2010 USA-Syria Grassroots Diplomacy Program - The American Mideast Leadership Network

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The American delegation, consisting of students from all over the country, arrived in Syria on July 29 and spent the next few weeks traveling across Syria, meeting with government and religious officials and participating in daily dialogue sessions with their Syrian counterparts and explored the souks, or markets, together. The Civic Ambassadors were shown amazing hospitality by their Syrian counterparts and lasting bonds and relationships were formed. The program allowed the American participants to meet with the governor of Aleppo, where they discussed openly with him the issues facing the peace process in the Middle East. They also were taken to see the Jewish section of Suk al Hemideya (Old Damascus) by their Syrian counterparts, learned Arabic with them, visited the war torn town of Quneitra, saw Marcel Khalife, the Lebanese singer, perform, visited the ancient Roman water wheels in Hama and made great strides towards understanding in the dialogue sessions. All of this and so much more was packed into their amazing journey.

2010 Grassroots Diplomacy Newsletter PDF