Talaqi Center for Dialogue and Civic Encounter
A civic and cultural space in Old Aleppo where dialogue, community encounter, cultural exchange, and civic participation come together.
Established and managed by Advancing Civil Society – GLOCA, Talaqi Center provides a safe, open, and inclusive environment for dialogue, trust-building, capacity development, and community participation.
About Talaqi Center
Talaqi Center is designed as a living civic space rooted in the historic urban and cultural fabric of Old Aleppo.
Talaqi Center for Dialogue and Civic Encounter is a civic and cultural space located in Al-Jdeideh, Old Aleppo, established and managed by Advancing Civil Society – GLOCA. The center provides a safe, open, and inclusive environment for dialogue, civic engagement, trust-building, capacity development, and community participation.
Rooted in one of Aleppo’s historic urban and cultural settings, Talaqi Center connects the memory of place with a contemporary civic function. It is designed to host civil society activities, civic and political dialogue, cultural and intellectual seminars, trainings, consultative meetings, youth and volunteer initiatives, social cohesion activities, and partner-led events.
Through its spaces, Talaqi Center aims to support meaningful encounters among local actors, civil society organizations, cultural groups, youth initiatives, professional networks, and community stakeholders, while promoting dialogue, bridge-building, and responsible civic participation.
Our Mission
To provide a safe and open civic and cultural space in Old Aleppo that hosts and supports dialogue, community encounters, capacity building, youth and cultural initiatives, and activities that strengthen civic participation, trust, and social cohesion.
Our Values
Talaqi Center is guided by five core values:
Spaces Available at Talaqi Center
Talaqi Center offers several spaces designed to host civic, cultural, dialogue-based, and community activities in a heritage setting in Old Aleppo. Each space has a different capacity and atmosphere, allowing the center to host a variety of activities, from focused discussions and workshops to larger gatherings and informal social encounters.
Up to 30 participants
Talaqi Liwan
The main hall of the center, suitable for civic dialogues, consultation meetings, workshops, trainings, public discussions, and civil society events.
Best for: Workshops, trainings, civic meetings, and public dialogues.
Request a Booking
Up to 70 participants
Kan Zaman Cave
A calm and focused lower-level space suitable for in-depth discussions, specialized sessions, cultural seminars, trainings, cultural events, and artistic or musical evenings.
Best for: Focused dialogues, cultural sessions, group discussions, and seminars.
Request a Booking
Up to 50 participants
Kan Zaman Café
A welcoming social space that supports the center’s experience, offering an informal environment for breaks, hospitality, networking, informal meetings, and community exchange before and after activities.
Note: Kan Zaman Café is not currently available as an independent bookable space. Booking will be launched soon.
Booking Types and Available Periods
Booking requests are organized according to the requested space and hosting pathway. Talaqi Liwan and Kan Zaman Cave are currently available through the online booking system, while Kan Zaman Café booking will be made available soon.
Hosting Pathways
Talaqi Center uses a flexible hosting model that balances civic access, operational sustainability, and partnership-based collaboration.
Free Civic Hosting
For youth groups, volunteer initiatives, non-funded civic groups, and community actors with limited resources.
This pathway provides access to the space without a financial contribution, while the organizing entity remains responsible for its own logistical needs.
Request a BookingSustainability Contribution Hosting
For funded organizations, projects, trainings, and activities that are able to contribute to the operational sustainability of the center.
These contributions help cover operating costs and allow the center to continue offering free access to non-funded civic initiatives.
Request a BookingPartnership Hosting
For activities implemented in cooperation with Advancing Civil Society – GLOCA and local or international partners.
This pathway is based on prior agreement regarding roles, responsibilities, visibility, documentation, and any financial or in-kind contributions.
Request a BookingA civic dialogue space for responsible public discussion
Political awareness, public debate, and responsible participation in Aleppo.
Talaqi Political Salon is a civic dialogue space hosted by Talaqi Center for Dialogue and Civic Encounter. It is designed for people in Aleppo who are interested in public affairs, political participation, civic engagement, and responsible dialogue across different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
The Salon is built on the belief that political life is shaped not only through formal institutions, but also through civic spaces where people can listen to one another, discuss common concerns, understand differences, and search for possible common ground around issues of public interest.
In the current Syrian and Aleppine context, there is a clear need for calm, responsible, and inclusive spaces where urgent public issues can be discussed without accusation, exclusion, polarization, or hate speech.
Salon Principles
- Civic and non-partisan dialogue.
- Respect for Aleppo’s social, cultural, religious, and political diversity.
- Responsible political language and active listening.
- No hate speech, exclusion, intimidation, or personal attacks.
- Privacy, trust-building, and safe participation.
- Constructive disagreement and search for common ground.