Reports | 25 05 2020
In the old neighborhoods of Aleppo and among the ruins of the devastation that has befallen the city, a group of activists have taken the initiative of opening a cultural center, concerned with the revival of authentic Aleppan heritage. They named this center Waraqa.
As for the reason for establishing this center in the old neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo, Waraqa’s General Coordinator Mahmoud Abdul Rahman tells Rozana: "The idea of the center was to preserve Aleppo’s heritage that has all but become extinct today; and because existing cultural centers do not give attention to this aspect."
According to Abdul Rahman, the idea started with the MAS volunteer team—a team comprising 14 young men and women. This was with a view to disseminate science and culture in opposition-controlled areas in Aleppo, and counter the policies of obscurantism that the Syrian regime systematically pursued, through the bombing of cultural centers and schools.
The center has two halls equipped with the educational materials for vocational training, especially to help women; such as teaching manual work—sewing and embroidery, for example. It will also hold literacy, languages, and informatics’ courses delivered by specialists and trainers.
Multiple Services
As for the other services to be provided by the center, co-founder Reem Youssef tells Rozana: "The center will offer courses in English, French, and Arabic. It also boasts a library open to all, in which monthly book discussions will be held; in addition the movie club, which will screen films about revolution that will be linked to the actuality of the Syrian Revolution."
On the other hand, the center’s organizers face daunting challenges. These include the daily shelling of Aleppo, as well as the difficulty in securing books that enrich the Waraqa Center Library; many of the offices were destroyed by regime bombing of the opposition areas. In the month of May of 2013, for example, regime shells destroyed the Great Mosque [of Aleppo] Endowment Library, which contained thousands of manuscripts and rare books.
Additionally, the center lacks the support it requires to continue its work as necessary; especially since those in charge of the Waraqa Cultural Center reject to affiliate it with any political trend, party, or assembly.
Those working in the Waraqa Center aspire to having this experiment transferred also to the cities of the northern Aleppo countryside, and to sustain cultural activity amid destruction and war.
It is noteworthy that the Center was opened on 14 December. Aleppan cantor Ahmed Habbush participated in the opening ceremony, in the presence of dozens of Aleppan intellectuals and activists. The ceremony included a performance by a band Dervish dancers.