Non-food Items (NFI)

Solar Panels

Solar panels are used as a renewable energy source for homes during shelter construction and rehabilitation as well as at SRD’s operational facilities in Syria. The panels provide energy during frequent power outages. SRD staff members train local communities on the panels’ safe usage and maintenance. 

With unreliable electricity in Syria, energy has become a scarce resource and solar panels provide much-needed renewable energy that can be life-saving when installed at health care sites. Thanks to the support of Filmmaker Iara Lee, Founder/Director of the Cultures of Resistance Network, solar panels were installed at our Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, one of SRD’s Empowerment Centers for Women and Girls, and 5 Primary Healthcare Centers in Northern Syria. 

Teddy Bear Distributions

For the past 3 years SRD has partnered with The Teddy Trust to deliver teddy bears to vulnerable Syrian children. The Teddy Trust is a UK-based nonprofit organization whose founder, Ellie Targett, reached out to SRD in 2015 after spending 2 years collecting teddy bears for children in hospitals, hospices, homes, and rape crisis centers in South Africa. Since 2015, the organization has sent SRD over 35,000 teddy bears that have been distributed to conflict-affected Syrian children across the country. For children who may find it difficult to communicate with others about their fears, the teddy bears provide a source of healing. SRD is hopeful in continuing to partner with The Teddy Trust in the years to come to continue providing healing to Syrian children.

Additional NFIs provided by SRD