Grassroots Diplomacy Program
United States-Syria Grassroots Diplomacy Program
The United States - Syria Grassroots Diplomacy Program is AMLN’s flagship program: an annual exchange that allows American and Syrian students—or "Citizen Ambassadors" as they are called by the program—to build bridges of understanding at the citizen level and create opportunities for future interaction between them.
American students travel to Syria and dorm with Syrian university students. Together, Americans and Syrians participate in dialogue sessions and media and communications workshops and go on numerous excursions to Syrian sites rich in culture and history. American students also have the opportunity to take Arabic language enhancement courses. Through these activities, all participants develop communication, negotiation, critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving skills that allow them to be more effective grassroots diplomats.
The program’s goals are:
- To establish safe, open forums for participants to engage in face-to-face discussions on cultural, political, religious, and ethical issues.
- To empower participants with necessary skills, training, and life experiences to support and inspire them as future international leaders.
- To encourage participants to remain engaged and continue learning about each other after the formal program has ended.