June is proving to be a defining month for our work inside Syria. We’re proud to share some of the most concrete progress to date.
A Major Milestone: Our First Pilot Program Launches This Month
Jusoor is launching its first pilot initiative inside Syria: an academic exchange initiative, bridging homeland and diaspora, running from June 21–30.
In partnership with the Syrian Science Council and Abjad, we’re bringing together a distinguished delegation of Syrian diaspora academics and professionals for this groundbreaking initiative, which will take place at Damascus University, Aleppo University, and Idlib University.
This visit is designed to serve both immediate recovery and long-term collaboration by focusing on:
- Collaborative Dialogue: Sessions with Syrian university professors and students to build trust, exchange experiences and create sustainable academic partnerships
- Knowledge Exchange: High-impact lectures and workshops to support the development of higher education and scientific research
- Institutional Needs Assessment: In-depth dialogue and data collection with faculty and students to map gaps in higher education
This initiative builds a critical bridge between Syria’s academic institutions and its global diaspora, laying the foundation for a long term collaboration and an invitation to the Syrian experts around the world.
Field Visit & Preparing for Summer School
In parallel, we are also working on a summer school program scheduled to launch in July, which will support children who have missed years of learning due to conflict and displacement. These efforts come after a field visit by our team to schools in rural Damascus and Homs, where Suha Tutunji, Jusoor’s Head of Refugee Education reported valuable on-the-ground insights into the urgency of education recovery. Classrooms are overcrowded, dropout rates are rising, and basic infrastructure is lacking.
The need is staggering. Over 3.7 million children inside Syria are currently out of school (Save the Children, 2024). And according to the IOM’s new Communities of Return index, 44% of returnees are children, most entering back into a system that lacks the teachers, materials, or facilities to support them.
What Else We’re Working On Now
- Expanding coordination with Syrian ministries, with meetings underway to explore institutional pathways
- Designing a clear, adaptable plan for monitoring impact and scaling efforts through the year ahead
Our Hope with the Sanctions Being Lifted
Currently our main focus inside Syria is on Education projects given the sanctions are yet to be fully lifted, however we are closely monitoring the evolving landscape. We believe in the potential of Syria’s tech talent, and we plan to support it meaningfully when the time is right. We see technology and entrepreneurship playing a foundational role in any short-term recovery and long-term rebuilding in Syria. Jusoor recently signed a partnership agreement with the Islamic Development Bank under their STEP program, through which we’ll sit on the steering committee and act as an implementing partner.
Our own experience working with Syrian entrepreneurs has shown how impactful these programs can be. Over the past few years, Jusoor has supported over 1,800 entrepreneurs and helped launch more than 500 startups. This gives us confidence that with the right support and environment, the same can happen inside Syria.
We are excited to share updates from the ground with our projects that are taking place later this month. Make sure to follow us on social media to get the latest updates as well.
