013. The teams working inside Syria were distinguished by high levels of dedication, credibility, and effective resource management, transforming limited capacities into broad and tangible impact.

Among the most notable projects born from this cooperation were:

• Lesson and Story Project (2015–2024): An educational center for children who had dropped out of school, aiming to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into formal education, with support programs for middle and secondary school certificate students.

• “We Are the Future”: A program enabling dropouts to return to formal education.

• “House of Stories” in Shahba – As-Suwayda: A project fostering creativity among children and adolescents in writing, theater, and puppet-making.

• The Cinema Club in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya: A cultural activity for the community and children, promoting awareness, social integration, and psychological well-being.

• “A Space of Hope” in Sahnaya: An initiative that revived the spirit of The House of Love within a more sustainable and organized institutional framework.

Philosophy of Work

These projects were built upon a clear educational methodology based on:

• Participatory and interactive learning.

• Respect for individual differences.

• Transforming theoretical knowledge into living practice that changes behavior.

The work was not limited to children alone; it also included women’s empowerment programs in literacy, legal awareness, and socio-economic empowerment, making the home, the school, and the community a single supportive circle surrounding the child.

From Initiative to Institutional Entity

As experience accumulated and the network of volunteers and specialists expanded, the transition from community initiatives to a sustainable institutional entity became essential.

Administrative and financial frameworks were established, and licensing files were prepared with the relevant authorities, leading to the official birth of the entity under the name:

Ilm wa Difa’ Foundation

A single legal home that brings together all previous projects under a unified vision—one that creates impact beginning with the child and growing through the community.

Conclusion

Since its first launch within the Civil Action Committee in Syria, the compass has been clear:
Education and protection are the most genuine path to rebuilding individuals and society.

With the accumulation of experience and the diversification of initiatives, Ilm wa Difa’ became the natural institutional evolution of the committee, carrying forward the values of credibility, dedication, and partnership that accompanied the early beginnings.

Today, Ilm wa Difa’ Foundation stands as a living model of an independent Syrian community organization, grounded in long field experience and flexible management that responds to real-world challenges. It is distinguished by:

• A rich record of tangible results and continuity despite difficulties.

• A participatory educational methodology that places the learner at the center of the learning process.

• Transparent governance and effective administrative organization.

• A wide network of specialists and volunteers committed to humanitarian values.

• A comprehensive developmental vision that places children and women at the heart of change.

Through these values and practices, Ilm wa Difa’ continues its mission of transforming the original idea of a committee into a firmly rooted and sustainable institutional project—one that gives knowledge warmth, warmth meaning, and hope life.

board of directors

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