zaatar
Dedicated to the protection, support, social inclusion and empowerment of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, Za’atar NGO is determined to advocate for and with them so that both policies and minds evolve for the better.
Za’atar NGO is part of the Network for Dialogue and The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).
Za’atar NGO is a partner-organization of a European research consortium on the diversification of Higher Education – BRIDGES.
Za’atar’s leadership regularly takes part in both national and international conferences and meetings. In order to better advocate for and empower the refugees and migrants welcomed at the Orange House, Za’atar’s leadership regularly takes part in both national and international conferences and meetings.
From interfaith and intercultural initiatives, to a sexual and gender-based violence panel, Za’atar’s co-founder, Marina Liakis has been both a speaker at, and an attendee of conferences and workshops focusing on issues surrounding the inclusion of migrants and refugees in Europe.
Those times of lockdown and immobility do not stop Za’atar’s team and leadership to join in discussions.
On November 11-12th, 2020, Marina Liakis participated in a digital conference held online by the University of Sabanci, around the theme “Exploring Intersectionality – Building Solidarity across EU-Turkey Borders : Inclusive Education in Times of Forced Migration and COVID-19”. Four panels offered different perspectives and approaches to discuss “the complex challenges arising from the claim of an “education for all” during and after the pandemic”. Marina Liakis’ talk, “From “vulnerable” to “empowered”: The role of NGOs in providing safe spaces and education for refugees in particular need of protection”, was one of the many interventions from researchers, education professionals, activits and actors of the civil society from Turkey and the European Union.
On October 1st, 2020, our cofounder, Marina Liakis, was invited to a roundtable dedicated to the empowerment of refugee women through entrepreneurship, “Innovation and refugee women : an inspiring leadership”.
In June 2018, Za’atar was present in Lyon, France to partake in conferences organized for the Journée D’étude Internationale; addressing Transnational Mobility and Religious Realities through a roundtable entitled “Forced Migration, Social Inclusion, and Humanitarian Actions in Context”.
In March 2018, Ms. Liakis represented Za’atar in an expert panel concerning Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the context of forced migration, held by The Unmentionables in collaboration with the Harvard Policy Leadership Group at the Wyndham Grand Athens. Addressing a topical issue in the specific, and too often forgotten situation of displaced communities, the discussion aimed at crossing perspectives, deepening the understanding to eventually propose concrete policy recommendations.
Za’atar NGO has an ongoing commitment to participating in international dialogues in order to both educate and learn from other actors in a shared mission: to advocate for the rights and inclusion of refugees and migrants throughout Europe.
Za’atar NGO is part of the Network for Dialogue and The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), an intergovernmental organization working to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and actions. The KAICIID, founded in 2012, is a “partner for UN agencies, national governments and internationally active religious and interreligious organizations”.
On October 20-21st, 2019, the first European Policy Dialogue Forum on Refugees and Migrants was held in Athens. Gathering a great diversity of actors – policy makers, religious leaders, academics and civil society members , it was organized by the Network for Dialogue and The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), an intergovernmental organization working to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and actions.
As part of this network, Za’atar NGO took part in the conversation. Our co-founder, Marina Liakis, was invited to share her experience and knowledge. This first forum, whose theme was “Understanding current challenges of refugees and migrants in Europe: What can we do?” aimed at making new propositions emerge and widen horizons on the social inclusion of refugees and migrants, through discussion and experience-sharing.
As a member organisation of the Network for Dialogue, Za’atar NGO has been included in several of the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID)’s Network for Dialogue workshops; focusing on network planning in order to learn how to pursue their mission in the most empowering, productive, economic, and eco-friendly ways. In this framework, Ms. Liakis has spoken at roundtables alongside representatives of faith-based and secular organizations about how to advocate for the rights and well-being of migrants and those seeking refuge. Some of the questions dealt with included: “How do young migrants’ and refugees’ understanding of the “Other” change based on where they are?” “How can faith-based approaches help or hinder inclusion?”
On September 24-25th, 2020, Marina Liakis participated in the online workshop “Advancing the role of education in migrant and refugee inclusion”, a topic on which Za’atar NGO has a lot to share and is always willing to learn.
On November 3-4th 2020, the 2nd European Policy Dialogue Forum on Refugees and Migrants, planned to take place in Bonn, Germany, was held online. Its theme was ““Contributing to the social inclusion of refugees and migrants in Europe through interreligious and intercultural dialogue”. Once again, Marina Liakis, our co-funder and director, joined the discussion.
A few days later, on October 8th 2020, she joined the Online G20 Interfaith Youth Forum as a member of KAICIID network, whose different working groups tackled “hate speech and the use of social media as a space for dialogue”, the specific needs of female and young refugees and migrants and solutions to meet them, as well as ecological challenges.