A remarkable story of how the author's great grandfather, Azar Al Aji, escaped from Turkish annexation and founded a prosperous village in Syria’s Valley of the Christians. The author also reflects on how the village’s history of resilience and generosity can inspire a hopeful future for Syria amid the ongoing war. This is an article that tells the story of how one man’s courage and kindness changed the lives of many.

Today, Akitu is mainly celebrated by the Assyrian/Aramaean identifying community, Chaldeans (Catholic Assyrians), and all Syrian and Iraqi Christians following the Syriac Orthodox & Catholic churches. It is also significant to many Alawites & Ismailis in the country (altogether, these communities form between 20-30% of Syria). Our ancestors across the region recognized the importance of celebrating life, renewal, and our fertile lands. Syria today seems to be the antithesis of that, many of our people are desperate for a life worth celebrating, but we remember the many Syrians both in and out of the country who are doing their part in a strive for a better Syria. Akitu Brikho (Syriac for Blessed Akitu) to every one of those Syrians whose love for our land, history, and belief in our people in spite of everything, never withers away.

Today, we remember all the Syrian women in our lives who have not only had to endure years of war and its consequences, but a society that has also actively hindered her progress. We remember Syrian women who have excelled abroad despite hardship, who preserve our culture and heritage, and who contributed to society through liberation, progress, medicine, arts, and culture; the Syrian women that have made our lives worth living for.

Special thanks to member of the community Ali Al Haj who helped provide some insightful information Graphics: @nourxahabi Fifth in our series of Syria’s religious makeup: the Ismaili Muslims. We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Syrians on the history and communities of our country. Misinformation often grows vastly and knowledge about one another is a vital way to achieve coexistence and move forward. Ismailism in Syria dates back to the year 806 AD. Centralized in Syria’s west by the Coastal Mountains, Ismailis form large minorities in the governorates of Hama and Tartus. Historically stemming from Shia Islam, it shares much with mainstream Islam but is also distinct in its practices and history. Syria boasts one of the largest Ismaili communities worldwide, and today, the community likely forms the 6th largest religious group in the country. It is the smallest Islamic-related sect in Syria following the Sunnis, Alawites, Druze & Twelver Shias.

Kinda Ghannoum, a Syrian-Polish graphic designer, spearheads a nonprofit documentary project alongside friends Sally and Hala, aiming to revive and celebrate Syria's overlooked graphic design legacy through initiatives like the Syrian Design Archive, Syrian Media Archive, and more.

A centenarian pioneer enriching Damascus' heritage, introducing the transformative Jacquard technique to elevate the city's iconic brocade industry.

Another epidemic in Syria is the immense rise of undiagnosed Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a disorder whose severity is unfortunately underestimated and impacting our people on both personal and collective levels as a result of daily lived realities during the war and until today.

If our media doesn’t do our people justice, we will. Check out the incredible story of Dr. Souhel Najjar; a Damascus-born neurologist, who managed to save an American woman’s life from a rare, life-threatening disease and become one of the best neurologists of the US.

Fourth in our series of Syria’s religious makeup: the Sunni Muslims. This article delves into the early islamic era in Syria (commenced by two powerful Sunni dynasties, the Umayyad and the Abbasid), as well as the incredibly diverse nature of the many Islamic dynasties that have come to rule our land from 634-1919 AD. While the vast majority were Sunni, about half of them were in fact non Arab and have dominated Syria’s Sunni Islamic history. This plays a massive role in shaping the modern day demographics of Syrian Sunnis, in addition to refugees and their descendants who have settled in Syria, such as Iraqis and Palestinians. As the majority, Sunnis have played key roles in the development of Syria’s political and social fabric particularly during our country’s establishment as a modern state. Syria was key to the establishment of Sunni Islam as a powerful social and political entity in the world, as Damascus was the capital of the first Islamic Empire - the Umayyad Empire - which spanned from Northwest Africa to modern day Pakistan in the east, from the Southern Arabian Peninsula to the Caucasus region, as well as modern Spain and Portugal. Often many of us conflate Islamic rule in Syria with Arabs, yet forget that in fact, the majority were non Arab Islamic dynasties. Sunni Islam has also dominated Islamic history in Syria.

Award-winning author & illustrator Nadine from Damascus champions inclusive representation in children's books, illuminating Syria's heritage. Her works, including 'Answer me, Leila!' and 'Tomorrow,' delicately navigate special needs and war's impact, garnering global acclaim and educational use.

Third in our series of Syria’s religious makeup: the Christians. We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Syrians on the history and communities of our country. Misinformation often grows vastly and knowledge about one another is a vital way to achieve coexistence & move forward. This article delves into the indigeneity of Christianity in Syria, a cradle of the faith. Christianity came to be in the Levant, at a time when Syria was under Roman rule. The language spoken at the time by inhabitants was Aramaic. When the Roman empire split, Syria was an important center of the Eastern Roman Empire, which became known as the Byzantine Empire that was heavily influenced by Greek culture and language. It was in Byzantine Syria that Christianity flourished amongst an Aramaic and Greek speaking population, later spreading worldwide. In order to understand Syria’s Christians today, we need to go back to when Syria was referred to as Aram and understand the ways Aramaic still lives amongst us as a result of its preservation through Christianity. As one of the few Middle Eastern nations with a prominent Christian community, and as one of the oldest Christian communities of the world, Syria’s Christians have left their mark on every aspect of Syrian life from politics and education, to the cultural and artistic scenes. The community is diverse in its sects and ethnic identities, with the 3 largest sects being branches of the Church of Antioch: the Greek Orthodox, Greek Melkite Catholics (the names of both reflecting the Byzantine rite heritage), in addition to the Syriac Orthodox Church. Other prominent churches of Syriac rites include Syriac Catholics, Maronites, and the Assyrian/Chaldean churches, in addition to the large Armenian communities mainly based in Aleppo. Historically a majority, the community has gradually shrunk in size, and today form < 10% of Syria, the 3rd largest religious group after the Sunnis & Alawites

The Syrian fashion virtuoso shaping style, breaking norms, and celebrating the synergy between art and fashion.