Youth in Syria

The Youth in Syria project aims to assess the situation of youth who have been affected by protracted conflict, a devastating earthquake in 2023, and recent political transition in Syria.

The Feinstein International Center has designed a multi-year study to follow a cohort of 60 youth in order to:

1. Understand the primary protection concerns of youth, differentiated by gender. These protection concerns include:
   • early marriage
   • early motherhood
   • sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
   • child labor
   • suicide attempts
   • drug use
   • tensions between hosts and IDPs
   • armed group participation
   • school dropout
   • political transition
2. Examine how these protection concerns have evolved over time, particularly in relation to conflict, natural disaster and political transition.
3. Explore how youth cope with and adapt to these protection challenges
4. Assess the impact of current interventions on youth concerning their protection concerns
5. Identify gaps and barriers in youth-centered services

The project uses a qualitative and participatory approach with a longitudinal cohort design to follow youth over time. This approach enables researchers to gain a deep understanding of the challenges youth face and how they make decisions and respond to shocks and stressors.

The Youth in Syria Project is a multi-year, qualitative and participatory study that follows a cohort of 60 youth.

The youth sample was intentionally selected to reflect a diverse range of identities and experiences. These include:

• age (14-24)
• gender (all)
• ethnic diversity
• marital status (unmarried, early marriages, divorced, widowed)
• displacement status (hosts and IDPs)
• location (urban settings and camps)
• education level (in school, out of school, dropped out)

By interviewing the same young person multiple times, researchers have built a trusting relationship with participants, affording them a better understanding about topics that are considered sensitive to discuss and research.