Reconstruction Starts Here
​Reconstruction Starts Here:
Building a Better Future for Syrian Refugee Youth
A Conversation with Lina Sergie Attar, Founder and CEO of Karam Foundation
Photography Exhibit "The Children of Karam House: Healing and Ambition Among Syrian Refugee Youth in Turkey"
How do we imagine a vibrant future for Syrians after the mass devastation and trauma they have endured? How can we rebuild agency and confidence for marginalized refugee communities? What if there was a space created for the most vulnerable of refugees — the youth — where cutting-edge technology, social camaraderie, and expert mentors were available? In this talk, Syrian American writer and founder of Karam Foundation, Lina Sergie Attar, will map out an alternative vision for Syrian refugee youth that is a world away from war and despair. At her team's Karam Houses in Turkey, hundreds of Syrian teens are building their ideas while gaining world-class critical and creative thinking skills. They are on pathways of future success and leadership for their communities and beyond. Within their inspiring stories of resilience and determination, another Syrian narrative emerges about the limitless potential and possibilities for a better future we can create together.
The discussion was followed by an exhibition and viewing of a photography exhibit featuring Syrian refugee youth at Karam House in Reyhanli, Turkey.
Lina Sergie Attar is founder and CEO of Karam Foundation. She is a Syrian-American architect and writer from Aleppo. Her articles and essays have been published in the NYT, Chicago Tribune, Foreign Policy, Politico, The Atlantic, and BBC and has spoken about the Syrian humanitarian crisis at schools, universities, and institutions across the United States. She is a co-founder of the How Many More? project, serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Syria Campaign, and is a non-resident fellow at New America. See Lina's TEDx talk here. Twitter @amalhanano
Shamila N. Chaudhary (moderator) is a Fellow at the Johns Hopkins SAIS Foreign Policy Institute and Senior Advisor to Dean Vali Nasr. Her work on U.S. foreign policy is regularly cited and published in Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, Politico, The Atlantic, and the New York Times and she has frequently appeared on CNN, BBC News America, NPR and other outlets. She served in the Obama Administration White House National Security Council and on the staff of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She is co-editor of documentary photography book UnPresidented: The Inauguration of Donald J. Trump and the People's Response. @ShamilaCh
Karam Foundation is a non-profit organization on a mission to build a better future for Syria by developing innovative education programs for Syrian refugee youth, distributing aid to Syrian families, and funding sustainable development projects initiated by Syrians for Syrians.
Lecture & Discussion: 4:30 – 6 pm
Photography Exhibit & Reception: 6 – 7pm
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Shamila Chaudhary