#MeWeSyria

#MeWeIntl Middle East Programming began as #MeWeSyria with a group of 20 refugee youth in Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan in 2014, with pilot funding provided by Germany. The initial pilots of #MeWeSyria focused on music and filmmaking.

Refugee youth worked in teams to write and film their own short stories about topics and issues they cared about. More than 6 short films—produced by refugee youth—were featured at the Young Eyes art gallery in Amman, Jordan.

A follow up exhibit was organized by local partner Questscope inside the Zaatari refugee camp for the community. More than 100 youth and parents attended. Youth and parents noted that the process of creation and representation improved their perspectives, real to shops, and goals. 

Since then, #MeWeIntl has funded the scaling of #MeWeSyria through Questscope and Syrian facilitators in the refugee camp. The Syrian community facilitators inside Zaatari refugee have innovated the program, and reached thousands of refugee youth and caregivers at the Questscope Changemaker Space.

The #MeWeSyria program today syncs communications skills-building with neuro-education and mental health and psychosocial support concept for improving emotion regulation and goal-setting. Over the years, allies like neuroscientist Mike Niconchuk, and community programmer Maureen Jane MacPhail have introduced into #MeWeIntl’s programs and trainings expert knowledge from the fields of mental health, community building, and neuroscience.

What began with a small group of Syrian refugees in 2014 has today expanded to more than 12 countries, thanks in large part to the creativity and leadership of the core #MeWeSyria teams in Zaatari refugee camp. #MeWeIntl has trained more than 30 Syrian refugees to lead our #MeWeSyria program, and this network of refugee community facilitators has reached more than 2,000 youth and caregivers across Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps. 

The COVID 19 pandemic has not stopped our innovation and scaling of programs inside refugee camps. Throughout 2020, thanks to our network of community facilitators in the Middle East, #MeWeIntl have now designed and piloted virtual programs and community interventions.

vIDEOS

#MeWeSyria over the last decade.

The Power of Narrative
Let's decentralize the power of narrative and equip young Syrian changemakers with the tools of storytelling, communication and creative enterprise. It is important to pay attention to the refugee and migrant crisis, but it is also important to move beyond the headlines and support and value brave changemakers withing these communities.

#MeWeSyria on Al Jazeera
#MeWeIntl Founder & CEO Mohsin Mohi-Ud-Din sits down with Al Jazeera America for a First Person Report on how  Syria's youth are decentralizing the power of narrative and tapping into their inner changemakers through the #MeWeSyria Program.

Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes footage of the #MeWeSyria program. Published in June 2014.

1500+

program participants

3000+

hours of trainings

26

facilitators
Testimonial

“I was going to join the military forces, I thought that this would be the way to find meaning in my life. I participated in #MeWeSyria by coincidence and the whole story has changed.. Something touched my soul and it was like I am meeting myself for the first time. After the training, I wanted to achieve my goals and they were not about any military, they were about me and my future self.”

16 year-old program participant
#MeWeSyria in Jordan

Partners

Questscope
An international non-governmental organization which is dedicated to transforming the future of vulnerable youth and communities in the Middle East by equipping them with the resources and hope they need to become compassionate and productive citizens.

Questscope has been an invaluable implementing partner of #MeWeIntl for the #MeWeSyria program in Za’atari Camp for years and has continued to show the commitment for the program to grow and scale .
Mercy Corps
A global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Their mission is  to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Through a grant from the Trip Advisor Foundation awarded to Mercy Corps, #MeWeIntl has been leading community trainings and #MeWeSyria activities in Village 5 with Mercy Corps in Azraq Refugee Camp since 2018. 

Funders

Quiet

Ford Foundation

Porticus

Germany

MKTA/DFAT
sTORIES

Hear from #MeWeSyria Program Participants

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