- Title: SYRIA: Children in Damascus celebrate Eid
- Date: 8th August 2013
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 8,2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE OF AZEM PALACE VARIOUS FAMILIES ENTERING VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS PLAYING WITH CHILDREN ESAM HABBAL, FOUNDER OF SAA'ED GROUP, SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE PAINTING OF SMURFS BY CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FOUNDER OF SAA'ED GROUP, ESSAM HABBAL, SAYING: "Today we are gathered here to prove to the children and the community that we need to go back to our roots and history so we can live together in peace. Syrians are like a mosaic painting that begins here from the Azem Palace and then reaches the sea, the mountains and the valleys. This is Syria. We began here from Azem palace and we hope to continue." VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER TAREK ANTAKI TAKING PICTURES OF THE EVENT (SOUNDBYTE) (Arabic) VOLUNTEER, TAREK ANTAKI, SAYING: "I want to make a video and collect the pictures of the event and my pictures and gather them all in one video and post them on the page of the group on Facebook and on YouTube." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PAINTING VARIOUS OF MEMBER OF SAA'ED GROUP, NOUR, HELPING CHILDREN COLOUR (SOUNDBYTE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF SAA'ED GROUP, NOUR, SAYING: "The children need to be entertained because they are passing through a hard time, we adults can understand what is happening and why we can't go out of our homes, but they (children) can't understand. We are trying to do this simple event to compensate for the things they are missing." VARIOUS OF A WOMAN TAKING PHOTOS OF HER SON VARIOUS OF DAMASCUS CHILD OBADAH KAMBAR (SOUNDBYTE) (Arabic) DAMASCUS CHILD, OBADAH KAMBAR, SAYING "This is the best Eid ever!" (SOUNDBYTE) (Arabic) DAMASCUS CHILD, MOAYAD,SAYING: " Happy Eid!" VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SINGING
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Syrian Arab Republic
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA9NNT8YMDTQBK3U4R1FCGXQYBH
- Story Text: A group of Syrian volunteers, known as the Saa'ed group on Thursday (August 8) organized Eid celebrations for children in the Syrian capital of Damascus.
For three days, children are able to play and enjoy activities such as painting in the heart of the old town in Damascus, which is the Azem Palace.
Organizers chose the location because of its unique cultural heritage and meaning.
Azem Palace stands as a symbol for Syria's heritage, said Esam Habbal, founder of the group:
"Today we are gathered here to prove to the children and community that we need to go back to our roots and history so we can live together in peace. Syrians are like a mosaic painting that begins here from the Azem Palace to the sea, the mountains and the valleys . This is Syria. We began here from Azem palace and we hope to continue."
Volunteer Tarek believes the group has an important task to perform and wants people to know about it.
"I want to make a video and collect the pictures of the event and my pictures and gather them all in one video and post them on the page of the group on Facebook and on YouTube," Tarek said.
Nour, one of the group's members said the group's aim was to try and create as good an Eid as possible for the children:
"The children need to be entertained because they are passing through a hard time, we adults can understand what is happening and why we can't go out of our homes, but they (children) can't understand. We are trying to do this simple event to compensate for the things they (children) are missing."
Syria's conflict started in 2011.
When the kids were asked about their experience, they all said they had enjoyed a good time.
The Saa'ed group, which in English means "to help", is a group of volunteers working on various projects with the common aim to assist people in need.
The group also carried out the "down with the hunger campaign" during the holy month of Ramadan, that provided meals for needy families. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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