Projects

YES for Peace – Young Engaged Syrians Making Their Voices Heard

2025 – 2026

“YES for Peace” is a project that aims to involve Syria’s youth in the political process. One reason for this is the average age in Syria, which is under 30, making young people the largest age group in the country. In addition, this age group is barely represented in the political discourse. This is not only problematic because one of many perspectives on the Syrian peace process is missing, but also because the inclusion of young people is particularly important. They are the ones who have to live with the peace agreements reached for the longest and are therefore particularly affected by inadequate political solutions – or even the absence of peace.

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2025-May-28

Inclusive Governance Needs Assessment for a New Democratic Syria

2025

The Syrian conflict has destroyed the country, leaving it deeply divided and facing immense challenges in rebuilding. A critical aspect of this rebuilding process is the establishment of a just and inclusive political system that reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of the Syrian people, including Women and Youth. Our needs assessment aims to delve into the diverse perspectives of key Syrian political stakeholders on the future state structure of the country, with a particular focus on inclusive governance.

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2025-June-5

Self-Sufficient Through Solar Energy: Eco-Friendly Electricity for Families in Need in Amuda

2024 – 2025

Syria struggles with shortage of electricity – the region administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANEAS) is no exception. Even in Amuda (al-Hassaka province), the electricity provided by state-owned companies is not available on a stable basis. Most households rely on additional generators to be able to meet their electricity needs to some extent. While some families have their own appliances, others are dependent on generators provided by the Autonomous Administration.

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2025-June-5

Empowerment Trough Inclusion

2023 – 2025

The strength and credibility of the Syrian opposition and civil society depends to a large extent on its unity of content, its inclusiveness and its orientation towards internationally recognised human rights standards. In order to promote these aspects and thus social cohesion, we conducted study trips to ethnically and religiously diverse states and regions such as South Tyrol and Kosovo, initiated discussions between the various Kurdish actors in Syria, prepared studies on the situation of minorities in north-eastern Syria and published our activities and results via social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), the website https://power-sharing-syria.ezks.org/ as well as in the context of face-to-face events.

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2025-May-27

Power Sharing for a United Syria

2019-2023

As part of the Power Sharing for a United Syria project, we continued our work with various Syrian opposition groups in order to develop joint positions, particularly in the areas of decentralization and minority rights. Secondly, we provided technical support to the minority representatives on the Syrian Constitutional Committee during the constitutional talks in Geneva with our Minority Advisor Board. Finally, we explained and publicized the discussions within the Constitutional Committee and the positions of the individual groups through interviews, podcasts, studies, explanatory videos and film documentaries.

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2025-May-28

Supporting the Kurdish National Council

Logo ENKS

2016 – 2019

The Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC), founded on 26 October 2011 in al-Qamishli, is an association of representatives of Syrian-Kurdish political parties and members of civil society organizations.

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2025-May-20

War Is No Excuse

Graffiti: Keine Kindersoldaten

No Recruitment of Child Soldiers by the PYD

2015–2016

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011. Many of the parties involved are recruiting child soldiers and use them in combat—the Syrian-Kurdish PYD (Democratic Union Party) is no exception. (more…)

2019-October-15

Local Democracy

Project Folder

2013–2014

Democratization starts at the local level. If it doesn’t work there, it doesn’t work at all. Recent observations of the situation in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia respectively have shown that one structural problem of dictatorships is that there is no inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes at the local level.

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2024-April-18

KurdWatch

Header graphic Kurdwatch

2009–2016

From 2009 to 2016, we run an independent website called »KurdWatch« that reported on human-rights abuses against the Kurdish population in Syria. We also reported on the development of the civil war and its consequences for people living in the Kurdish areas. Our news coverage focused on current daily events such as demonstrations, arrests, kidnappings, and torture. In addition we researched background information on topics such as the development of Kurdish political parties or  the expatriation of 1962. (more…)

2024-May-6

Strengthening Civil Society Structures in Syria

2005–2016

In the years between 2005 and 2016, our focus was primarily on strengthening civil society structures in Syria. In particular, we worked with young people and women, i.e. with actors who are more interested in social change than others due to their often marginalized situation.

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2024-April-18

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