When Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown at the end of 2024, Mais Katt, a Syrian journalist who has lived in exile for 14 years, immediately returned to her country. She was one of the first journalism trainers to enter Damascus after the fall of the regime. Her goal? Help prepare women journalists to take advantage of their newfound freedoms.
A Syrian native based in Turkey, journalist Hadeel Arja has won awards for her reporting on children in crisis zones. With support from an ICFJ program, she was able to grow and professionalize her organization, Tinyhand. The independent outlet creates impactful investigative reports on children's issues.
In addition to his journalistic work, Sarmad alJilane is an outreach and advocacy consultant. Originally from Syria, he’s based in Berlin. He covers a range of topics pertaining to Syria, including human rights, governance, media and civil society. He describes his participation in an ICFJ program as “one of the most beneficial experiences in my professional life.”
