First conference of Social Solidarity Fund and Development kicks off

Damascus, SANA- Activities of the first conference of the Social Solidarity Fund and Development under the motto of “Activating the Role of Youth in Development Work” kicked off on Saturday at the Umayyad Palace for Conferences in Damascus.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Yohanna X Yazigi, said in a speech “We call for lifting the flagrant economic sanctions that affect Syrians in their livelihood.”

For his part, Minister of Endowments, Dr. Muhammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyid, pointed out that Syria, that is the cradle of Christianity and charitable works, did not differentiate between a Muslim and a Christian.

He added that the goal which the church looks forward to supporting the youths through this fund.

In turn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund, Ruba Mirza, stressed the fund was established in response to the difficult economic and social conditions after 11 years of the terrorist war on Syria, with the aim of stopping the brain drain, draining skilled hands, dismantling the family, emptying the country of its human resources by offering grants to finance productive small and micro projects and finding job opportunities for young people.

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