Nousha Kabawat, MS Student

Nousha Kabawat is a Master’s student at S-CAR and Program Officer for the Center for World Religions Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC). “I must admit that I am currently receiving the best of both worlds as I get to study all these wonderful theories in school and then see them being used through my work," she said. Originally from Syria, Nousha views the conflict in her native land as “very unfortunate” and is thus very passionate about adding to the efforts being made in trying to seek a peaceful resolution to it. She informed me that she saw the youth as the key not only to resolving the conflict but also in maintaining a lasting peace that would transform Syria into a modern democratic society. She is currently involved in an initiative to set up “Summer Camps” for the youth who constitute more than half of the total number of refugees fleeing Syria in neighboring Turkey and Lebanon as well as those who have set up camp on the Syrian border. The goal of the summer camp is to empower the youth by giving them a voice to be able to speak out against the senseless killings taking place. “All the different factions claim to be fighting for the future of the country but no one seems to be considering what the “future" (youth) of Syria themselves want” she said. After school, Nousha would like to set up a conflict analysis and resolution school in Syria that would have a major influence in the region in promoting non-violent values and principles in bringing about peace and stability in the region.