On Monday, May 2017, “The Way Starts Here” conference, dedicated to building Syrian civil society, began in the Turkish city of Istanbul, organized by Basamat for Development Organization.
The first day of the forum was attended by prominent media, intellectual, cultural, and artistic figures, including Syrian journalist Hadi Al-Abdullah, Syrian poet Mahmoud Al-Taweel, Sheikh Salman Al-Oudah, journalist Majed Abdul Nour, and artist Shaimaa Al-Magheery.
The journalist Hadi Al-Abdullah emphasized the importance of the forum, adding, “We are convinced that we all need change—not just the change of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, but a transformation within the souls of Syrians. These forums, which enhance the role of civil society, are the most effective way to bring about the desired change. Civil society organizations should activate such conferences, especially inside Syria, so we can rebuild both the individual and the nation in the way the Syrian revolution envisions.”
The first day’s events and activities included speeches by Sheikh Abdul Karim Rajih, the chief reciter of the Levant, Dr. Francois Nokodi, a representative of the European Union, Omar Faruk Korkmaz, an advisor to the Turkish Prime Minister, and the IHH project coordinator in Syria. Additionally, there was a presentation titled “The Syrian Story with Sand Grains” by artist Shaimaa Al-Magheery. The forum’s activities are scheduled to continue for three days.