Mid March of this year, the research division of the Syria Trust for development launched the SYSP “Syrian Young Scholars Program,” aimed at building the capacity of young Syrian scholars and producing informative research helping the development efforts in the country. A few months after the project’s launch, Forward sat down with Maya al-Kateb for an in depth query about SYSP.


What are the exact benefits of this program?
The concepts of research and statistics are remote in Syria, so the program introduces them in the fields relevant to development in Syria, and facilitates the exchange of information and opportunities for collaboration with other local and international scholars.


What do the activities include?
There are the routine activities where young participants join to express their own views of their heritage and culture, using photography and other types of media as a tool of expression.

As well as the research funds, which are divided to three groups: Research Assistantships, where young scholars work with an experienced research analyst at the Trust or another research centre on an ongoing research project; Research Fellowships, in which young scholars with an innovative and viable research idea receive technical assistance and financial support to cover the cost of their projects; and finally, Dissemination Grants for young scholars whose projects are selected for presentation internationally upon which they receive financial support to present or publish their work.


Which one of these three did you take part in?
Research Fellowship; for a project revolving around the silk industry in Syria, a personal passion of mine.


How did that lead you to SYSP?
Silk used to be a distinctive part of the Syrian identity, but in recent decades production rates and quality have slumped, and that compelled me to research the whole industry, its weak points, and how they can be fixed.
When we started researching for silk we needed financial support, but couldn’t find any donors, so we were referred to the Syria Trust and we were awarded technical support and partial funding through the program, which without we couldn’t have managed to continue.


What were the outcomes of that experience?
We accomplished an in-depth comprehensive research paper on the obstacles facing the silk industry in Syria, and ways to overcome them. Personally, it was a great experience for me, a chance to get to know more about my heritage and country, and to network with different kinds of people I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet another way.

Research is a means to reproduce knowledge, and new developmental projects cannot be launched without necessary data resultant of research, so it is also a means to contribute to the development of Syria, with you choosing the field of your passion.





Moving culture forward

Rawafed, the cultural project of The Syria Trust for Development, announced mid may five Cultural Projects Incubator (CPI) winners who promise to be a great addition to native cultural life. Here is a rundown of each.

Al-Wakala al-Souriya Lil Soura (The Syrian Agency for Photography), Hisham Zaawet, Damascus: The Syrian Agency for photography will visually document and create an archive of photography related to Syria and its heritage.

Tajamo’ Homs Al-Fani (Homs Art Platform), Samer Ibrahim, Homs: An art and culture community centre in Homs, this project presents a framework that enables youth and people working in creative fields – including theatre, music, poetry, fine arts and more – to present their work to the largest audience possible.
Muhtaraf Shughul Wa Fan, (The Work and Art Atelier), Muhannad Deeb, Damascus: The project aims to empower and enable sculptors by creating a space for artists to exchange ideas and experiences.

Mat-haf al-Hara (The Al-Hara Museum), Reem Al-Khatib, Damascus: The project aims to hold exhibitions that will focus on ways traditional Syrian and artistic heritage is reflected and interpreted in contemporary works.

Al-Beit Al-Arabi (The Arab House) Orchestra, Yasser Drebati, Latakia: This is a children’s orchestra for students studying in the Arab house, as well as music students throughout the city of Latakia. This project aims to establish a presence for musicians on a technical and performance level by implementing a purposeful curriculum with the help of music academics and experts.

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For more information, visit www.syriatrust.org

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