The UDP project for the Rehabilitation of the Old City of (Governorate of Damascus/ Directorate of the Old City of Damascus and GTZ) has conducted 12 sabils kids events in cooperation with 7 different Syrian schools , including in total 452 kids varying in age from 7 to 12 years of both genders. The process started in the end of March 2009 and is still ongoing.

The events were mainly focused on raising awareness among children towards the value of water to life and environment and the historical and environmental value of sabils in the old city. The organizers approached this task via the Hakawaty, one of the last traditional storytellers in Syria. The children were also given a set of entertaining activities through which they can interact with the event facilitators and with each other, in order to plant deeply the concepts of water saving, and protection of old city monuments in their minds.

Among the main activities were:
1. Traditional story tellers (Hakawaty) who told the children old stories about water in the old city
2. Drawing and painting activities: children were given the task of imagining a Sabil and drawing it
3. Various games and competitions
4. Interactive learning sessions

For more information on the events see the program linked below:
The sablis kids events program.doc (305 KB)