Turning Personal Commitment into Social Impact
How a Syrian diaspora initiative is bringing Germany and Syria together to strengthen reconstruction and resilience. Abdulaziz Ramadan (second from left), founder and chairman of the DOZ e.V. association, explains what motivated him to get involved.
"My involvement began long before 2011. As a young student in Syria, I grew up experiencing political repression, violence and the pervasive fear that shaped everyday life. At the age of 16, I witnessed the violent suppression of protests in my hometown. A few years later, I was arrested and detained in Damascus because of my social activism. These experiences profoundly shaped my understanding of justice, dignity and responsibility. Rather than diminishing my sense of agency, they strengthened my belief in the importance of freedom, solidarity and the responsibility we share to contribute to positive change.
'For me, this work means restoring dignity where it has been taken away and creating hope where it has almost been lost.'
When the situation in Syria escalated in 2011, I realised that I could no longer remain silent. I mobilised students and began supporting our communities through small but meaningful actions. This marked the beginning of DOZ in Syria.
After being forced to leave the country because of my political activism, I continued this work in Germany and founded DOZ e.V. in 2014. From the outset, our vision was to build a bridge between Germany and Syria—connecting knowledge, partnerships and resources to support communities on the ground.
Today, our work focuses on particularly vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people, returnees and survivors of violence. Through integrated, multi-sectoral approaches that bring together protection, livelihoods and health, we address both immediate needs and the longer-term challenges of recovery and reconstruction.
About DOZ e.V.
DOZ International is a locally rooted, migrant-led organisation that emerged from the growing youth-led civil society in Syria during a time of war and conflict. The organisation was founded in 2011 as a student-led initiative in Syria. In 2012, DOZ became formally organised and was recognised as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation (NGO). In 2014, DOZ was officially registered in Germany, where it established its headquarters. The headquarters serves as a hub for representation, coordination with donors, partners and networks, as well as technical support for local teams, programmes and projects. This structure enables DOZ International to combine local knowledge and ownership with international partnerships and expertise.
A particular focus of our work is supporting survivors of torture and their families through medical care, psychosocial support, financial assistance and safe spaces for healing, in close collaboration with trusted local and international partners.
At the same time, we invest in community-based approaches that strengthen people’s capacity to shape their own futures. Through programmes funded by the BMZ and GIZ, we work with women, young people and people with disabilities to strengthen their skills, support local initiatives and foster greater participation in community life. In this way, communities are not merely recipients of support, but active agents in shaping sustainable change.
In 2025 alone, we were able to reach more than 11,500 people across Syria. Yet for us, impact cannot be measured by numbers alone. It is reflected in moments of recovery, strengthened resilience and the restoration of dignity.
Looking ahead to 2026, we aim to further expand and deepen this work. Alongside strengthening community-based approaches, we will focus on consolidating local structures, building capacities and fostering local ownership. Our goal is to contribute to long-term stabilisation and social cohesion in Syria—guided by a vision of rebuilding not only systems and institutions, but also trust, agency and hope.
For me, this commitment is both professional and deeply personal. My journey—from Syria to Germany, and from experiencing repression to taking action—continues to shape my work and convictions today. I believe the Syrian diaspora can play a vital role in Syria’s reconstruction by connecting knowledge, resources and local realities across borders. By working together and building on these connections, we can contribute to a more resilient, inclusive and peaceful future for Syria."
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Präsentation Erfolgsgeschichte DOZ e.V.
At the 2026 annual event of the “A New Beginning for Syria” platform, Abdulaziz Ramadan presented the work of DOZ e.V. and provided an overview of the organisation’s wide-ranging projects and initiatives in Syria.
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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”.
