Our History

In early 2012, with the massive influx of displaced people to the city of Aleppo, a group of young Syrian volunteers went door to door distributing food, medicine, and clothes to families displaced by the growing conflict. The growing group of volunteers eventually established SARD and in 2013 entered into our first major partnership with Foundation Caritas Luxembourg (FCL), providing critical emergency assistance to IDPs on the Syrian-Turkish border. 

Foundation Caritas Luxembourg played a significant role in our growth, strengthening our capacity and investing in our core organisational strategy and technical support. SARD was FCL’s sole implementing partner in northwest Syria for seven years. Thanks to our successful partnership with FCL and in recognition of our successful localization, SARD started to implement projects directly in Syria with other partners and donors in 2020. 

SARD expanded to new geographical and sectoral areas in 2019 and 2020. 

Following the 2019 displacement waves towards northern Aleppo governorate, we expanded operations to A’zaz district. In 2020, we further expanded our operating areas to Jarablus through a local partnership to implement cash and voucher activities.

In 2019, we entered into the livelihood sector after building upon a successful pilot project to support conflict-affected households shift from humanitarian dependency toward financial self-sufficiency. In 2020, we broadened our shelter expertise to camp coordination and camp management, leading to establishing a new IDP camp. SARD started road repair, graveling, wastewater management,, and shelter emergency assistance.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, SARD also entered into the health sector, supporting health facilities with emergency sanitation facilities and providing personal protection equipment to health staff. SARD provided 20,000 locally-made face masks to vulnerable populations and launched an awareness campaign on social media reaching over 1.5 million with messages on hand-washing, vaccination, and prevention measures.

In 2023, in response to the devastating earthquakes, we expanded our response to Türkiye.

The strong connection our leadership and teams have with the communities we serve is reflected in our community and area-based approach, community-led interventions, and our investment in sustainable solutions. It is why our non-political and non-sectarian principles are so important to us and why we provide assistance on the basis of need, regardless of race, faith, age, or gender.