Massar

Life is a journey

The context in 2004

Syria: one-party state; 18+18m population; commodity producer; GDP $22bn; oil/water short; sanctions; Iraq Change: role of government; private sector; global relationships. Old Guard factor Tiny/fragmented/no civil society/ third sector 40% of Syria s population <15 years old; 60% <25 5% of young people with personal access to a PC, <2% of all web content available in Arabic Formal education system based on rote teaching; values knowledge over competences; stigmatises failure High youth unemployment; lack of basic business skills

Early analysis
Systemic, institutionalised bystander syndrome Dominance of inhibitory rules ; orthodoxy; dependence on instruction, permission Absence of non-formal learning opportunities Premium on traditional professions as career, esp. medical; talent drain Knowledge economy opportunity value chain Empty promises, white elephants, Damascus-centred Cultural integrity, cultural disparity Concept shift: children s museum citizenship [Responsibility, Participation, Contribution, Individual]

The vision
Through science-based, hands-on experiences we will foster in the young people of Syria a deeper understanding and appreciation of their world, and empower them as individuals to contribute actively and positively in building their future.

Five steps towards responsibility

Drawing on work of John Darley, Bibb Latan and Erwin Staub

I am I understand I can I should I do

self awareness, critical thinking, confidence, sense of worth, curiosity knowledge of the world, connection to people, issues, choices self direction, capability, creativity, licence to fail, collaboration values, empathy, insight, care, inclusion contribution, engagement, activity, result, catalyst

by directly reaching

8 million
5-21 year-olds

Massar
Project began February 2005 Non-governmental, not-for-profit Mixed funding model Provides non-formal learning opportunities through multiple channels A national programme, open to all (1.5% special needs) Works in partnership with government and other NGOs Fosters competences (life skills), the habits of citizenship , new attitudes, new perspectives

Massar channels
Touring programme - >190,000 attendance to date Regional centres - Lattakia 2007 (+Homs, Aleppo) Web & ICT - portal, programs, computer labs (+OLPC) National discovery centre - Damascus 2012/13 Events plus national/local media Safe space for expression, experiment, exploration Work phases: PARTNER, DEVELOP, DELIVER, EMBED

Touring programme

Regional centres

Web & ICT

Discovery centre Damascus

Events

Massar characteristics
Content exploration, issues-based, towards action Programmes validate, involve, collaborate, pro-social, inclusive Platforms space , permission, structure, userownership, open-source Partnerships with, not for Communication heroes, exemplars, catalysts Non-formal learning fun, hands-on, multiple learning styles, social, challenging Values internal as well as external Long-term generational change

Citizenship in action
Recycling project Charity fun run Blood donor database Teaching IT skills to old, blind, deaf Young journalists special needs project

Massar s own journey

It s happening Impact: c350,000 reached directly; c50,000 on-line; c400,000 indirectly (media) drop in the ocean! Influence on emerging schools curriculum, comms and ICT, social development (Massar as common thread) International interest eg HBS, OSI, OLPC Two regions in development; discovery centre under construction; growth rate dependent on building sustainable resource/income models Brand is trusted by stakeholders Making the case for change, alternatives, possibility

Lessons
Belief (in young people, purpose, future), respect Up-front thinking gets to the deep What For? Deliver! Cultural sensitivity; response, not imposition Catalysts act as multipliers The organisation must represent/ live the values Be honest about long haul, get quick touchable wins Create partnerships, ownership Communicate obsessively, but don t over-promise

Responses
It opens up the eyes of children to the larger world and helps them explore and become self-dependent parent We felt free to put our thoughts into words and I felt that my opinion was being heard and respected teenager I wish my parents could have been here to see that I have opinions - 12-year-old Children remember information they gather themselves much more than that passed to them through conventional teaching teacher Now that we have Massar I no longer feel we are less privileged than children in the west - 14-year-old

We may not have changed anything but we changed ourselves.

Massar volunteer, age 16, 2009

A small revolution.
HE Mrs Asma Al-Assad