Syrian NGOs Development Program
Attending the Syrian NGO Development Program (SNDP) was a turning point for me. it was full of new friendships, knowledge, opportunities, and even fun. the training modules were so relevant and useful. There were many times when I had to opportunity to speak to the group to express an opinion or explain about my work. that was particularly important for me because I have issues about speaking in public. I was also giving special attention to training and presentation skills trying to learn and improve mine. This in turn would be much needed if I am to become a permaculture trainer one day.
Meeting people from different organizations and learning about their work and the challenges they face was more than amazing. The amount of dedication and courage those people show, their restless work for helping others, and insistence on re-building the incredible damage that was done, are highly admirable.
While charity organizations are doing huge work for delivering food, blankets, medicine, mattresses, and other items to people in need, there are other organizations that work on long term recovery such as providing vocational training, job opportunities or creating new income sources. Other groups are engaged in providing psychological support and organizing amusing activities especially for children with trauma.
For example one group called I GIVE formed by young people from different backgrounds organize training courses for free but trainees are asked to donate certain items to be offered to charities and people in need.
(Unfortunately I couldn’t add links to their websites and facebook pages because they are all in Arabic).
A group of artists defy war by adding life to school walls in Damascus. They use waste material such as broken glass, tiles, old bottles to create amazing artifacts that send a glimpse of hope between the heavy dark clouds of war. Their works caught my eyes so strongly, though I was not a person who appreciates or understands arts. The irony of it dazzled me: this is how it all started, the story says. But here it’s spreading love, hope and beauty instead. At this very moment I realized the great power of art. My 5year old daughter looked admiringly at the pictures: “I want to become an artist like this guy” … I hope so..
Developments of the situation in Syria: My article to PRI I & II
The editor of PermacultureNews.org encouraged me to write something about the Syrian war to give readers a look from the inside. I was quite reluctant to do so because I know my English-writing skills are not that good for wide publishing, yet I was urged by the desire to show another side of the story other than the lies that are repeated over and over in mass media. Of course being inside Syria means that there are red lines I shouldn’t come near.. and tried to make this clear in the beginning. I hope this does not jeopardize the post’s neutrality and turn it into propaganda piece as one commenter said.
Links to part I & II
http://permaculturenews.org/2014/01/06/syria-back-story-part-2-blood-oil/
In my opinion, developing a clear and balanced vision around this issue away from the shallow, misguided and one-eyed vision that mass media keeps on spreading mercilessly is a great exercise. To see things is full colors, not just black and white, with both eyes, and in a holistic way requires good knowledge of the situation and strong thinking tools.
I really have no idea at all how the story looks like from the outside, however I hope not many people –at least in the permaculture world- see things this way: http://www.bestworldforward.com/what-a-syrian-refugee-wants-americans-to-know.html