Part 8 and the final religious group of the series about Syria’s religious makeup: the Yazidis. Special thanks to Syrian Yazidi followers @wailoo_ & @samarshekho who helped with the info! 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. With a long history in northern Syria, Yazidis who were much more numerous in the past, belong to a faith regarded as the traditionally indigenous faith of the Kurdish community. They form the smallest recognized (but not officially) religious group in Syria. Yazidis in Syria lived fairly openly in recent history until the advent of the war and barbaric extremism against the Yazidi community in Iraq which eventually impacted the community in Syria. Syria’s Yazidis have endured unspoken atrocities in addition to being one of the country’s most socially/culturally ostracised.

Qudsia Haj Hussein was a pioneer of women’s education in the city of Deir ez-Zor, Syria. She overcame many obstacles and challenges to pursue her own education and to provide opportunities for other girls in her community. She was one of the first Syrian women to graduate from middle school and high school, and she became a teacher and a principal of girls’ schools in Deir ez-Zor. She was a role model and a leader who influenced the social and cultural transformation of her city. In this article, you will learn about her remarkable life story and her legacy for future generations of Syrian women.

Part 7 of the series about Syria’s religious makeup: the Alawites. 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. With a history of about 1,000 years in Syria, the Alawite community is a prominent component of the Syrian social fabric. Centralised in western Syria, today Alawites form the 2nd largest religious community forming < 18% of the country (3rd before 2011 - < 12%), today surpassing Syrian Christians & preceding Syrian Sunni Muslims. Understanding the history of the Alawites allows us to understand their presence in Syria today. While most Syrian Alawites identify as Muslim, some view themselves as distinctively Alawite due to the unique characteristics of this secretive sect.

The first Syrian businesswoman! Matilde Chelhot was a visionary leader who used her wealth and influence to create a major educational institution that offered vocational training to the poor and needy. She was also a humanitarian who worked with the Red Crescent and donated everything she owned for the benefit of the working class. In this article, you will discover the amazing life and legacy of Matilde Chelhot, who left behind a fragrant memory of good deeds, altruism, achievement, and inspiration.

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. Despite making up big portions of the demographic makeup of bordering Lebanon & Iraq, Syria’s Shia have long been a religious minority making them the 6th largest group before the war but likely the 4th today. Syria is home to some of the community’s most sacred sites. Because of this, Syria is a hotspot for religious tourism/pilgrimage for the Shia community worldwide, similar to Christians who visit some of the faith’s most ancient and splendid sites in our country.

Nizar Qabbani is a revolutionary and iconic figure in Syrian history. Despite his controversial works, he earned the love and respect not only of Syrians, but the entire SWANA region. Challenging many traditional views and practices of Syrian society, he obtained his status by being his authentic self and writing personal, touching bodies of work that spoke to many.

Syrian Kickboxing & Muay Thai champion Azza Attoura is a figure who is not too well known despite her incredible achievements and honorable influence, especially on our women throughout the years of war.

The Untitled Book Society, founded in Damascus, invites its members from different professions and interests to a world filled with books and poetry. Fun activities, special guests, and inspiring stories accompany them on their journey of sharing the power of reading books.

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, 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.