Since the founding of the Balsam Project by the Austrian-Arab Women’s Organization in 2011, we have organized 22 consecutive projects to date, including numerous courses and workshops as well as humanitarian, health and educational services for Syrian refugees with the aim of empowering them economically, educationally and health-wise.

As part of civil society, we are convinced that we can make an important contribution to enabling parts of our society to play a meaningful role in the future process of conflict resolution, peace and state-building.

We also believe in strengthening the political and social participation of women and adhere to the concept of a civil and democratic state based on the principles of human rights and all international conventions, in particular the CEDAW Convention, and in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan and its seventeen goals, in particular the goal that

The focus is on empowering women in decision-making positions and we hope to achieve at least 30% representation despite all obstacles in order to realize parity in Syria’s future.

The project also aims to empower children and youth to participate in these future processes and promote the concepts of a society free from violence in all its forms, including verbal, psychological and physical violence.