For Ibrahim al-Fawwal, the project coordinator, the results have exceeded all expectations.
You sound surprised by the success. Is that true?
‘Honestly, yes. Despite the polarization, violence and fear, we’ve managed to bring together over 200 young people from all parts of society, united by the ideal of nonviolence. Even in Jableh and Latakia – where horrific massacres occurred as recently as March – we were able to hold trainings with both Alawite and Sunni youth.’
What were you expecting instead?
‘During our year-long preparations, we considered every possible challenge. We asked ourselves: Would people in a militarized society even be open to nonviolence? How could we convey our message? Would we need to explain that nonviolence is not in conflict with religion or tradition? Above all, we were concerned that deep polarization would prevent cooperation. We anticipated a lot of obstacles – just not this level of success.’
How do you explain this success?
‘First of all, Syrians have gained a lot of experience over the past 15 years. Thousands of people have organized, demonstrated, and stood up for freedom. Despite the violent conflict, a civil society has emerged.
What many in the West don’t know is that Syria has a long-standing tradition of nonviolent resistance. Gandhi and Martin Luther King have also inspired people here.
Secondly, we invested heavily in finding the right people. We actively searched for motivated youth. Participating in Sullam is no small commitment – we ask for time, dedication, and full acceptance of our core principles. In return, we offer a three-day training packed with knowledge and experience. After that, we support them in launching their own campaigns. They decide what issues to address – they know best what’s needed in their communities. Our only condition is that the campaigns must be completely nonviolent.’
What’s your vision for Sullam’s future?
‘I want the young people we’ve trained to go on and train others. This way, we can reach more and more youth who use nonviolent methods to resolve conflicts and achieve their goals. Most of all, I want Syrians of all backgrounds to live together peacefully – in dignity and freedom. I’m not naïve, but Sullam shows that this is possible.’
About Sullam
Sullam is a network and grassroots movement of young Syrians committed to nonviolence and social change. The project is an initiative of peace organization PAX, with support from the European Union. Sullam is working on becoming an independent network.
