Our Work
At SSJ, we don't aim to be different—we aim to be present, committed, and real.
We work directly
with survivors and families,
listening to their stories and responding to their needs.
We speak out
when others stay silent, challenging lies and propaganda with truth and action.
We stand on the ground.
We believe in the power of people: Syrian, Japanese, and global communities standing together for justice.
1.
Survivors’ Rehabilitation
Justice and Rehabilitation for Assad’s Detention Survivors
Survivors of the former Assad regime’s detention system face deep psychological, physical, and economic harm. The Survivors’ Rehabilitation Programme supports their recovery through coordinated medical, social, and livelihood assistance.
The programme provides trauma-informed medical and psychological care, including individual and group counselling, treatment for detention-related injuries, and referrals for specialised services such as support for survivors of sexual violence. Psychoeducation sessions help reduce stigma, strengthen coping abilities, and rebuild confidence within the community.
To restore stability, the programme offers livelihood and infrastructure support that enables survivors to regain economic independence.
This includes essential equipment such as tractors, trucks, and tools, as well as start-up materials for small businesses. Practical guidance is also provided to ensure responsible use of these resources and to promote the long-term sustainability of the support
The programme also strengthens long-term resilience through vocational training and capacity building. Survivors, including women, youth, and individuals with disabilities, gain access to skills training in areas such as sewing, agricultural machinery repair, and programming, alongside business literacy workshops and employment-linked certification pathways.
Together, these interventions help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity, restore agency and self-reliance, and ensure their experiences contribute to a more just and inclusive future for Syria.
2.
Reconstruction
For families returning to areas devastated by years of violent crisis, rebuilding is both an act of resistance and a testament to resilience. SSJ supports returnee communities in restoring safety, dignity, and stability through targeted reconstruction initiatives.
These efforts include the physical reconstruction of homes, schools, and community facilities destroyed during the crisis; repairs to essential infrastructure such as water systems and electricity networks; and assistance for returnee families to access basic utilities and rebuild sustainable living conditions.
3.
Education
Sustainable Learning for Syria’s Future
Since July 2022, SSJ has implemented a sustained education programme for more than 900 vulnerable children in North Westen Syria (NWS), ensuring their right to consistent and safe learning.
The project has provided school supplies, transport assistance, teachers’ salaries, and psychosocial support through an on-site psychologist to address trauma and promote well-being. Safety and inclusion have been central priorities, particularly for children from marginalised communities.
By reducing dropout rates, restoring a sense of normality, and fostering resilience, the programme has offered not only education but also a protective environment — helping children regain stability, confidence, and hope for their future.
4.
Economic Empowerment
The HIMAWARI Project – A Model for Economic Independence
Since 2023, SSJ has launched the HIMAWARI Project, an initiative supporting Syrian craftsmen in rebuilding their livelihoods. HIMAWARI is a boutique workshop run by skilled shoemakers and bag makers, designed to promote economic self-reliance and create sustainable employment opportunities.
The project envisions exporting Syrian handmade products to Japan, strengthening economic ties and solidarity between the Syrian and Japanese people. Through the HIMAWARI Project, SSJ provides meaningful income-generation opportunities for vulnerable individuals while showcasing Syrian craftsmanship and resilience to the world.
5.
Emergency Response
Life-Saving Aid in Times of Crisis
During the Assad regime’s rule, airstrikes by regime and Russian forces frequently targeted regions such as Idlib and the outskirts of Aleppo in an effort to suppress local populations. The areas that SSJ had supported for many years were repeatedly affected by these attacks — and each time, our teams mobilised immediately to deliver emergency aid.
Following the devastating earthquakes of February 2023, SSJ launched an urgent humanitarian response in North Westen Syria (NWS), providing life-saving assistance to more than 2,000 affected families in Aleppo and Idlib. We distributed essential relief kits, including food, water, blankets, and hygiene supplies. In newly established displacement sites, we constructed toilets and showers to ensure safety, privacy, and dignity for women, men, and children.
Our teams prioritised vulnerable households — including displaced families, widows, and those already affected by detention or enforced disappearance — combining rapid mobilisation with transparent, accountable distribution in severely affected and hard-to-reach areas.
6.
Justice Unit
SSJ’s Law and Transitional Justice Unit was established following the collapse of the former Assad regime, which opened access to long-hidden facilities, records, and testimonies. The Unit documents all major human rights violations committed during the Syrian crisis, including mass killings, torture, enforced disappearance, sexual and gender-based violence, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the use of chemical weapons, and the forced displacement of communities. Its trained staff conduct field investigations, examine evidence, and interview survivors and families to preserve reliable documentation for future accountability under international law.
The Unit also supports national and international justice efforts by working closely with Syria’s Interim Government and The National Commission for the Missing and Transitional Justice. Beyond documentation, it engages in truth-based advocacy to ensure that survivors’ voices reach the international community and that the reality of past crimes is neither denied nor forgotten. Through these efforts, SSJ aims to lay the foundations for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace in Syria.
