Our Programs

What is MHPSS?

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services address a wide range of issues that arise among conflict-affected populations, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and social isolation. Our goal is to promote resilience, coping, and recovery — and to mitigate the negative impact of crisis events on mental health and wellbeing.

Core Services

Psychological First Aid: Supportive, evidence-based approach to help people in distress during or immediately after a crisis event.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Therapy helping individuals process traumatic experiences and build coping strategies.
Group Therapy: Supportive and psycho-educational groups that provide shared space for building relationships and developing coping skills.
Community-Based Interventions: Activities engaging communities in identifying and addressing psychosocial needs — including support groups and recreational activities.
Case Management: Coordinated support connecting individuals to the services they need.

Why It Matters

MHPSS is a critical component of humanitarian response. In conflict settings, addressing mental health is as essential as food and shelter. SHF's protection programs are recognized as foundational to the overall health and recovery of communities affected by crisis.

Community Center — Kilis, Turkey

SHF operates a community center in Kilis targeting all age groups (male and female). Services include psychosocial support, case management, entertainment and educational activities, individual and group counseling sessions, and accommodation support.

Safe Spaces — Aleppo, Syria

Dedicated safe spaces for children in Aleppo provide a protective environment with structured psychosocial and educational activities. Both boys and girls are served in inclusive, gender-sensitive programming.

Orphan Sponsorship Program

SHF provides material support to families of orphaned children in northwest Syria, southern Syria, and Turkey. Beyond financial aid, the program includes:

Psychological protection and support activities
Awareness sessions on gender-based violence
Awareness sessions on child protection issues
Individual and group counseling sessions
Case management
Activities for children with special needs

Safe Space for Women & Girls — Idlib, Northwestern Syria

SHF operates a dedicated safe space in Idlib offering a full range of education and protection activities for women and girls, including:

Accelerated education programs
Vocational training
Awareness-raising on child protection, GBV, COVID-19, and parenting skills
Psychosocial support: life skills, case management, individual and group counseling

Community Center — Qah

The Qah community center provides services for adolescents and youth of all genders, including:

Vocational training for adolescents and youth
Psychosocial support services
Awareness on GBV, child protection, and literacy
Educational activities for children

Community Protection Team

A trained volunteer team providing case management, psychological support for people with disabilities, and community awareness sessions on protection issues.

Formal School Support

SHF provides full support to several schools in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib — covering salaries, logistics, and operational expenses to keep schools running and teachers paid.

School Supplies

Every child deserves the tools to learn. SHF distributes books, notebooks, and stationery — with special focus on orphaned children sponsored by the Foundation to ensure no child is left behind due to poverty.

Remedial & Accelerated Education

For children and adolescents who have dropped out of school due to conflict, SHF offers accelerated and remedial education services in community centers. Delivered by trained staff, the goal is re-inclusion in formal education.

Literacy & Numeracy

SHF runs literacy and numeracy programs for adolescents and adults in dedicated centers. The curriculum is developed by SHF specialists and delivered across two stages to high-quality standards — empowering adults who missed formal education during years of conflict.

Our Approach

SHF's climate change program is aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, promoting sustainable development, and fostering cooperation to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time — compounded for conflict-affected communities by the destruction of infrastructure and natural resources.

Awareness Campaigns

Community-level campaigns on climate change, environmental protection, and the impact of environmental degradation on everyday life — targeting community leaders, local councils, and the public.

Technical Workshops

Solar energy installation and use
Water management and conservation
Solid waste management
Composting and organic farming
Climate change and global warming education
Energy efficiency for households and communities

Why Culture Matters in Crisis

The violent conflict in Syria has caused tremendous losses to the country's cultural, civilizational, and urban heritage. SHF believes that protecting and reviving culture is inseparable from humanitarian response — culture sustains identity, dignity, and psychological wellbeing.

Awareness & Protection

SHF conducts awareness sessions on the need to preserve heritage, addressing illegal digging for antiquities in Idlib governorate and preventing the destruction of important archaeological and historical sites.

Physical Restoration

2014: Restored two ancient houses registered with the Antiquities Office in old Aleppo
Built protective walls on historic heritage houses to prevent theft and vandalism
Restored the Mosque of Basnkoul village in Idlib governorate

Living Heritage — Andalusian Stanzas

SHF supports the preservation of Andalusian stanzas — religious hymns transformed over centuries into social cultural expressions — attributed to the Syriac monk Mar Ephrem (written approximately 1,700 years ago). These ancient hymns are taught to children both to preserve heritage and to provide psychological comfort and a sense of identity. This program has received support from the German Shepanda Halifa organization.

Program Goal

The primary aim of SHF's Early Recovery program is to support and promote the recovery and stabilization of communities affected by crisis, conflict, or disaster — bridging the gap between emergency relief and long-term development.

Supporting Livelihoods

Access to employment opportunities
Vocational and skills training
Microfinance and small-business support
Cash transfers and food-for-work programs

Strengthening Governance

Supporting local authorities and administrations
Establishing and strengthening legal frameworks
Promoting good governance practices

Environmental Recovery

Cleaning up polluted water sources
Promoting reforestation and land restoration
Environmental rehabilitation of crisis-affected areas

Our Approach to Lasting Peace

SHF's Peace-Building program aims to build sustainable peace by fostering dialogue, promoting reconciliation, and creating a conducive environment for conflict resolution. We believe that peace must be built from within communities, not imposed from outside.

Community Engagement

We work closely with community leaders, civil society organizations, and local authorities to understand conflict dynamics and identify appropriate strategies for promoting peace and stability — starting with listening, not prescribing.

Key Activities

Capacity Building: Training individuals and institutions with the skills and knowledge needed for peace-building
Conflict Analysis: Thorough assessment of conflict dynamics, underlying causes, and key actors
Dialogue & Mediation: Facilitating dialogue between conflicting parties and creating safe spaces for finding common ground
Advocacy: Raising awareness of peace's benefits and promoting a culture of tolerance, respect, and understanding
Sustainable Development: Addressing economic inequalities and promoting employment as the foundation for long-term stability

Protection, GBV, Child Protection & MHPSS