The End of the Regime, the Beginning for Syrian Citizens
Saturday, December 14, 2024 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm CET/GMT+1Lecture Hall (Platanenstr. 98a, 13156 Berlin)
Join us for an insightful panel discussion exploring the recent fall of the Assad regime and its profound impact on Syria's future. The event begins with a 20-minute presentation giving an overview of the regime's history and the 2011 revolution, followed by an analysis of the regime's collapse over the past two weeks. A moderated panel will explore critical topics, including the chaos left behind and the role of Syrian civil society and external powers in Syria’s transition. The discussion will conclude with an interactive Q&A session, providing space for audience engagement and insights. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from Syrian members of the RVT team about their vision for a new chapter in their country’s history.
Please sign up through this link.
Catering: There will be a reception with wine, juice, and snacks
Speakers from Refugee Voices Tours:
Mohamad Othman (Tour Guide and Workshop Leader)
Mohamad comes from a small city near Damascus, Syria. Before leaving his home country, he studied mathematics at Damascus University. Forced to flee, he first sought refuge in Libya, where he worked for a year and a half before eventually making his way to Germany. Since arriving in Germany as a refugee, Mohamad has been deeply involved in community and human rights initiatives.
In April 2016, he collaborated with Lorna to create the "Why We're Here" tour, and the following year, he and Nehad launched the "In Someone Else's Shoes" workshop. Mohamad is also a proud member of the Daseinsfreunde team. Currently, he works with Mnemonic on the Syrian Archive project, documenting human rights violations.
What Mohamad loves most about Berlin is its diversity: "It seems that every district in Berlin has its own identity, which makes it a place where anybody can find themselves and their niche."
Nebras Othman (Tour Guide and IT Manger)
Originally from Al-Tal near Damascus, was a Communication and Networking student before becoming an activist in the Syrian revolution. Targeted by the Assad regime, he fled to Libya, where he co-launched an Internet service company and established a graphic design business. When conflict escalated, he made the dangerous journey to Europe.
Now living in Germany, Nebras works in software engineering and entrepreneurship. He envisions fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in Syria to help rebuild and empower its citizens. Inspired by Berlin’s transformation after 1945, he believes in the potential for renewal. Nebras admires Kreuzberg for its activism and history, which mirrors his hope for a thriving, democratic Syria.
Eyas Adi (Tour Guide)
32 year old refugee in Germany since 2016, ex medical student and now a social worker and bike enthousiast. I was always involved with civil society initiatives such as with Iraqi refugees and children and then with the Syrian revolution. After fleeing from military service to come to Berlin, I naturally found refugee voices tours to tell our stories in a personal way.
Moderator: Lorna Cannon (Founder)
Lorna Cannon is a tour guide and founding director of Refugee Voices Tours. After being involved with the refugee community in Kreuzberg, Lorna founded Refugee Voices Tours in the Summer of 2015. Besides her work with Refugee Voices Tours, Lorna holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and is the co-founder of sustainable tour company, Tiptoe Travel. She has delivered several speeches as part of her work with RVT, including a TedX Talk in 2021.
Email: [email protected]