In a world flooded with crises, Syria has slowly slipped from the headlines. What began as one of the defining humanitarian disasters of our time has become a long, drawn-out silence. And yet, behind that silence are millions still living with the consequences: displacement, grief, and the slow erosion of opportunity.
For years, the global response has wavered. Syrian voices, once heard as urgent calls for justice, have been reduced to numbers in policy debates. Refugees became “influxes” and “swarms,” not people. But at its core, the Syrian crisis has never been just about borders. It has been a crisis of humanity.
At Phoenix Space, we’ve never turned away.
From the beginning, we’ve worked with displaced Syrian youth across Jordan, Turkey, and beyond. We believe education, particularly in STEM and digital skills, isn’t just about surviving today, but about shaping tomorrow. It’s about equipping young people with the tools to rebuild what was broken.
And in 2024, that commitment reached new heights.
Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan
Few places represent the Syrian crisis, and the resilience of its people, more vividly than Za’atari Camp. Established in 2012, it now shelters around 76,000 refugees, half of them children. Many have never set foot outside the camp.
Student’s Participating in the STEM, Spark
In February 2024, with the generous support of the Airbus Foundation, and in partnership with Blumont, we launched our STEM Spark course in Za’atari. This engaging, hands-on program was designed specifically for displaced youth, introducing key STEM subjects through curiosity-based learning.
By July, 155 Syrian students aged 8–15 had completed the course. We also trained local facilitators, ensuring the impact lives on in the community, not just in the moment.
But we didn’t stop there.
In August, we launched the AI Business Fundamentals course for youth aged 18–35, generously funded by Gulfsands and delivered through UNHCR’s Uplift Project, in collaboration with DataCamp. This course introduced Syrian participants to the world of AI, digital tools, and entrepreneurial thinking, vital skills for today’s job market.
Graduates then entered our Job Market Readiness Module, which covered CV writing, LinkedIn profile development, and freelance platforms. Through a mix of interactive workshops and tutorials, learners gained not just information but real-world pathways toward income, dignity, and independence.
Students participating in the AI Business Fundamentals Course
Kilis, Turkey
Just across the border, the city of Kilis tells another chapter of this unfolding story. With over 200,000 Syrians now living there, refugees outnumber local residents. Yet few headlines mention it. Fewer still talk about the deep educational gaps or the lingering trauma of the 2023 earthquake.
In 2024, Phoenix Space extended its reach to Kilis. With the support of the Airbus Foundation and Nama’a Academy, we brought our High Altitude Balloon Camp to the city, an immersive STEM experience that turned learning into discovery.
Students engaged in hands-on experiments, launching balloons and measuring atmospheric data, while exploring core STEM concepts in real time. Teachers received training too, expanding local capacity and embedding new teaching tools into existing classrooms.
In a city under pressure, from economic downturns to climate shocks, these moments of learning provided something often in short supply: hope.
Students Participating in the High Altitude Balloon Camp
From Displacement to Leadership
The youth we work with have grown up in uncertainty. Many have lived longer in exile than in their own homes. But they are not waiting to be rescued. They are ready to lead if we invest in their potential.
Our approach is not charity. It’s strategy. When the time comes to rebuild Syria, it will be these young people, resilient, brilliant, skilled, who carry the torch.
At Phoenix Space, we’re not just offering education. We’re offering a platform for reinvention. In Za’atari, in Kilis, and in classrooms across the region, we see what’s possible when young people are given tools, trust, and the chance to thrive.
We’re proud to stand beside them as they reclaim the future.
