Idlib Students Chafe Under Restrictions
Wiping away her tears with a trembling hand, Shahd hurried away from the university campus. As soon as she got back home, the 19-year-old...
Islamists Shut Local Radio Station
A key local media resource in Kfar Nabel remains shuttered months after alleged complaints by Islamist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham that it had failed...
Agriculture Declines in Syria’s Once Green Governorate
Abu Amer’s once-flourishing farm in rural Idlib is now in a terrible state. “Agriculture has become one of the most difficult and most demanding...
Healing Children Traumatised by Violence
Omar, 11, sits drawing a picture depicting his memories of Haswiya, a village in rural Homs. In early 2013, Omar’s entire family was killed...
Even in Syria Dreams Can Come True
My sister Maha, the youngest in the family, is an English language teacher. Past the age of 30 she started losing hope in getting...
Helping Syria’s Most Vulnerable
Hasna used to fear leaving the safety of her tent to take her children to the toilet at night. The streets of the Samidoon...
The Flames of the Revolution
I feel ashamed when I look back on my past indifference towards the Syrian regime. I was 55 years old when the revolution erupted....
Longing for Zabadani
I can still visualize it in all its cruelty and horror as if it were yesterday. The day I left Zabadani. The memories still...
Hammam al-Suq: Old Aleppean Ritual Revived Amid Ongoing Conflict
The city of Aleppo was once known for its historic markets and ancient baths. One of the traditional rituals locals had grown fond of...
A New Census for Kfar Nabel
A new census is underway in the city of Kfar Nabel with the aim of improving the delivery of aid and public services. The...
Stranded in Aleppo
When my mother’s phone rang, my instincts told me it could be the first step towards a new life for me. I had worked...
Documenting Births, Marriages and Deaths
None of Yousef al-Ahmad’s three young children have ever been officially registered with any local authority. This means that their ability to seek aid...
The Crossing of Death
It was July 10, 2013 and I stood at the Bustan al-Qasar crossing: the crossing of death, as I called it. A siege had...
Training a New Generation of Teachers
Usama al-Sheikh was a student at Aleppo university when the Syrian revolution erupted. During the early days of the uprising, the 20 year-old continued...
At the Mercy of the Bullets
It was two in the morning and our neighbourhood was deep asleep. Suddenly, the calm was replaced by a terrible clamour. Bright lights lit...
A Village in Ruins: Bseida
Prior to the Syrian revolution, the village of Bseida in Idlib’s southern countryside was famous for its olive groves. Since then, it has become...
