Syrian youth have always had the talent. What they have needed are the bridges, and that is exactly what we build. Since 2011, Jusoor has been working to maximize the potential of Syrian youth through education, operating across four continents and through four core programs: the Refugee Education Program (REP), the Scholarships Program (SCH), the Entrepreneurship Program (ENT), and the Career Development Program (CDP). Since 2025, we have also expanded our work into Syria itself through Bridges to Syria, taking our mission closer to home than ever before.
These four programs are not isolated efforts. They form a continuum, meeting Syrian young people where they are and walking alongside them from early childhood through to their professional lives. Each program addresses a different dimension of the opportunity gap that so many Syrian youth face. Together, they represent our answer to the question: what does it actually take to maximize a young person's potential?
If you have ever wondered exactly what we do, and how, this post is for you.
Key Insights
- Jusoor operates four interconnected programs covering education, scholarships, entrepreneurship, and career development.
- Our Refugee Education Program (REP) supports displaced children from early childhood through to high school.
- Our Scholarships Program (SCH) funds Syrian scholars at universities and high schools across Europe, North America, and beyond.
- Our Entrepreneurship Program (ENT) incubates and supports Syrian-led businesses and startups.
- Our Career Development Program (CDP) equips Syrian youth with 21st-century skills and connects them to dignified employment.
- Since 2025, Bridges to Syria extends our programs directly inside the country.
The Refugee Education Program: Learning Should Not Stop Because of Displacement
For a child who has been uprooted by conflict and displacement, walking into a safe classroom can be transformative. The Refugee Education Program (REP) exists to make that possible.
REP supports displaced Syrian children and youth from early childhood through their high school years. We operate education centers in Lebanon staffed by dedicated teachers, and we design curricula and psychosocial support that respond to the real, layered needs of children navigating displacement. Our work spans Early Childhood Education all the way through our Brevet Program
We also know that many families cannot bring their children to a center every day. That is why we built Azima, an online education initiative that reaches displaced Syrian learners wherever they are. REP is driven by the evidence and by what communities tell us they need. Our approach is community-driven, needs-based, and continuously improving.
According to UNICEF, over 2 million Syrian children are currently out of school, and more than 7,000 schools across Syria have been damaged or destroyed. Against that backdrop, every child in our classrooms is a proof point that access to quality education remains possible.
The Scholarships Program: Talent Deserves a Stage
Syrian students routinely earn admission to some of the world's top universities. The barrier is rarely ability; it is funding, logistics, and the compounding disadvantages that displacement creates. The Scholarships Program (SCH) is our response to that injustice.
We are the leading organization supporting Syrian access to higher education globally, and we have built a portfolio of scholarships that reflects the diversity of our scholars' ambitions and circumstances. The Open Call Scholarship bridges the funding gap for students who have already secured a university or third-party award but cannot cover travel, visa costs, or other essential expenses. Our partnership with United World Colleges funds outstanding Syrian students to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at UWC schools worldwide. The 100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Syrian Lives initiative invests in Syrian women pursuing graduate education, recognizing the multiplier effect that an educated woman has on her family and community. Our High School Scholarships project helps students reach and complete their final years of schooling.
Our scholars are pursuing degrees in fields ranging from Biomedical Engineering and Architecture to Global Health and Neuroscience. They are determined, exceptional, and building futures that will contribute to Syria's eventual recovery. We also offer University Application Support, helping aspiring students navigate the often complex process of applying abroad.
The Entrepreneurship Program: Building the Economy, One Founder at a Time
Syrian entrepreneurs are not waiting for permission to build. Across Lebanon, Jordan, and the diaspora, Syrian-led startups and small businesses are innovating in health, education, agriculture, technology, and beyond. Our Entrepreneurship Program (ENT) is designed to accelerate that momentum.
ENT combines incubation, mentorship, grant funding, and market access support to help Syrian founders and small business owners scale their impact. Our Startup Roadshow is a signature initiative that gives early-stage founders a platform to pitch, connect with investors, and join a community of peers. The Small Business Accelerator supports businesses at a growth stage, helping founders navigate the operational and financial challenges of scaling. And our Championing Women in Business Leadership project invests specifically in women founders, providing coaching, expert sessions, and seed grants to accelerate their ventures.
We believe in economic inclusion and the power of livelihoods to build self-reliance. A Syrian entrepreneur who scales a business not only supports their own family; they create jobs, build local supply chains, and demonstrate what Syrian talent can achieve when given the opportunity. The Disruptors Project, focused on nurturing tech startups, is one further example of how we back Syrian innovators working at the frontier of what is possible.
The Career Development Program: Skills That Open Doors
Education and entrepreneurship are two critical pathways. But many Syrian young people are also ready to enter the workforce right now, and they deserve pathways into dignified employment. The Career Development Program (CDP) exists to open those doors.
CDP focuses on 21st-century skills, capacity building, and private sector partnerships to connect talented Syrian youth with real opportunities. Jusoor Elkom, our Remote Talent Pathways initiative, places bilingual Syrian and Levantine talent in remote roles with companies and organizations in Western markets. This is not a temporary fix; it is a sustainable employment model that benefits both employers and young professionals, and it is already changing lives. As one Jusoor Elkom alumna, Reem El Bikai, shared, the program transformed her career and expanded her professional network far beyond her community.
Our Future Skills initiative builds the foundational competencies that employers across sectors are seeking. Inside Syria, our Empowering Refugee and Vulnerable Youth and Women Through Skills and Employment Pathways project follows a Train, Connect, Enable model, equipping young people across Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, and Hama with vocational, digital, and green skills, then linking them to employers and self-employment opportunities.
The Levant registers some of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. CDP is our commitment to ensuring that statistic does not define the futures of Syrian young people.
One Mission, Four Pathways, Infinite Potential
Our four programs are designed to complement one another. A child who learns to read in our education center may one day apply for one of our scholarships. A graduate who benefits from our Career Development Program may launch a venture supported by our Entrepreneurship Program. The continuum is intentional, because we believe in walking with Syrian youth across their entire educational and professional journey, not just at a single moment in time.
Since 2025, Bridges to Syria has extended all of this work inside the country, supporting children, educators, and entrepreneurs in communities that for years had no access to the kind of support we provide. Through initiatives like our Syria Teacher Training project we are building bridges where they are needed most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Jusoor's four programs?
Jusoor operates four programs: the Refugee Education Program (REP), which supports displaced Syrian children from early childhood through high school; the Scholarships Program (SCH), which funds Syrian scholars at universities worldwide; the Entrepreneurship Program (ENT), which incubates and supports Syrian-led businesses and startups; and the Career Development Program (CDP), which equips Syrian youth with the skills and connections needed to access dignified employment.
Who can apply for Jusoor scholarships?
Jusoor scholarships are open to Syrians and Palestinians from Syria. Specific eligibility requirements vary by scholarship. Some are open to undergraduate and graduate students; others focus on particular groups, such as Syrian women pursuing graduate degrees. The scholarships page at jusoor.ngo is updated regularly with all active opportunities, deadlines, and application details.
Does Jusoor work inside Syria?
Yes. Since 2025, Jusoor has operated inside Syria through its Bridges to Syria initiative. This work supports children, youth, educators, and entrepreneurs within the country, including through teacher training programs, high school scholarships, and skills and employment pathways.
How is Jusoor different from other organizations supporting Syrian youth?
Jusoor was founded in 2011 by Syrian diaspora members and has always combined deep community roots with a focus on long-term, high-quality impact. We are the leading organization supporting Syrian access to higher education globally, and we take a full-lifecycle approach, covering education, scholarships, entrepreneurship, and career development rather than a single intervention point.
How can I support Jusoor's programs?
You can donate at jusoor.ngo/donate, get involved through our volunteer and mentorship programs at jusoor.ngo/get-involved, or reach out to our fundraising team at fundraising@jusoor.ngo to explore partnership opportunities.
Can employers hire through Jusoor's Career Development Program?
Yes. Through Jusoor Elkom, our Remote Talent Pathways initiative, employers can access a pool of skilled, bilingual Syrian and Levantine talent for remote roles. Jusoor also provides onboarding support and quality assurance to ensure successful partnerships. Interested employers can learn more at jusoor.ngo/our-work/remote-talent-pathways-project-jusoor-elkom.
Conclusion: Be Part of the Bridge
Syrian youth are not a problem to be solved. They are engineers, scholars, founders, and leaders whose potential is waiting to be unleashed. Our four programs exist because potential without opportunity is a loss that belongs to all of us.
Whether you are a donor, a partner, an employer, or simply someone who believes in education as a force for change, there is a place for you in this work. Visit jusoor.ngo to learn more about our programs, explore our current scholarships and opportunities, and find out how you can help us keep building bridges.
