We’re continuing to build momentum around Bridges to Syria. Since launch, the conversations we’ve had with education leaders, Syrian partners, organizations on the ground, and hundreds of individuals eager to contribute, have made one thing very clear: the appetite for building a better educational future for Syria is strong and shared.
Below, we share a snapshot of our most recent progress, ongoing discussions, and what is the path ahead.
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Progress We Have Made
Field Visit to Syria - Insights and Readiness
A member of our team recently returned from an intensive field visit to the suburbs of Damascus, including Harasta and Zabadani. These areas are witnessing a slow but steady return of thousands of families, and with that, a pressing need to rebuild essential services. Harasta, for instance, once home to half a million people, now has only four functioning schools. We visited potential school sites, including one partially preserved school that could be activated quickly for primary education, and another that is completely destroyed, which could become a symbol of restoration. Communities are hopeful, eager, and ready to rebuild, and we are currently evaluating one of these schools as a tentative pilot location for our first on-the-ground project launching this summer.
Momentum Toward a Syria-Based Country Lead
After receiving hundreds of applications, we have now narrowed down to top candidates for our Country Manager role in Syria. This position will be pivotal in helping Jusoor operationalize its upcoming initiatives, build trust locally, and support on-the-ground implementation. Final interviews are underway, and we expect to onboard a candidate shortly who can help lead our Syria-side work from within.
Official Certified Teachers’ Training Program & Advanced Curriculum
We’re engaging with multiple partners, including the Queen Rania Teachers Academy, MUBS, and other institutions to shape a long-term certified teacher training program. This would support both existing and new educators and respond to the urgent need for qualified teaching staff. In parallel, discussions are taking place around curriculum development strategies that are inclusive, relevant, and bridge the learning gaps of students returning from prolonged displacement.
Higher Education Strategy and Local Leadership
We are now refining a proposal for co-development of a learning program with Damascus University towards higher education. The program would launch by fall, with a focus on sustainability and scalable pathways for learning. Meanwhile, talks with global partners continue, and we’re exploring models for hybrid and in-person learning, with long-term aspirations to reconnect Syrian academia to global thought leadership.
Experts & Advisors Update
We continue to receive a steady stream of interest through our open call for experts, researchers, and advisors. While engagement with these advisors has not yet begun, we are planning focused sessions and think tank group invitations as soon as we finalize the scope of our programs.
If you haven’t yet shared your expertise but would like to be part of the initiative, please fill out the expert & advisor interest form here.
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Key Discussions in Progress
- Exploring a blended strategy that addresses both rebuilding and operationalizing schools, starting with pilot sites that can scale based on need and feasibility.
- Deepening our understanding of cost structures, resource flows, and operational models, from cost-per-student benchmarks to viable staffing models for school-based programs.
- Aligning with local governance frameworks to secure licensing, legal clarity, and operational permissions, especially in light of ongoing sanctions and financial restrictions.
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What’s Next
In the coming days and weeks, our team will be meeting again with local organizations, continuing to evaluate schools for program implementation, and refining our roadmap for both primary education and higher education engagement. We’re also aligning internal structures to ensure the registration process moves smoothly, while preparing timelines for pilot projects that will launch this summer.
Another Syria field trip is tentatively scheduled for late April, and preparations are underway to finalize the team and locations to be visited. Our goal is to deepen relationships with local partners, assess implementation readiness, and further contextualize our work on the ground.
What lies ahead is no longer a distant vision, it’s beginning to take form, with you and our community at the heart of it.
