Building Local Community Capacity Through Cultural Heritage
Empowering People to Resuscitate the Past
Rooted in the Turathuna Foundation’s vision of rescuing heritage and revitalizing the Old City of Homs by prioritizing its people, the Foundation launched the "Building Local Community Capacity through Cultural Heritage" project in January 2021. The initiative was designed to strengthen the local community's connection to the city's heritage, rediscover its architectural and cultural landmarks, and successfully transfer heritage knowledge to new generations.
Partnerships and Participants
The project was executed under the generous auspices of the Homs Governorate and the Syrian Engineers Syndicate, in fruitful collaboration with the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor and the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development. The program specifically targeted 30 dedicated volunteers who demonstrated a deep passion for cultural and community affairs.
Training Methodology: Bridging Theory and Practice
Spanning ten intensive days, the training program seamlessly blended theoretical instruction with practical application. The core components included:
- Theoretical Foundations: Hosted at the Safir Homs Hotel, specialized lectures and interactive group sessions provided the academic and conceptual framework for heritage preservation.
- Field Exploration: Guided field tours inside the Old City of Homs allowed participants to rediscover the city's landmarks and stories. These tours focused on identifying unique architectural vocabulary and reading the physical space as a living memory that profoundly reflects the society's history and identity.
Expert Contributions and Official Inauguration
The course was officially inaugurated in the presence of the Governor of Homs, Eng. Bassam Mamdouh Barsik, and the Director of Social Affairs and Labor, Eng. Samar Sibai. During the opening, Architect Lama Musallam Abboud presented a comprehensive introduction to the Turathuna Foundation, outlining its core objectives and the primary axes of the training.
Throughout the program, a distinguished group of researchers and experts in heritage, architecture, and community work delivered specialized lectures. These sessions covered vital topics including the history of Homs, cultural tourism, volunteerism, and the preservation of local identity.
Official Support and Conclusion
The initiative received close attention and profound support from His Eminence Metropolitan George (Abu Zakhem), Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Homs and its Dependencies, who warmly welcomed the Foundation's team during the project's execution phase. His Eminence also attended the closing ceremony at the Safir Homs Hotel—alongside the Governor of Homs and various governmental and community figures—where certificates of achievement were awarded to the volunteers.
The Legacy: Paving the Way for the "Sun Trails"
This capacity-building project served as the essential launching pad for several of Turathuna’s subsequent flagship initiatives. Most notably, it birthed the "Sun Trails" (Masarat al-Shams) program, which emerged directly from the idea of rediscovering Homs through interactive heritage trails. This vision continues to grow and evolve today—such as with the recent April 2026 launch of the Eastern Path in the Bustan al-Diwan neighborhood—actively succeeding in its mission to reconnect people with their city's history and revive their profound relationship with place and memory.
