University of Helsinki, the Finnish Syrian Friendship Association, the Finnish Institute in the Middle East, and Hakunilan kansainvälinen yhdistys are organizing a seminar “The future of Syria and the diaspora”. The purpose of the seminar is to hear Syrians present their visions and hopes as the country is going through major transformations and for Finnish stakeholders to learn from them and network with the Finnish diaspora.

The seminar takes place at the University of Helsinki, Main Building, F3003 (Tekla Hultin), Fabianinkatu 33, on Tuesday February 25, 2025, at 12.15–15.30.

We kindly ask you to RSVP 16.2.2025 at the latest via this link.

Program:

12:15 Opening of the seminar: Hannu Juusola, Professor, University of Helsinki

• Mania Alkhatib, Executive director, Finnish Syrian Friendship Association
• Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Anu Leinonen, Executive Officer, Finnish Institute in the Middle East
• Burhan Hamdon, Executive manager, Hakunilan kansainvälinen yhdistys

12:45 Tiina Hyyppä, Doctoral researcher: Building the new Syrian state

12:55 Mohammed al-Doubosh, Engineer: Humanitarian situation in Syria

13:15 Ammar Al Khani, PhD. eng., Member of SSY Finland:  A Roadmap for a Sustainable Cooperation and Assistance Towards The Recovery & Normalisation For a Resilient Sustainable Life of Syrian People

13:35 Bassam Al Gayal, Lead Consultant, Formal Head of Finpro Middle East: Rebuilding Bridges: Finland and Syria’s Shared Path to Renewal

13:50 Coffee break

14:15 Housana Alfashtaki, Executive director, Lähi-idän naisten yhdistys: The Power of Hope (in Finnish)

14:35 Representative of the civil society

14:55 Panel

15:15 Closing remarks: Hannu Juusola, Professor, University of Helsinki