Youth from listening to the pulpit
The Syrian arena is witnessing a movement that it has not been accustomed to over decades of seminars and dialogues, where youth are emerging as one of the tools for change and advancement of the new Syria. After eras of exclusion, marginalization and role stereotyping, the fall of the regime opened up hopes for the possibility of youth moving into the circle of action, influence and participation in making sustainable peace in the new Syria.
Accordingly, the Nation Building Movement launched the Youth Dialogue Series to discuss the reality of youth, their roles and aspirations for the future Syria, in the 82 session of the Syrian Wednesday program in its office in Damascus on February 5, 2025, with the participation of a group of youth and civil activists, entitled: Youth from Listening to the Pulpit.
The session discussed in the first pillar the challenges that faced youth in previous stages, such as the political challenges related to the confiscation and monopolization of the role of youth through ready-made and stereotyped frameworks by the Baath, the lack of a national strategy for youth, and their exposure to polarization by the parties to the conflict, in addition to security challenges due to prosecutions, arrests, and the use of intimidation. It also highlights the economic challenges resulting from the deterioration of the living conditions that pushed youth either to militarize or emigrate, and cultural challenges related to the difference in values and their priorities, the existence of a patriarchal culture that controls the ambition of youth, the weakness of the culture of accepting others, and the existence of stereotypes about local communities.
The third pillar addressed the future role of youth in building the new Syria as a primary bearer of change, which requires the advancement of a sustainable work methodology for youth based on studying the need and building a strategy to activate the role and create new roles, whether through civil organizations or creating youth entities; breaking the state of fear and negativity in dealing with public affairs and trying to build a national youth narrative, and working to find mechanisms for communication between youth away from previous alignments as a tool to create safety valves for civil peace and address hate speech in the face of societal cracks, in addition to raising awareness of public affairs terminology and working for youth to be part of decision-making and not just standing in the face of the encroachment of authorities.
More details about the session can be found in the photo reports below.