HomsTimes

Homs has recently witnessed significant developmental efforts aimed at empowering youth innovators and improving the educational environment in underserved areas. Two notable initiatives stand out: the evaluation of student entrepreneurial projects by the ICT Incubator, and a community‑driven effort by the Caravan Foundation to equip schools in Palmyra with essential educational tools.

ICT Incubator in Homs Reviews Six Student Startup Projects

The ICT Incubator in Homs, in cooperation with the Homs Chamber of Commerce, held a special meeting to evaluate six innovative student projects in the medical, service, and educational fields. The goal is to assess the feasibility of developing these ideas and turning them into real, market‑ready products.

Joint Evaluation to Align Projects with Market Needs

Engineer Hala Jahjah, Director of the ICT Incubator, explained that a joint committee reviewed projects that students had completed by nearly 70%. The committee provided feedback to help refine the ideas and ensure they meet market demands.

Supporting Innovation and Connecting Youth with Investors

Dr. Mohammad Bashar Al‑Sabai, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the chamber’s commitment to supporting young innovators, especially those whose ideas address community needs. He noted that the chamber works to connect promising projects with potential investors and promote a culture of innovation among youth.

Follow‑Up and Training Programs

Committee member Mazen Najeeb stated that this meeting builds on a previous session focused on evaluating project incubation requests, with special attention to service‑oriented ideas. He highlighted the incubator’s role in offering training programs that help students develop their projects.

Promising Student Projects

Student Fatima Al‑Zahraa Al‑Hajj Ahmad from the Faculty of Informatics presented her accounting software project designed to support small businesses, stressing the importance of adopting such ideas to encourage creativity and provide practical solutions for society.

A Platform for Growing the Tech Sector

The incubator is part of the Syrian Computer Society’s initiatives, aiming to establish small and medium‑sized enterprises in the ICT sector and promote innovative, value‑added products that enrich the technology industry in Syria.

Initiative to Equip Palmyra Schools with Educational Tools

The Caravan Foundation launched a new initiative to support several schools in the city of Palmyra by providing essential equipment such as batteries, printers, laptops, and satellite internet service. The goal is to enhance the educational environment and improve administrative and teaching processes.

Local and International Collaboration

Ahmad Al‑Saleh, one of the foundation’s founders and a native of Palmyra, highlighted the strong cooperation from Homs Governorate in facilitating the initiative. He noted that the effort is supported by international partners committed to helping Syria recover from the challenges of recent years.

Addressing Key Educational Challenges

Hassan Abdul‑Latif, supervisor of the educational complex in Palmyra, stated that the new equipment will help resolve major issues facing schools, especially with the shift toward digital archiving and improved coordination between schools and the educational complex.

Caravan Foundation’s Mission

The Caravan Foundation is an independent, non‑profit initiative dedicated to community recovery, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable economic development, with a special focus on Palmyra and surrounding communities.

Positive Impact on the Educational Process

This initiative provides essential tools for teachers and administrators, improves the quality of education, and supports the smooth functioning of the educational process—demonstrating the importance of community‑driven efforts in strengthening the education sector in affected areas.