In Eastern Syria, Rising Youth Political Awareness is Changing Communities
May 18, 2022 - In many of its projects and programs inside and outside Syria, Baytna is always keen on involving the youth of Syria in peacemaking initiatives and in contributing to the improvement of their communities. Among Baytna’s recent work with youth organizations in the eastern region of Syria is its support for the inspiring Peace Tent organization and its project on youth political empowerment, Hiwarat (dialogues).
The Peace Tent is a non-governmental, non-profit Syrian civil society organization. Founded in 2018, it seeks to achieve community stability and to build sustainable regional and peace by spreading a culture of human rights and citizenship, and by achieving social cohesion and reconciliation in societies emerging from conflict.
"Young men and women in the eastern region lack the tools and skills to take an active and fundamental role in their issues at the national political level, as young people face many obstacles against their effective participation. They are considered a marginalized group since the time ISIS took control and imposed its policies in the region, and youth representation is still absent on the Syrian political scene even after their removal," said Ibrahim Hussein, the organization's founder and director.
The organization has been working on raising awareness and political education for 75 young men and women in the eastern region, in four phases:
• Offering lectures to increase youth groups’ knowledge on the political movement in Syria, the role of youth and women in political life, concepts, and terminology (such as parties and democracy).
• Holding workshops and tests on the ongoing constitutional process, namely the Constitutional Committee, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, promoting youth participation, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, increasing women's participation, civil society and its role in the first track.
• Conducting five meetings with active national and civil political figures to activate the role of youth groups, express their opinions, communicate their voices, and convey their recommendations.
• Forming a team with the 25 most active young men and women, based on their level of efficient organization, their formulation of recommendations and interventions, and their productive participation.
As a result of the important work the Peace Tent organization did with the young trainees, two groups of participants formed their own volunteer teams and started working with other young people in their communities.
One, the Masarat team, implemented a youth participation initiative to increase young people's knowledge by implementing four education and awareness sessions on the concept of participation and volunteering for 60 young women and men. They also distributed 200 brochures explaining the content of UNSCR 2250.
The other, the Tawasol initiative, conducted four workshops with 60 women on concepts of citizenship, democracy, advocacy, and similar related concepts, including UNSCR 1325.
For Peace Tent organization founder Ibrahim Hussein, these initiatives are bearing fruit and encouraging more youth to become involved: "We value all efforts that would educate and empower young people. We want to activate their political role, create spaces for dialogue on political issues, and communicate their voices and those of their peers to advocate for their rights to participate, obtain information, and express their opinions freely."
“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline.”