Location of activities: Hasaka, Qamishlo, Kobani, and Tirbespi | 2016
Target Groups: Local community members and IDPs from Deir Ezzor, Aleppo, Damascus suburbs, and Homs fled to Northeast Syria.
In a time when war headlines dominated Syria’s story, DOZ Syria chose to write a different chapter—a chapter about peace. In 2016, amidst displacement, trauma, and destruction, DOZ Syria launched a nationwide campaign titled “Syria – Peace One Day 2016”, aiming to sow the values of peaceful coexistence, nonviolence, and communal harmony across Northeast Syria.
From emotional poetry evenings to workshops on civil peace, from peaceful poster campaigns in the streets to playing with children displaced by war—the campaign wove peace into the everyday lives of communities that had seen little of it.
DOZ Syria visits IDPs families to support their needs.
DOZ Syria visits IDPs families for support their needs
🌿 Peace as a Daily Practice: Tirbespi ‘s Community Comes Together
On April 8, 2016, DOZ Syria organized a Youth Workshop on Peace and Civil Harmony in Tirbe Spi town. The town had become a home for displaced people from across Syria—diverse in religion, ethnicity, language, and history. Facilitated by trainer Jenny Murad, the workshop introduced youth to the concepts of civil peace, conflict prevention, and acceptance of others.
Participants defined peace in their own words, practiced conflict resolution through role-play, and explored methods for building a shared life across divides. The day ended with team-building games and collective painting sessions that expressed visions of peace.
The goal? To equip young people not only with hope, but with tools—to become ambassadors of peace in their own neighborhoods.
🏘️ Meeting Families, Listening to Pain—and Offering Presence
In mid-April, DOZ teams conducted field visits to displaced families in Tirbe Spi and Qamishlo. These families had fled from Deir Ezzor, Aleppo, Damascus suburbs, and Homs, carrying nothing but their survival.
One family spoke of their five-year-old son Omar, suffering from a rare bleeding disorder. His life depended on plasma treatment—only available in Damascus and far beyond their financial reach. Another family had lived for two years in an abandoned training center before finding a rental home.
The DOZ team didn't promise miracles, but they offered something deeply human: listening, playtime with the children, and invitations to participate in upcoming youth festivals. Families said that for the first time since fleeing, they felt seen.
📜 “Let Us Breathe the Fragrance of Peace”: Poster Campaigns Across Cities
Under the banner “Let Us Breathe the Fragrance of Peace”, DOZ launched peaceful messaging campaigns in Tirbe Spi and Qamishlo cities in Hasakeh governorate, and Kobani in Aleppo governorate.
Throughout April and May 2016, teams distributed posters and leaflets with hopeful slogans in Kurdish and Arabic:
- “Peace is the fragrance of love’s roses.”
- “Hand in hand, let Qamishlo/Kobani/Terbeh Sabi inhale the perfume of peace.”
- “Peace blooms from coexistence.”
These materials were placed in schools, pharmacies, markets, and on the walls of alleys—visible reminders that in the face of destruction, another Syria was possible.
A local doctor in Kobani remarked:
“Unlike social media messages, these posters demand your attention. They stop you. They stay with you.”
🎭 Poetry, Laughter, and Unity in Diversity
On June 3, 2016, DOZ hosted a peace poetry evening in Terbeh Sabi, bringing together poets from across communities—Arab, Kurdish, and even Deiri (Deir Ezzor) dialects. The event welcomed youth, elders, displaced newcomers, and locals alike.
Each poem, recited in Arabic, Kurdish, and English, spoke of hope, of memory, of grief—and of the stubborn pursuit of peace. Children recited poetry from renowned Kurdish poet Cegerxwîn, their voices carrying the dreams of a generation yearning for unity.
The night ended with shared laughter, hugs, and heartfelt thanks. Strangers left as neighbors.
✨ Why It Mattered
The “Syria – Peace One Day” campaign was not just a symbolic event. It was a spark.
- It gave displaced families a sense of belonging.
- It trained youth to resolve conflicts through dialogue.
- It filled the streets with messages of dignity and coexistence.
- It reminded all who participated that peace begins locally, with each act of kindness and courage.
As one young participant from Terbeh Sabi said:
“Peace is not only an absence of war. It is how we live with each other, every day.”
🕊️ DOZ Syria continues its commitment to peacebuilding through education, youth leadership, community inclusion, and cultural expression. If you would like to support our next peace campaign, click below to learn more or donate.