Creating Opportunities on the Ground
Families gain access to healthcare, children benefit from education and childcare services, and people are able to support themselves again through income-generating projects. Robel Mutlu, President and co-founder of Syriac Cross e.V., provides an insight into his organisation’s wide-ranging work.
Since 2016, I have been committed to supporting the people of Syria. The civil war, displacement, and the economic consequences of the conflict have profoundly affected the lives of countless people, including families I know well and many close friends. My motivation is to help people in Syria regain hope and build a future in their homeland.
At Syriac Cross in Germany, we began asking ourselves early on what sustainable aid might look like. In close consultation with people on the ground in Syria, we identified their needs and developed projects tailored to the local context. This initially led to agricultural programmes that enabled families to cultivate their fields again and generate their own income. I was particularly impressed by the determination of so many people to remain in their homeland despite the immense challenges they face and to actively contribute to shaping its future.
'I am convinced that the reconstruction of Syria can only succeed if we work together – through cooperation between the people on the ground, the diaspora and international partners.'
Over the past few years, we have implemented numerous humanitarian and development projects in various regions of Syria. Our work includes providing clean drinking water, medical care, food and hygiene supplies, as well as supporting people in securing sustainable livelihoods. To this day, we continue to run a medical clinic in north-eastern Syria, where we provide treatment and essential medication. We also offer psychosocial support to children, young people and adults, helping them cope with the lasting effects of war and displacement.
About Syriac Cross e.V.
The Syriac Cross Organisation (SCO) is a voluntary, social and humanitarian aid organisation that operates strictly in accordance with the principles and guidelines of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as set out in the Geneva Convention. The SCO was founded in Syria in 2013 to organise aid for the people of the country ravaged by civil war and to improve living conditions on the ground. Since 2016, the Syriac Cross Organisation has also been registered as a non-profit association in Germany and has commenced its work there.
Our current focus is on training and skills development programmes for women and young people, promoting income-generating opportunities, and supporting communities that have been particularly hard hit by the consequences of war and displacement. At the same time, together with our sister organisation in Syria, we are strengthening local structures and capacities to lay the foundations for effective, sustainable, and locally rooted support.
Our work helps create new opportunities for many people. Families gain access to medical care, children benefit from education and childcare, and people are able to rebuild their livelihoods through income-generating activities. What is particularly moving are the encounters with people who, despite facing enormous challenges, have not lost hope. When families tell us that our support has enabled them to remain in their homeland and regain confidence in their future, the importance of our work becomes especially clear.
We would like to further expand our programmes and, in the long term, strengthen access to education, economic opportunities and social cohesion. The Syrian diaspora can play an important role in this process. It brings valuable experience, expertise and networks that can help build bridges between Syria and the countries where Syrians have found refuge. I am convinced that Syria’s reconstruction can only succeed through joint efforts – by bringing together the knowledge and commitment of people on the ground, the Syrian diaspora and international partners.
Get involved
Are you involved in an initiative, an organisation or a project supporting the reconstruction of Syria? If so, we would be delighted to feature your story and highlight your work on this page as well.
These portraits showcase the many ways in which the Syrian diaspora is making a difference, while sharing personal experiences and bringing people together.
If you would like to present your initiative, please do get in touch with us. We look forward to hearing from you at Neuanfang-Syrien@giz.de with the subject line “Spotlight on Diaspora Engagement”.
