Aid campaign in Stuttgart: Photographs show the heart of Syria!

Aid campaign in Stuttgart: Photographs show the heart of Syria!

On June 7, 2025, an important charity evening took place in the Dinkelacker brewery in Stuttgart, which dealt with the suffering and hope of the people in Syria. The company boss Christian Dinkelacker opened the site not only to make the brand more visible, but also to send a sign of solidarity. The proceeds from the evening go to the Tugi Helps association, which was founded by Serdar Vona. This club is named after Serdar's late brother Tugi, who died of cancer.

A central element of the evening was the photo exhibition by photographer Markus Schwarz. The exhibition is entitled "Syria. A country in the meantime. Decay, departure. Memories" and shows impressive black and white photos that were taken during a trip to Syria. The photographs capture everyday life in the rubble as well as hopeful moments in the country. One particularly significant shot is of a man on a moped in Damascus, which was banned under Bashar al-Assad's rule. Serdar Vona called on those present not to look away, even if the images were painful, and to emphasize the importance of action.

The situation in Syria

The current situation in Syria is characterized by great uncertainty. World Vision's Janine Lietmeyer explained that the conflict has become internationalized, leading to the long-term retention of the Syrian government in power. Since the recapture of Aleppo in 2016, many opposition supporters have been exiled to the northwest of the country, where around 5 million people are located - including 3.6 million internally displaced people.

Control of Idlib lies with the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which has exercised military and civilian power. On December 8, 2024, Damascus was captured by the Syrian army and opposition groups, leaving the people of Syria with mixed feelings about the end of Assad's rule. Access to basic goods and humanitarian assistance remains severely limited, although aid organizations have been active since the beginning of the conflict and are providing support in difficult conditions.

Hope for change

The challenges are many, but there is hope for lasting peace and the opportunity to strengthen civil society. Over 16 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the country's infrastructure is severely damaged. Syrian civil society in exile plays an important role in humanitarian assistance, with organizations such as World Vision partnering with local actors to coordinate aid.

Today's event in Stuttgart not only raised funds, but also raised awareness of the ongoing needs of the Syrian people and created a space to shine a spotlight on the tireless struggle of the people of Syria. Together we can maintain hope for a better tomorrow - despite all the challenges that lie ahead.

For further information on supporting the Syrian population and ongoing relief operations, those interested can visit the Stuttgarter News and Aktion Deutschland Helps.