Guided by the core values of “Enquire, Aspire, and Inspire,” the camp aimed to foster intellectual curiosity and essential life skills among participants, as well as kindle an appreciation for cultural preservation.
The initiative was organised in part by the Ismaili Council’s Youth Coordinating Forum to offer a learning experience rooted in faith-based principles and ethics for Ismaili youth aged 18 to 22 from different parts of Syria.
The historic setting of Al-Mohamadiyah School alongside Al-Khawabi River in Tartous played host to the camp for the second year running — a fitting venue, since the school has served as a beacon of knowledge and pluralism since Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah established it in 1929.
By emphasising the core values in each of the activities, facilitators were able to ignite an appreciation for intellectual curiosity and encourage a sense of purpose and motivation among the participants. The seven-day programme therefore represented a holistic journey of growth, bonding, and transformation as only a residential experience can.
Masar Camp, a collaborative effort between Jamati and Imamat institutions in Syria, provided a diverse range of indoor and outdoor activities, focusing on mental and physical health, academic skills, environmental stewardship, and sessions to better understand the ethical underpinnings of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Among the programme’s highlights was a visit to Souk al-Saqatiyya and Souk Khan al-Harir in the old city of Aleppo, where participants explored the notable rehabilitation and conservation projects undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in the city. Witnessing firsthand the tangible impact of these initiatives on the progress of and prospects for Aleppo, participants were better able to comprehend AKDN’s role in fostering social, and economic development in the city, while safeguarding its cultural heritage.
This was an ideal place to make such a study. At the Aga Khan Award for Architecture ceremony in Aleppo in November 2001, Mawlana Hazar Imam noted that, “Syria boasts numerous examples of individuals and rulers responding to another precept of the Quran: the injunction that mankind holds Allah’s creation of the world in trust, with the duty to leave the physical environment better than they found it. The country is rich with illustrations of the special role that architecture plays in expressing the values and creativity of Islamic cultures.”
“We learnt how to use analytical skills to innovate ideas and expand our horizons,” reflected one participant, while another added that “After learning about the projects of the AKDN institutions in Syria, I now feel more confident to articulate the identity of the Jamat in Syria and beyond from a variety of lenses.”
Despite the world’s uncertainties and challenges, a shining beacon of hope lies in the aspirations of young people to build a better world. The 40 young participants of Masar Camp are poised to become torchbearers of change in their communities, enquiring, aspiring, and inspiring others to contribute to the greater good for all.
