“Supporting Syrian-Syrian Dialogue” was launched in 2017 with the facilitation of the World Council of Churches. The project covers the whole governorate of Syria, and MARS was in charge of implementation in the northern and southern areas.
Project Objectives:
The project aims to foster dialogue and cooperation among Syrians of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, promoting social cohesion and lasting peace in Syria. It achieves this by supporting community initiatives, encouraging civil and political participation, raising awareness about values such as dialogue and tolerance, and facilitating community engagement in decision-making. Additionally, the project establishes local networks to promote peace, tolerance, and dialogue. Grounded in the theory of change, it emphasizes individual empowerment, community participation, and the development of political awareness and democracy. Given the current challenges in Syria, the project is crucial, emphasizing the urgent need for cooperation, understanding, democracy promotion, and social cohesion.
Project Activities:
- Facilitated and organized 464 focused dialogue sessions engaging over 7,587 Syrians.
- Participants collaboratively developed a consensual document titled “Towards Foundations for Coexistence and Determinants of a Syrian Social Contract ” consisting of 20 points.
- A survey was conducted with 9,772 people representing diverse societal, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to gauge the document’s significance and gather input on the Syrian national identity.
- Discussions focused on crystallizing the national identity through constitutional and human rights mechanisms to ensure diversity management.
- Provided a safe and neutral space for dialogue, fostering understanding, cooperation, and principles of coexistence within local communities.
- Produced 145 visual documentaries for female civic journalists to raise awareness about social, political, economic, and cultural issues, emphasizing the reality of women in Syria.
- Built the capacities of 170 women in political analysis and participation in decision-making bodies to enhance their role and contribute to improved coexistence.
- Established ten early warning networks in 11 regions of Syria involving 94 key societal actors..
The project’s unique contribution lies in its comprehensive coverage across all regions of Syria, fostering extensive horizontal and vertical networking among all participants. The human resources network is meticulously managed through distinct stages, including Geneva meetings uniting Syrians from diverse regions, intervention and deployment in various controlled areas, and strategic coordination across three tracks to facilitate effective networking between them.
One of the project outcomes was introducing the Syrian Women Journalist Network (women-journalists.com), comprising dedicated women who have committed to the noble cause of raising awareness, championing women’s rights, and staunchly advocating for their meaningful inclusion in peacebuilding initiatives.
They have disseminated a wealth of materials across three distinct platforms, reaching various regions within Syria. Through these channels, they have effectively broadcast their message far and wide, amplifying their sphere of influence and the impact of their work. (women-journalists.com)
For more details please read the below documents:
