Overview
On 13 November 2025, Advancing Civil Society - GLOCA participated in a three-day physical workshop in Damascus titled “Civil Solutions in Damascus,” in cooperation with the Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD). The workshop was delivered by Wasim Alhaj and facilitated by Youssef Kardosh, with the participation of 65 representatives from civil society organizations and community initiatives.

Workshop Focus
The workshop provided a constructive civic dialogue space to discuss locally grounded solutions for Syria’s current challenges, with a focus on women’s participation, youth engagement, peacebuilding, transitional processes, and the role of civil society in justice and recovery.

Key Themes

• Women’s roles in peacebuilding and the transitional phase.

• Community initiatives and grassroots support efforts.

• Youth, democracy, and civic participation.

• Strengthening Syrian civil dialogue.

• Exchange of experiences among participating organizations.

• Building coordination mechanisms for sustainable civic action.

Key Outputs
The workshop supported Syrian civil dialogue and strengthened the exchange of experiences between participating organizations. It also highlighted the importance of institutionalizing women’s and youth participation, supporting sustainable local initiatives, and developing joint civic working groups and policy-oriented outputs.

Impact
The activity reflected the maturity of Syrian civil society dialogue and created an important space for cooperation between organizations working toward peace, justice, participation, and local solutions. It also reinforced the idea that inclusive civic partnerships are essential for a more just and stable future in Syria.

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