Sweida, Syria — August 21, 2025

Amid mounting pressure on schools being used to house displaced families, local volunteers in Sweida have begun converting the Al-Omran Institution building into an emergency shelter. The effort is led by the grassroots initiative نحنا قدها (“We Are Up to The Challenge”), one of several community-driven responses that have emerged across the city in recent weeks.

The group issued a call for volunteers earlier this week, bringing dozens of residents together to clean and prepare the building. Over the course of several days, participants worked to clear debris and sanitize the site. To support the effort, the Sweida fire station provided water tanks to aid in the cleaning.

With the initial cleanup nearly complete, organizers are now drafting a list of essential supplies — including mattresses, blankets, and other basic materials — to make the facility habitable. Once equipped, the Al-Omran building will help ease the burden on overcrowded schools that have been stretched beyond capacity.

The initiative reflects a larger wave of solidarity taking shape across Sweida. In recent weeks, multiple volunteer groups and local campaigns have mobilized to meet urgent needs, ranging from food distribution to temporary housing. While the challenges remain immense and resources scarce, residents say the collective response has been a lifeline.

“People here don’t wait for help to arrive , they create it,” said one volunteer with نحنا قدها. “Every step we take together makes a difference, Even though we know we can’t cover every need.”