At the height of the Syrian conflict, millions of refugees sought safety across the globe. Germany welcomed over 800,000 of them. These refugees had lost nearly everything but were eager to rebuild their lives. However, starting anew in a foreign land without friends or networks can feel daunting.
In 2017, Alight affiliate Questscope launched a pilot program in Berlin to assist Syrian refugees in navigating their new environment, from learning the language to finding a sense of belonging.
Guided by Syrian refugees who had previously been leaders in Questscope programs in Syria, the initiative focused on identifying and encouraging leadership within their new communities in Germany. The program helped Syrians build connections with German people and institutions while working with German citizens to foster a welcoming and understanding environment for their new neighbors. The network then began to launch evidence-based, scalable, and impactful projects in Berlin.
Today, Questscope remains dedicated to helping Syrian refugees in Germany recover and rebuild meaningful lives and continually seeks new connections and partners. Currently, we are implementing the Me/We program, which began at our Youth Center in the Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan, to promote healing through creativity and personal expression.
