Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Rebuilding Syria's Raqqa, One Park at a Time

Sirwan Kajjo

   Concerted efforts continue to rebuild the Syrian city of Raqqa, nearly
   two years after it was recaptured from the Islamic State (IS) terror
   group. And while these efforts mostly focus on essential services in
   the city, several activist groups are trying to take on something
   different by restoring parks, playgrounds and public squares.
   U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces liberated Raqqa from IS in October
   2017.
   During the 3-month-long battle, however, the city's infrastructure was
   mostly destroyed, including dozens of public squares and parks that
   once were used by the terror group for the public execution of
   dissidents.
   Activists who have taken on the mission to reconstruct these facilities
   say they are particularly focused on projects that could change the
   face of the city after years of horror under IS rule.

   Ahed al-Hendi, head of the Syrian Foundation for Sustainable
   Development, a local organization that has been involved in several
   reconstruction projects in Raqqa, says that the idea behind supporting
   these efforts is to turn the former de facto capital of IS' self-styled
   caliphate into a bright and colorful city.
   "Under IS rule, only one color was prevalent and allowed and that was
   black," he told VOA. "The colors we use now while repairing these parks
   represent diversity and tolerance."

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