The land that saved us

In the countryside of Daraa, Syria, Faiza’s* garden grows, not just with healthy vegetables, but with resilience against droughts and water insecurity. But life wasn’t always so hopeful. There was a time when the soil was dry, the water was scarce and anxiety filled her home. 

In Syria, drought, lack of water and food insecurity are harsh realities faced by 50% the population  worsened by climate change, high unemployment levels and the 14 years of conflict. Fifty years old, Faiza is familiar with this aching truth.

For years, Faiza’s family of eight has struggled to put food on the table. Her husband’s high blood pressure and old age prevents him from working, and their family’s once-thriving land has become dry and barren. Her oldest son is 23 years old and he struggled to find a work - the work is irregular and far from enough to meet their basic needs. Due to the ongoing conflict, this area has never experienced stability for the economy to thrive. 

“The situation was very dire; we couldn’t even afford food. If I had been able to plant our own food, I wouldn’t have needed to buy vegetables from the market anymore. But the seeds were too expensive. I could only plant limited types of plants. Water was another problem, it’s very limited and I only had one tank. It barely got us through winter, and in summer, we had to save every drop. I would skip washing clothes or cleaning the house, just to save water. In order to survive our daily life; we relied on the limited income that my eldest son could make after struggling of finding a job. Other people were very kind to us and gave us food and clothes, especially during the holidays,” recalled the mother of six.

Little did Faiza know, her land was about to flourish.

In early 2024, hope found its way to their doorstep. Through a support from World Vision Syria Response through our partner, Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Faiza’s family received agricultural support. The livelihood agricultural project provided a newly installed irrigation system and all the tools needed for planting. “I learned about the project when MECC came to our area. They visited our home and introduced themselves and their wonderful project. I was truly thrilled to hear about the project. After registering, they gave me everything I needed for planting; a water source, seeds, fertiliser and planting tools. I used to borrow tools from neighbors and wait for days to use them. Now I have my own. It’s a true relief,” shared the dedicated mother.

But more support was yet to come. The project focused on sustainability and the participants self-development and so Faiza joined the hands-on training sessions provided by MECC, covering farming techniques, plant diseases management, and sustainable practices; knowledge that would last beyond a single season.

“The sessions taught me many things. I had no knowledge about planting. We even learned how to dry seeds for future planting. I never knew how precise that process was. Now I can save dried seeds myself and won’t have to buy them again,” said Faiza.

Through the support, Faiza was finally able to grow all the crops that her family needed. With access to the newly installed irrigation system and two additional water tanks, her plants thrived. To ensure the project’s success, an agricultural engineer from MECC visited monthly to monitor the crops and provide guidance.

“The harvest was more than I ever dreamed of,” she shared happily, “It fed my whole family; me, my husband and six children. Now, I can save enough money from selling crops to buy essentials and the medicine that my husband and I need, and we couldn’t afford before. I’m forever grateful”.

Faiza is one of 895 individuals in the community who benefited from the agricultural support provided by the World Vision Syria Response.

With her garden, now a sanctuary of sustenance and hope, Faiza speaks with a newfound steadiness. “Thank you for your help. Because of your support, I could harvest food for more than one season and I am ready for the next ones. Because of the installed irrigation system and the two water tanks, I don’t fear water shortages any more”! Your support saved our land,” she concluded.

*Name has been changed to protect identity