Homs Conference Secures Millions for Rebuilding

In 2011, Homs was one of the first cities in Syria to experience the unmitigated wrath of Assad’s retaliation in response to the Syrian people’s calls for government reform. Angered by Homsis, who were well known for their tenacity, sense of humor, and creativity, Assad ordered the destruction of entire neighborhoods, most of which still lie in ruins 14 years later. But since the fall of Assad’s regime last December, a new era has begun in Syria.

Under the patronage of the Homs Governorate and the Ministry of Culture, and in cooperation with the Molham Volunteer Team, the “Homs Wednesday” Conference was held on August 13, 2025 to present development projects eligible for funding and responsive to the city’s most urgent needs in key sectors.

“The conference was arranged as a practical step toward launching an active development movement that supports recovery efforts and revitalization in Homs.”

In their preparatory statement, the organizers said:

“Destruction has touched a large part of Homs Governorate, and the defunct Assad regime has left deep wounds in its neighborhoods and public facilities, the traces of which still stand as witnesses to the harshness of the past. Despite all that Homs has endured, it has patiently held on to the hope of life for many long years. On the occasion of the ‘Homs Wednesday Conference,’ we launched this campaign to rehabilitate schools and build new ones so that children can return to their classrooms as they deserve; to repair dried wells so that thirsty neighborhoods can live again and clean water reaches every home; and to restore public gardens so that families and their children have a safe place to breathe. We face a shared responsibility today to return Homs to its spirit… Homs al-Adiyya, the capital of the revolution, which stood proudly against the defunct regime, deserves that we all take part in its rebuilding… and what a great honor that is.” 

At the historic Julia Domna Palace in Old Homs, the inaugural activities of the “Homs Wednesday” Conference kicked off, under the patronage of the Homs Governorate and the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Molham Volunteer Team,  with the goal of presenting and funding development projects that will contribute to rebuilding the city and improving its essential services.

The conference was held under the slogan “Loyalty to Homs – The Capital of the Revolution and the Pulse of Dignity”, sending a message affirming the determination of the city’s people to build a prosperous present and shape a future worthy of its history and sacrifices.

In his opening speech, the Governor of Homs explained that the conference would serve as a practical platform to attract support and implement projects that directly affect citizens’ lives in education, health, and infrastructure. He praised the contributions of donors from inside Syria and abroad.

By the end of the day, the conference had succeeded in raising $14 million in donations, ranging from symbolic amounts to large contributions from businessmen, traders, engineers, doctors, and expatriates. The funds will be allocated to vital projects, including:

• Rehabilitating water wells.
  
• Supporting health and educational facilities.
  
• Improving infrastructure.
  
• Building new schools and rehabilitating damaged areas.
  
• Supporting cultural initiatives that contribute to the recovery process.
  

The event witnessed a large attendance of political and military figures, ministers, journalists, and civil society organizations, in a scene that embodied the spirit of solidarity and collective action.

The conference’s approach was to link donations to implementable projects that address daily priorities for residents, with a focus on health, education, infrastructure, and culture, within a comprehensive vision for Homs’ recovery after years of crisis.

Education Projects / A Top Priority

According to available information, the “Homs Wednesday” Conference allocated a large share of the collected $14 million to education, considering it a main pillar of the city’s recovery. Educational project details include:

• Rehabilitating damaged schools: Renovating school buildings affected by the crises, including repairing 1,000 classrooms, laboratories, and sanitation facilities to ensure safety and suitability for students.
  
• Building new schools: Establishing modern, fully equipped educational facilities, especially in neighborhoods where schools were completely destroyed, to meet growing needs.
  
• Supporting return to education: Providing properly furnished classrooms and necessary educational materials, alongside programs to encourage children—especially in the hardest-hit neighborhoods—to return to school.
  
• Teacher training programs: Enhancing the skills of teachers through targeted training.
  
• Providing educational tools: Supplying books, computers, and other resources to improve education quality.
  

These projects aim to revive Homs’ education sector, enabling children to continue learning in a suitable environment, with a focus on the most vulnerable areas. Donations from businessmen, expatriates, and community members will be used to implement these initiatives practically and transparently as part of a broader vision for the city’s recovery.

The message conveyed by the organizers was clear to their fellow Syrians and to supporters of a new Syria from across the globe:

“It is time to create a glory worthy of Syria and its people.”