A Youth Conference Reinforcing the Spirit of Entrepreneurship

From Idea to Project: Syrian Youth Entrepreneurship

 Damascus | Friday and Saturday, July 4–5, 2025

The Youth Entrepreneurship Conference serves as an active platform encouraging Syrian youth to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset through an interactive training environment that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Through specialized workshops and panel discussions, the conference provided a rich experience empowering participants to take tangible steps toward establishing their own ventures or developing existing initiatives, fostering a culture of freelancing and professional independence.

These efforts align with the conference’s vision to be a genuine launchpad for every young man and woman who possess an entrepreneurial spirit and determination to turn challenges into opportunities. The conference targeted a broad spectrum of youth, including university and institute students and graduates, emerging entrepreneurs, business founders, as well as individuals interested in economic and social development who seek active engagement in the emerging economy.

Organizers: Three Pillars, One Vision

• Growfast: An Arab business and investment group founded in China, dedicated to supporting the Arab business environment through guidance, financing, and connecting with industrial and technological markets.
• Fajr Academy: A nonprofit intellectual and educational institution aimed at preparing youth for social and political engagement by enhancing their ability to analyze reality, build values, and make informed decisions.
• Syr Platform: A digital media platform specializing in covering the Syrian economy on the ground, highlighting real success stories, and providing analyses that shed light on the challenges and opportunities of local investment.

Day One | Friday, July 4, 2025
Duration per workshop: 1.5 hours

 Workshop 1 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Foundations of Startup Building: Designing Real Benefits That Drive Purchase Motivation
Trainer: Mr. Malek Haja
This workshop focused on understanding customer behavior and designing clear value propositions that meet actual needs and motivate purchasing decisions.
"A good product doesn’t sell itself; clear benefits convince the customer and drive their decision." – Malek Haja

 Workshop 2 | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Design Your Project Like an Investor: Building the Business Model
Trainer: Dr. Sinan Htahat
Participants presented preliminary business models for their ideas and learned how to craft a business model that convinces investors or partners to join the project.
"Investors don’t buy dreams; they buy the model that shows how the dream will be realized." – Sinan Htahat

Day Two | Saturday, July 5, 2025
Duration per workshop: 2 hours

Workshop 3 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Personal Strategic Planning
Trainer: Mr. Abdul Hamid Al-Khamis
The workshop provided tools for goal setting and managing personal and professional priorities for entrepreneurs.
"Every project begins with the owner’s ability to plan for themselves first." – Abdul Hamid Al-Khamis

 Workshop 4 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The First 100 Customers: Marketing Your Startup from Scratch
Trainer: Mr. Bassam Shehadat
Participants learned the basics of digital marketing and how to build an initial customer base using simple and effective promotional methods.
"No project survives without knowing its audience precisely. The first customer is more important than the first product."– Bassam Shehadat

 Workshop 5 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
The Syrian Labor Market: Challenges and Success Strategies
Trainer: Mr. Samer Al-Khayat
This workshop reviewed the economic and employment reality in Syria, discussed the gap between qualifications and opportunities, and ways to adapt to challenges.
"The real gap today isn’t ideas, but the ability to apply them within the local market context." – Samer Al-Khayat

Panel Discussion: Entrepreneurship in a Changing Environment

An open discussion session titled "The Reality of Entrepreneurship in Syria" was moderated by engineer Zahir Sharabji, featuring a distinguished group of entrepreneurs:

• Edward Idlibi – Creative Director at Afoka and founder of Doara platform
• Abada Al-Laham – Co-founder of Teryaq and Tajer companies
• Fouad Said Issa – Social activist with an MBA from the UK

The session addressed issues of financing, legal challenges, and the importance of self-learning, with guests sharing practical experiences inside and outside Syria.

Voices from the Audience

"A very enriching session full of information, passion, and transparent dialogue." – Participant
"I felt intellectually connected, surrounded by people who speak the language of ideas and ambition… and I recognized my weaknesses." – Participant
"Well-organized and beneficial; it should be repeated with more trainers and Arab experts." – Participant

Conclusion: A Step Toward a New Path

The Youth Entrepreneurship Conference – Damascus 2025 concluded with a group review of the ideas presented. The organizers expressed their determination to expand this initiative to other Syrian cities, aiming to build a national network of proactive youth. The conference represents a practical step to support entrepreneurial thinking and motivate young talents to develop realistic solutions aligned with the challenges of the local market, paving the way to foster innovation and enhance sustainable employment opportunities.