Young people in Northeast Syria have come of age amidst prolonged instability, often feeling stripped of political agency and marginalized by traditional power structures. The YouthAble initiative, with Phase I starting in 2023 and YouthAble II expanded in March 2024, empowers young leaders aged 18–32 to become proactive peacemakers. While the initial phase focused on building trust through community service, subsequent iterations have expanded to Qamishli to focus on specialized conflict analysis and mediation tools.
A notable success in Phase I was the youth-led restoration of a water pump in Kasra, which successfully resolved local resource disputes and encouraged young people to play an active role in their community. By enabling youth to be mediators, the project aims to restore their sense of agency and contribute to sustainable, localized peace.
Funded by GIZ, the program connects youth leaders with tribal figures and local authorities. Future efforts aim to integrate these youth perspectives into formal mediation structures to ensure they are active agents of social change.
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