How Ma3(ع) Ba3(ع)d is Mobilizing the Syrian and Lebanese Diaspora for Change

posted on: Sep 16, 2025

By: Amir Kobeissi / Arab America Contributing Writer

How can the diaspora mobilize for change? Millions of Arabs live outside their countries but struggle to find effective ways to contribute. Emerging organizations are addressing this challenge. After sharing its mission at the Arab Conference at Harvard and raising early funds through small businesses, the volunteer-led team launched collaborations in Damascus in August 2025. The organization is working to expand its impact by launching a centralized internship platform—bridging diaspora talent with local needs and affirming its mission to foster connection, resilience, and collective action.

Building Connection

The past several years have been marked by heightened uncertainty in the Arab world, especially in the Levant. Syrians and Lebanese Americans have spent this time closely following the news, deeply affected by events unfolding in their homelands. There are an estimated 6.8 million Syrian diaspora and an estimated 15.4 million Lebanese diaspora across the globe. Yet, despite a strong desire to contribute to positive change, many remain unsure of how to make a meaningful impact.

In December 2024, Syrian-Lebanese Graduate Dina Kobeissi became determined to tackle this issue by founding an organization committed to empowering members of the Syrian and Lebanese diaspora to collaboratively and sustainably build a brighter future for their home countries. “Building up the courage to start Ma3 Ba3d changed a hopelessness I had been feeling about what my role could be in the world. I decided I wanted to be in the business of building against the odds; I wanted to be part of re-connecting souls to their countries.”

Ma3 Ba3d’s Early Days

After building a dedicated and impressive team of passionate individuals, from NGO leading advisors to Harvard Chan Alums and NYU undergraduates, Ma3 Ba3d began imagining what diaspora contributions could look like. In April 2025, they turned their ideas outward, engaging hundreds of diaspora members from across the country at the Arab Conference at Harvard—the largest pan-Arab conference in North America to share Ma3 Ba3d’s mission. “Over the course of the weekend, we gathered valuable feedback on what opportunities the diaspora is excited about,” Dina explains. One of their biggest hurdles starting out was start-up costs including their website and registration fees. Showcasing and selling products from small Lebanese and Syrian businesses allowed Ma3 Ba3d to both support economic empowerment in the region while generating early funds that helped cover some costs.

Ma3 Ba3d’s First Collaborations 

Today, Ma3 Ba3d’s team—all of whom are volunteers—work tirelessly to build partnerships with Syrian and Lebanese organizations and individuals to centralize opportunities—such as internships, fellowships, volunteer programs, pro bono work, and investments—to create secure, accessible, and personalized pathways for meaningful diaspora engagement and impactful contributions. This past summer, in August 2025, Ma3 Ba3d engaged in its first on-the-ground workshops in Damascus, Syria. In collaboration with AMES (Association for Medical Education in Syria) and Syria Talent, Ma3 Ba3d members prepared and presented a Career Development Workshop which took place at the Sanad Youth Center.

The workshop brought together ambitious young professionals—doctors, pharmacists, dentists—for a practical career development session tailored to their needs. From CV refinement to job search strategy, the room was filled with energy, questions, and commitment from over 40 attendees. “This is what collaboration looks like. When organizations and people come together, we are not just delivering a workshop—we’re investing in the next generation,” Dina explains. “It was a dream come true to be able to do something like this. I learned so much about the unique and evolving Syrian job market that I hope to incorporate into our work.” 

In addition to this larger workshop, twice in August 2025 Ma3 Ba3d and Syria Talent collaborated to host smaller workshops of around 4-5 individuals twice in private meeting rooms in Damascus. Attendees received personalized coaching and support with their application materials including CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. 

The collaborations forged in Damascus this summer offered a glimpse into Ma3 Ba3d’s founding vision: to build partnerships, bring people together, and expand opportunities for the diaspora to play an active role in rebuilding Syria and Lebanon. 

What’s to Come for Ma3 Ba3d

Ma3 Ba3d is now preparing to launch its inaugural centralized internship application, opening pathways for the diaspora to engage with inspiring initiatives in Syria and Lebanon—spanning humanitarian aid, education, career development, and beyond. “We are constantly meeting with organizations on the ground to better understand their most pressing needs and identify the areas where diaspora involvement can make the greatest difference” explains Ahmed ElSamman, Ma3 Ba3d’s Syria Partnerships Director.

Through these conversations, Ma3 Ba3d has better understood how the diaspora can not only bring resources, but also skills, expertise, and a deep commitment that can significantly advance the missions of countless organizations while also giving an opportunity for the diaspora to feel more connected and build their experience in contexts that matter most to them. “We are planning to establish a sort of cohort model that will allow diaspora members to also engage with one another” shares Nour Mrad, Ma3 Ba3d’s Lebanon Partnerships Director. This cohort would also take part in training and workshops shaped by partner organizations’ insights on what diaspora members can most benefit from before beginning their internships.  

While getting the organization off the ground hasn’t been easy, Dina and the team are grateful to be working on such important projects. “To me, Ma3 Ba3d is a declaration. A declaration that we are not passive observers, but active participants in healing for the future. That we will continue to meet, to organize, to create spaces for rebuilding. I am excited for what is to come.” Evidently, this is just the beginning for Ma3 Ba3d and its mission to build a bridge between communities abroad and the urgent needs on the ground.

Get Involved and Stay Connected 

To stay connected and get involved, check out the Ma3 Ba3d website www.ma3ba3d.org and Instagram @ma3ba3d.together. 

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