Get to know the Toronto-based Syrian award-winning musician, voice actor, and composer Layal Watfeh

Over the past decade, a lot of attention has been directed towards Syria, the beating heart of the Middle East, which embodies a complex human story as it fights to maintain its identity in the face of conflict and political and social transformations. In this part of the world, life used to overflow with colors and holidays were filled with joy and brotherhood. However, things are different today, where holidays are looked upon with nostalgia and patience. Perhaps the deeper meaning of holidays in Syria is the hope for reunion, unity and peace, with every passing holiday serving as a reminder that light is still shining through the darkness, and that life still goes on in the face of adversity.

Muhammad Faris, an exceptional and prominent figure in the history of space, is considered the second Arab person to set foot in space. He was born in the city of Aleppo, Syria, in 1951, and grew up in an environment filled with dreams of aviation and space. He received his basic education in his hometown before pursuing his military education, which later opened the doors for him to become an astronaut.

These remarkable Syrians in Europe embody resilience, creativity, and activism. Let's celebrate their contributions and recognize the richness that diversity brings to our shared European tapestry.

From groundbreaking discoveries to revolutionary innovations, these Syrians became pioneers in their respective fields and left a lasting impact on the scientific community and beyond. In this post, we are going to briefly explore each person’s story.

I have always wanted to do this: get in my car, call my friends, pick them up, and hit the road. “Where do you wanna go?” I want to ask,

Walking along its narrow, branching and ascending staircases, Al-Muhajireen is a unique Damascene neighborhood unlike any other. Its history stretches back to 1899 when Nazim Pasha, Damascus’ Ottoman governor at the time, decided to settle Muslims from the Greek island of Crete who immigrated as a result of sectarian violence on the island. Over time, the neighborhood developed into a blend of immigrants of various ethnic groups, mostly from the Balkans and Circassia (southwest Russia). Al-Muhajireen gained further importance after Nazim Pasha built Al-Muhajireen Palace, which later became the residence of Syria’s first elected president, Muhammad al Abid, who decided during his tenure in office (1932-1936) to build a tramway line that connected the center of Damascus to Al-Muhajireen. Overlooking the city of Damascus on Mount Qasioun, Al-Muhajireen is a mesmerizing neighborhood for locals.

Known to be a prominent strength in the Syrian (and Arab) community, mockery is the act of diminishing a serious matter by making it appear feeble, trivial, or even insignificant.

“I don’t know how Syrians are surviving.” People have been uttering this sentence for over two years. For over two years, the prices of goods and services have been growing,

I remember the exact layout of the room: my grandparents in one corner, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, and a person I had been around my whole life, but

Beauty lies in diversity. Syrians in particular are no strangers to beauty, thanks to an eclectic past that has birthed some of the world’s oldest metropolises. We take pride in the beauty of our people, a beauty that is diverse. However, this does not seem to be the case in today’s Syria, as women, and even men, are pressured into trying to achieve an unreachable level of perfection. In the meantime, plastic surgeons and aestheticians are making a fortune off of botched procedures.

Throughout Syria’s history, the way in which we hear news has evolved significantly, and the media’s landscape has been marked by significant shifts in journalism. The journey began in 1876