SPARK

What a day to remember! ✨

Thank you, Damascus, for hosting us—it was truly inspiring to meet key representatives from different communities across Syria during the IGNITE Syria conference!

With more than 150 experts, entrepreneurs, partners, government representatives, professors, and private sector leaders, we came together under the theme "Rise and Rebuild" to discuss the next steps for Syria’s recovery and development. 🚀

As Christel Bultman, CEO of SPARK, highlighted:

"Since 2011, in cooperation with our Syrian and regional partners in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq, we have been working to support Syrian refugees and displaced communities—providing them with decent job opportunities and the resources to pursue their education. SPARK has become one of the largest scholarship providers for Syrian refugees in the Middle East, awarding 25,000 scholarships, with 90% going to Syrians in host countries." 💡

Additionally, SPARK has empowered ambitious young Syrians to launch their own startups, allocating over $10 million in seed funding to help establish businesses. Through our Match Up approach, we’ve also connected 100,000+ individuals to meaningful employment opportunities, ensuring fair salaries, health insurance, and social security. 🎯

A huge thank you to our partners Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity, Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Society, -al-ghurair-foundation-for-education, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Education Above All Foundation, European Union, and the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken—as well as our implementing partners in Syria and across the MENA region for making this possible. 🙌

A more detailed report on early recovery steps from IGNITE Syria and other ongoing workshops across the country will be shared soon.

Stay tuned, and thank you again for your warm welcome! 💙

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Ceasefire agreement must pave the way for hope, justice, and meaningful Peace

“At long last, after more than 466 days of devastating conflict in Gaza, a ceasefire has been reached. While this agreement offers a much-needed reprieve, it comes far too late to prevent the immeasurable bloodshed and destruction that has already unfolded. We now stand at a critical moment—a historic opportunity to end the devastation and pave the way for lasting, sustainable peace for all those affected by this tragedy. 

SPARK and its partners are actively working on the ground, committed to rebuilding Gaza’s business ecosystem and supporting the recovery process.

Read the full statement by Simon van Melick, Chief Executive Officer of SPARK: https://lnkd.in/eFNjsFHe