The Ministry of Sports and Youth, in cooperation with UNICEF, held a participatory workshop aimed at developing Syria’s first National Youth Strategy, bringing together young leaders, government officials and civil society representatives to strengthen youth-led initiatives across the country.
The workshop gathered around 250 participants acting as a platform for dialogue on expanding opportunities for youth while increasing their role in community development. Discussions focused on building a national framework to support youth initiatives and encourage broader participation in public life.
Among those attending were Fuad Isa, youth adviser at the Ministry of Sports and Youth; Bahjat Hijar, adviser to the minister of social affairs and labor; and Zainab Adam, UNICEF deputy representative in Syria. Young women and men involved in local initiatives also took part in the discussions.
Fund to Support Youth Initiatives
Speaking to Levant24, Isa said the ministry is preparing to launch a Youth Initiatives Support Fund in the coming days. The fund will allow young people from across Syria to submit proposals and community projects for financial support.
Isa said accepted projects will be announced during the National Syrian Youth Conference, scheduled for June 6. According to him, over 150 initiatives are expected to receive support, with funding starting at no less than $3,000 for each project. He said the ministry hopes the program will encourage youth participation and strengthen local initiatives in different regions of the country.
International Cooperation and Training
Isa also highlighted the role of international organizations in supporting youth programs through both funding and technical expertise. He said cooperation includes partnerships with several UN agencies, international organizations and the Syrian Development Fund.
Addressing concerns from participants about the need to move beyond public commitments, Isa said the ministry has already begun implementing programs on the ground through youth camps, forums and training activities. He added that direct financial support for selected initiatives will follow as part of the broader strategy.
Youth Seen as Partners in Development
During the workshop, Adam emphasized that young people should not be viewed only as recipients of assistance or development programs. “Young people are partners, innovators, leaders and active drivers capable of creating change,” she said.
Participants took part in interactive dialogue sessions and working groups designed to gather recommendations for the national strategy. Organizers said the discussions aimed to create a transparent and inclusive framework that will help identify, train and support youth initiatives nationwide.
The workshop also highlighted the growing role young Syrians are playing in local communities despite years of economic hardship and conflict. Participants presented ideas focused on education, volunteer work, entrepreneurship and social development.
Officials and organizers said the strategy represents an effort to strengthen cooperation between government institutions, civil society groups and international partners while expanding opportunities for youth participation. The event concluded with calls for continued collaboration to ensure young Syrians have greater opportunities to contribute to public life and community development in the coming years.
