Â鶹Éç Media Action first worked in Syria in 2004 and 2008, providing training on journalism skills, business and management training and mentoring for selected journalists and bloggers in Syria. When war broke out in 2011, we focused on the refugee crisis in neighbouring countries, providing Lifeline humanitarian information and resilience programming.
In 2016, five years into the war, Â鶹Éç Media Action produced 150 episodes of radio drama Hay el Matar ('Airport District'), touching on issues relevant to life in Syria including the ongoing civil war, domestic violence, and migration. Hay el Matar has a large fan base in and outside of Syria, drawn by the authentic storylines, and the programme continues to be rebroadcast, airing on a number of Syrian and Arab outlets and on online platforms.
Funded by Unicef, we also supported community-led media organisations to produce content on children’s rights and development.
Our work in Syria is currently closed.
Latest news from Syria
Past projects in Syria
Would you like to partner with us?-
Supporting Syrian refugees
How short films are supporting refugees fleeing conflict in Syria. -
Using drama to foster a sense of national identity in Syria
Set in Syria, Hay El Matar (Airport District) is a radio drama following people's daily lives as they cope with prolonged civil war.
Our insight and impact
Use our research library-
Review: Bridging divides - a Syrian radio drama
This review explores the challenge, the stories, the impact and the learning – from the heart of a radio drama that resonated for listeners in Syria.