Introduction
Basmeh & Zeitooneh, Syria
Basmeh & Zeitooneh is a community-led organization inside Syria, working from the people to the people. Our teams are made up of Syrians supporting their own communities through dignity-driven humanitarian, recovery, and peacebuilding work. Being rooted inside the community allows us to understand local realities, adapt rapidly to emerging needs, and respond with trust, accountability, and cultural sensitivity.
Who We Are
Basmeh & Zeitooneh began its work inside Syria in 2015, responding directly to the needs of conflict-affected communities through community-led action. Since then, we have expanded our operations across Northwest and Northeast Syria, reaching internally displaced people, returnees, and host communities through integrated humanitarian, recovery, and peacebuilding programming. Our work inside Syria is driven by local teams, local knowledge, and local ownership, ensuring that assistance is not only delivered to communities, but shaped by them.
Vision
A constructive society that lives with dignity.
Mission
Basmeh & Zeitooneh is a community-led relief and development organization inside Syria, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities to help people reclaim dignity and agency over their lives.
We’ve aligned our efforts under five programmatic pillars: education, protection, food security and livelihoods, WASH and basic assistance, and civil society enablement. While each pillar offers a distinct impact for both individuals and communities, they are intimately connected.
Our Community Centers in Syria
Presently, Basmeh & Zeitooneh operates community centers and large-scale field operations across all of Syria. These centers serve as safe spaces where individuals can directly access services, obtain information, build skills, and participate in community life. Our centers also function as local hubs for informal education, protection services, youth engagement, and women’s empowerment, while mobile teams ensure outreach to remote and camp-based populations.
West Syria:
- Idlib (2 Community Centers)
- Aleppo (Community Center)
- Tartous (Community Center)
- Large-scale operations in the Coastal Area and Homs
East Syria:
- Ar-Raqqa (Community Center)
- Operations in Al-Hasakah
- Operations in Deir-Ezzor
South Syria:
- Operations in rural Damascus, Sweida and Daraa
Our Programmatic Structure
Food Security & Livelihoods:
– Emergency food assistance and MPCA
– Cash-for-Work programs
– Vocational training and job placement
– SME and women-led business support
– Agricultural and market-based livelihoods
– Psychosocial support (PSS)
– Gender-Based Violence prevention and response
– Child protection and legal assistance
– Case management and referral services
– Awareness and Information sessions
– Community Safeguarding and PSEA awareness and mechanisms
– Non-formal and remedial education
– Literacy and learning support
– Safe learning space rehabilitation
– School Wash Units rehabilitation
– Capacity building of public school teachers and admin
– Youth and women-led community committees
– Social cohesion and reconciliation
– Peace education with children and youths
– DRR, SCLR, COA and LLAA approaches
Ongoing Work & Impact Inside Syria:
– 10,069 children regained access to learning through education programs since 2017
– 331 homes rehabilitated between 2018–2024
– 177 WASH units constructed in camps, serving 88,500+ IDPs
– 18,791 hygiene & dignity kits distributed
– 45,656 individuals reached with protection services
– 70 women-led businesses supported
– 12,079 youth engaged through youth clubs
– 720 people engaged in Cash-for-Work
– 102,285 households received emergency assistance (food, NFI, MPCA, RTE)
– 80 returnee families supported through reintegration and reconciliation
– 40+ children re-enrolled in schools after legal documentation support
– 2,200+ households reached through social cohesion programming
– 200 youth engaged in youth clubs
– 10,000+ people reached through youth-led community initiatives
– 60 small businesses supported, including 20 women-owned enterprises
– 6 community-led WASH projects implemented through local CBOs
– 13,000+ people gained improved access to safe water
– 85% of CBOs upgraded internal policies through capacity building.
