AJYAL: A Programme to Support Arts Education | Sixth Edition

Academic Year | 2024-2025

Hanin Mansour | Fourth Year, Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Department of Theater Studies, Damascus, Syria

Haneen Mansour discovered theater as a means of escape during her childhood, which later evolved into a tool for self-discovery and understanding her surroundings. Throughout her academic journey, she engaged in various projects involving research, criticism, scriptwriting, and production. Haneen also participated in dramatic composition and directed plays by renowned international writers such as Ibsen and O'Neill. Additionally, she wrote blogs for websites, founded a musical theater club, and initiated an interactive theater project for children. Haneen aspires to refine her skills to create and produce mature theatrical and television works that address family and generations issues, mental health, and personal freedoms, amidst the prevailing societal confusion and migration.

Samah Abou Rass | Third Year, Higher Institute of Music, Violin Department, Damascus, Syria

Samah Abu Ras has participated in numerous local and international musical events, including the notable winter camp in Belarus in 2018. Samah graduated with honors from the Solhi Al Wadi Institute of Music. His musical creations blend imagination and reality, featuring a diverse array of melodies and techniques. Constantly seeking to explore new fields, Samah is dedicated to learning various classical and contemporary musical techniques. Currently, he is focused on developing his playing style, drawing from his extensive experience playing the violin.

Hadeel Al-Qentar | Third Year, Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Scenography Department, Damascus, Syria

Hadeel Al-Qantar has participated in several volunteer initiatives, most notably organizing an art exhibition for people with disabilities. Her artistic journey began with a study library to meet the needs of students and artists, leading her to study engraving and printing at the Faculty of Fine Arts. She has also provided drawing courses for children. Hadeel's passion for art led her to enroll in the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, where she designed the scenography for her first plays, specializing in children's theater. She is currently focused on studying scenography as a means of direct visual communication with the audience, beyond verbal limitations.

Ali Haidar Taifour | Second Year, Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Department of Theater Studies, Damascus, Syria

Ali Haidar Tayfour is an artistic activist with a keen interest in theater studies, focusing on the analysis of theatrical and literary texts, the history of art and thought, and the development of theater. Currently in his second year at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Ali utilizes his previous experiences in photography and montage to enhance his artistic skills. He aims to present theatrical projects that enrich the cultural scene, employing both traditional and modern methods in theatrical art. Ali is particularly interested in studying the interaction of art with social and cultural issues.

Fayhaa Jbara | Second Year, Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Department of Theater Studies, Damascus, Syria

Fayhaa Jbara is a feminist activist and project coordinator at a local women's organization. She focuses her studies on the analysis of theatrical and literary texts, the history of art and thought, the development of theater, scriptwriting, and the analysis of theatrical performances. Fayhaa also pursues a variety of academic subjects alongside her theater studies. She previously graduated from the University of Damascus, Faculty of Dentistry.

Qais Zen Alden | First Year, Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Dance Major, Damascus, Syria (Conditional Grant)

Qais Zeineddine is an active participant in art exhibitions, theater workshops (including clowning), and various community activities. His work emphasizes kinetic expression and harnessing imagination to liberate his inner voice. Qais is deeply interested in studying dance and theater arts, continuously developing his skills through training and participation in various performances. Currently, he is preparing for the entrance exam at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and working on a dance performance titled "Azhar," marking a new step in his artistic journey. He is eager to explore more academic and contemporary techniques in the performing arts.

Kinda Azkoul | Third Year, Higher Institute of Cinematic Arts, Department of Film Directing, Damascus, Syria

Kinda Azqoul graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts with a major in Sculpture in 2024 and has three years of experience in photography, montage, and graphic motion. Kinda served as an assistant director on the documentary “As If Nothing Happened” (Ka'anna Shay'an Lam Yakon) and the feature film “Salma,” in addition to working on commercials and photography projects with fashion designer Ahmed Mansour among other companies. She is committed to completing her studies at the Higher Institute of Cinematic Arts, where the programme covers the history of cinema, scriptwriting, filming techniques, soundtrack music, and the analysis of international cinema schools.

Nour Al-Huda Mustafa | Fourth Year, Faculty of Fine Arts, Sculpture Department, Damascus, Syria

Nour Mustafa's profound experience in art began with her decision to major in sculpture. Working with various materials provided her with a sense of comfort and a deep connection to her creations. Her skills have developed through clay experiments and expanded to include techniques such as casting and molding, using materials like resin, gypsum, artificial marble, metal, and paper pulp. These diverse experiences have helped her form a unique visual identity, making art a way of life that extends beyond her studies and fuels

The sixth edition of AJYAL is made possible with the support of the DOEN Foundation and the RRLI Initiative.

Selection Committee: Ali Moraly, Omran Younis, Maya Mounayar, Mustafah Al Abboud, Hoor Malas

Jury statement

First of all, we would like to thank Ettijahat - Independent Culture and the AJYAL team for this constructive experience, for their professionalism and impartiality towards the work of the jury, and for providing grants to support artistic education, a much-needed opportunity given the current situation and the urgent need for art students to receive support in any form.
The jury's task required reading through the applications a number of times, and given the challenging circumstances facing those in Syria today, the selection process was particularly arduous. However, the constructive discussions and overall cooperation that took place between the jury members led to an effective and exemplary result, with eight scholarships being awarded for this edition of the programme, an overall good achievement for Ettijahat and the jury.
It was an honour for the jury to review this year’s applications, which were bursting with energy, inspiration, and promise for the upcoming generation of artists. Despite the difficulty throughout the selection process, including the number of high quality applications received, the committee did its best to review and give ample time to each application. Most of the applications submitted for this edition deserved support as they were filled with interesting and thoroughly thought-through artistic project ideas. Given the limited number of grants available, it was difficult to draw distinct comparisons between the applications. The jury attempted to increase the number of grants to reach a larger number of students, which is why some grants are to be awarded equally amongst the recipients. The jury hopes that Ettijahat will be able to increase the number of grants in future editions.