[excerpt] In Damascus the Syrian Environmental Association (SEA) recently transformed a rubbish site into a botanical garden and arranges litter clean-ups. In Aleppo, the Aga Khan Foundation’s summer schools for children are run entirely by volunteers.
[snip] Having free time was commonly cited by volunteers, women especially, as a reason for joining groups. Nesreen Albtihe, a 25-year-old student who volunteers at summer camps for children run by the Aga Khan Foundation, said: “I didn’t have important things to do during my vacations and free time.”
Doaa Halaage, 19, who volunteers at a similar camp in Aleppo, agrees. “I decided to volunteer to fill my free time,” she said. ““Before, I didn’t know what to do with it.”
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