Like a Phoenix rising from its ashes, stories from post-conflict zones reveal daily struggles and extraordinary resilience. Twelve managers from leading humanitarian organisations share their experiences supporting populations affected by the prolonged Syrian conflict. Their stories highlight post-conflict challenges and the collaborative spirit planting the seeds of self-reliant futures.
Produced by Ruth Holroyd. Hosted by Professor Martin Spinelli of the University of Sussex School of Media, Arts & Humanities. Executive Producer Dr Mirela Barbu of the University of Sussex Business School.
Omar Atik of Shafak tells the story of Mustafa—a disabled farmer who, after facing repeated displacements and hardship, received a comprehensive package of agricultural support and capacity building from Shafak. This support enabled Mustafa to revive his land, secure food for his family, and rebuild his livelihood. Omar also highlights Shafak's initiatives aimed at preventing violence against women, including awareness campaigns that engage both women and men to curb domestic violence. He stresses that international support is crucial at this pivotal stage of Syria’s reconstruction, as collapsed infrastructure and the overwhelming needs of internally displaced people demand increased funding and long-term investment to move from emergency aid into sustainable recovery.
21 Mar 2025
Muhanned: Resilience for Prosperity
Dr Muhanned Malandi explains how Bahar supports livestock breeders, highlighting Najib, a breeder who adopted hydroponics for fodder, received mobile veterinary services, and upgraded his equipment to produce milk sustainably. Dr Malandi stresses that over two million internally displaced people need comprehensive support to return home, including landmine removal, reconstruction of destroyed homes, and rehabilitation of public infrastructure. He also emphasises integrating immediate relief with long-term recovery through sustainable funding, strong local partnerships, and increased international assistance, which is essential for empowering communities and rebuilding Syria’s future.
21 Mar 2025
Anas: Strength in Culture
Dr Anas Alkaddour outlines Global Communities' sustainable approach to humanitarian aid in Syria. He describes how GC addresses urgent needs while building long-term self-reliance by restoring agricultural practices and local infrastructure. A key intervention he discusses is a bio-gas project that provides energy solutions for female-headed households, enabling them to generate electricity for small businesses and daily needs. Dr Alkaddour emphasises that these initiatives foster economic independence and harness the enduring strength of Syrian culture. He believes tapping into local resilience and heritage is essential for paving the way toward a sustainable and stable future for conflict-affected communities.
21 Mar 2025
Aylin: Dignity in Survival
Aylin Shen of WHH emphasises that displaced people aren’t merely seeking handouts—they aspire to regain dignity by earning a living. She illustrates this with Fatima’s story: despite losing everything, Fatima struggled to find a job and secure an income. Her experience underscores the urgent need for sustainable livelihood opportunities that empower individuals to achieve financial independence and self-respect. Aylin advocates for initiatives that provide skill development and economic growth, ultimately helping rebuild lives and foster lasting community resilience in post-conflict Syria.
21 Mar 2025
Joseph: Invest in Syria
Joseph Chalhoub, former Coordinator of the Food Security & Livelihood Cluster in northwest Syria, tells the heartbreaking story of two young sisters—aged 12 and 15—whose desperate hunger led them to take their own lives. Their tragic fate exposes critical gaps in current aid efforts. Joseph argues that to prevent further loss and truly support vulnerable communities, humanitarian responses must shift from short-term food baskets to sustainable, coordinated interventions that rebuild food systems, restore essential infrastructure, and empower communities for long-term resilience.
21 Mar 2025
Ahmad: From Dependence to Independence
Dr Ahmad Nabhan outlines how CARE Türkiye empowers conflict-affected communities in northwest Syria through sustainable interventions. He details how supporting the wheat value chain—with supplies, technical training, and cost-sharing models—helps restore critical agricultural practices, ensuring reliable access to affordable bread and food security. Dr Nabhan emphasises that true sustainability means enabling communities to regain control over their lives through climate-smart agriculture, vocational training, and multi-sector collaboration, all while addressing the challenges of physical safety, fragmented governments, and economic instability. Ultimately, his message centres on transitioning from aid dependency to independence by building local capacity and fostering long-term resilience.
(NB: In this episode, “CARE International” refers to “CARE Türkiye.)
21 Mar 2025
Ayham: Optimism Amidst Fear
Ayham Alhuseen discusses two key interventions aimed at both immediate relief and long-term resilience in Syria. He explains how an energy micro-grid initiative—using solar panels to power water pumps—has restored power and improved living conditions for communities. He also describes a legal support project that establishes arbitration committees to resolve local disputes without relying on unstable state structures. Ayham stresses that communities will shift from a dependency on emergency aid and development initiatives that foster self-reliance and dignity. His optimistic message underlines the importance of transforming humanitarian responses into sustainable, community-driven progress for Syria.
21 Mar 2025
Kate: Rescuing Academia
Kate Robertson from Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics), one of the UK’s oldest NGOs with a unique role—rescuing academics—shares the inspiring journey of a Syrian academic who first worked at the Open University developing an online course and later secured a global talent visa to work at Oxford University. She offers this success as proof of the transformative power of higher education. However, she also expresses disappointment that international funders consistently undervalue higher education despite its critical role in rebuilding Syria.
21 Mar 2025
Osama: Changing Our Mentality
Osama Alkhalaf of Qatar Charity explains how his organisation has rehabilitated agricultural infrastructure in northwest Syria. They restored wheat silos and mills, and revived local bakeries to produce bread, creating jobs for families. Osama also highlights support for farmers like Mahmud, whose farm regeneration allowed him to send his children to school. He stresses that comprehensive measures, including dignified shelter and restored public services, are crucial to help internally displaced people to return home. He argues that for Syrian reconstruction to be successful, both the Syrian people and organisations must shift their mentality from isolated efforts to a collaborative, team-based approach, working together as a unified community to rebuild and secure a sustainable future.
21 Mar 2025
Nellie: Giving a Voice to the People
Nellie Soudah of People in Need explains how micro-finance initiatives empower women by forming self-supporting groups that pool savings and invest collectively in small businesses, strengthening their economic resilience. She highlights the critical support provided to orphans forced to work to support their siblings, ensuring they can continue their education instead of being trapped in labour. For sustainability in Syria, Nellie emphasises that establishing the rule of law and security, alongside community-driven solutions, is essential for long-term recovery.
21 Mar 2025
Shaher: Power in Syrian Knowledge
Dr Shaher Abdullateef of Syrian Academic Expertise explains how Ahmad (a local farmer) applied hydroponic techniques learned in an SAE training course to produce vegetables at home—initially using simple pipes and nutrient solutions, and eventually expanding his setup into a greenhouse and selling part of his production. He stresses that local knowledge is essential for Syrian agriculture, and he calls for a shift from short-term aid to sustainable development through research, capacity building, and empowering local experts. He also highlights the creation of an Agricultural Development Centre in Northwest Syria in collaboration with the University of Sussex, which offers practical training and support to local farmers.
21 Mar 2025
Yousef: We Want to Go Home
Yousef Rakkad of GOAL explains the urgent need to shift from food aid to self-sustaining approaches in Syria. He shares the story of a displaced widow from Aleppo who launched a food processing business with a $500 grant that transformed her into the breadwinner for her family. Yusef also highlights the risks faced by humanitarian workers on the front lines—targeted by snipers and subjected to shelling—which severely impacts aid delivery. He stresses that robust coordination and sustainable, locally driven interventions are essential for empowering communities to move from dependency on aid to lasting self-reliance.
19 Mar 2025
Phoenix Stories: Series One
Best practice stories of humanitarian and development organisations in post-conflict zones.
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