Who we are

Ihsan Relief and Development is a service-oriented organization with developmental goals. Ihsan seeks to support basic development and service projects that address the needs of daily life while looking to have long-lasting impacts. Ihsan looks to support Syrians inside Syria and outside of Syria and does so by coordinating with local councils. Ihsan is working to recruit necessary grants funding provided by the international community organizations for the development projects inside Syria.

IhsanRD Profile

Mission

To provide Syrians with critical services to alleviate suffering, foster economic and social development, support a vibrant civil society, and build the capacity of local administrative councils
.

Vision

To become the most efficient, transparent, and responsive Syrian humanitarian organization, improving the lives of Syrians through relief, recovery, and development.

Values

1- Transparency
2- Accountability
3- Integrity and Credibility
4- Leadership & Team Building
5- Equality
6- Dedication

Where we work

Ghassan Hitto

Chief Executive Officer

We, at the Syrian Forum, provide more than temporary relief. We strive to empower Syrian communities through capacity building and longterm development.
Our diverse and comprehensive programs address the problems of today, while identifying sustainable solutions for the future, thereby safeguarding and strengthening the trust between Syrians and their institutions.
Through our strategic partnerships, we have expanded our vision and increased our impact. We have continued to offer valuable services to Syrians in need and equip them with the skills and resources necessary to develop their own institutions.
We are driven by our unwavering hope that one day, through empowered individuals, institutions, and local councils, we will realize a Syria of justice, peace, and equality. With this hope, we will continue to grow and improve, as we plant the seeds of freedom in our homeland.

Board of Directors Members

Ghassan Hitto
Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

A seasoned humanitarian, a community leader, and a business executive. Over the past 30 years, Ghassan built and led several civic society, humanitarian and community development initiatives, and businesses in both the United States and Turkiye. Before fully dedicating his career to the Syrian cause, Ghassan was the Executive Vice President at Inovar Technologies, a midsize telecommunications solutions provider, and the chairman of Brighter Horizon educational academy in Dallas. In 2013 Ghassan co-founded and became the CEO of the Syrian Forum where he continues to lead comprehensive economic, educational and governance initiatives focusing on critical relief and the long-term development of Syrians. Ghassan holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Mathematics and a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana Purdue University.

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Mohammed Yaser Tabbara
Co-Founder, Board Member, Chief Strategist

A seasoned lawyer and social and business entrepreneur. Yaser served as the chairman of the American Relief Coalition for Syria, a coalition of 11 US-based organizations that provide relief, support, and development to Syrians across the globe. Yaser co-founded the Syrian Forum and has handled it strategy development since its inception. Prior to that Yaser focused on international human rights law and worked with the International Bar Association to support judicial and legal reform in Syria and Iraq. He also taught courses related to public international law at the University of Kalamoon in Damascus. He is a frequent media contributor and commentator on issues related to the crisis in Syria. Yaser commenced his public interest career in advocacy for Arab and Muslim American rights where he co-founded the Chicago chapter of CAIR, a national civil rights organization and Project Mobilize, a political platform that ran many local candidates in the US. Yaser attended the University of Illinois, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics. In 2002, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law.

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Ammar Kahf
Co-Founder, Board Member, Omran’s Executive Director

An seasoned academic and a community organizer. Ammar currently serves as Executive Director of Omran for Strategic Studies, a policy research center focused on Syrian affairs. He also supports the organization as a political analyst and strategic advisor. Before co-founding the Syrian Forum, Ammar served as a research manager at Strategic Research and Communication Center in London, where he published several policy papers on Syrian affairs. Ammar also worked as an assistant instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Prior to that Ammar served as Executive Director of an Arab and Muslim community center in California, where he managed programs for at-risk youth and teachers. Ammar earned his Ph.D. from UCLA after attaining his masters and bachelors degrees from the University of Jordan.

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Sinan Hatahet
Board Member, VP for Investment and Social Impact

Sinan Hatahet is a French Syrian researcher and vice president for investment and social impact at the Syrian Forum. He is also a nonresident senior fellow for the Syria Project at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs. With a Ph.D. in network security from the University of Technology of Compiègne, Sinan brings a unique technical perspective to his research on Syria’s political and war economy. His work spans local governance, regional security, and the role of philanthropy in conflict. He has held research roles at the European University Institute, Sharq Forum, and the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, where he led the History of the Syrian Revolution Archive. His publications provide in-depth analysis of Syria.

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A Message from Ihsan’s Team

At Ihsan, we are dedicated to sustaining and empowering the Syrian people through long-term, comprehensive projects in diverse fields, including child protection, women empowerment, and food and water security, among others.
Ihsan not only delivers temporary aid but also helps individuals realize self-sufficiency and secure a new livelihood. From community development to infrastructure repair, we support struggling families and help displaced persons return to their homes. Through our work, we have earned the trust of beneficiaries and partners around the world.
With the help of more than 800 dedicated team members, we strive to gain greater access to besieged and hard-to-reach areas, and we hope to expand the role of civil society in rebuilding Syrian lives.

Memberships

Rewards and Rankings

The GBV Sub-Cluster Capacity Building Initiative for PSS Provider.

ihsan

Our Partners 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ihsan?

A non-governmental organization whose mission is to improve the lives of Syrians through relief, recovery and development initiatives. We operate in various sectors and geographic areas throughout the country providing emergency and resilience-based services to Syrian men, women, and children.

When was Ihsan established?

We were established in July 2013, and we were officially registered in Turkey in April 2014.

What are the organization’s sources of funding?

In order to implement its wide variety of programs, we partner with a large spectrum of international non-governmental organizations, diaspora organizations and UN agencies.

Where does Ihsan have a presence?

Our organization is based in Southern Turkey, in Gaziantep, with 6 offices inside Syria. Our geographical presence is as follows:

  • In Idleb, we have 3 offices servicing the entire governorate.
  • In Aleppo, we have 2 offices that service areas in the governorate that are accessible to our field staff.
  • In Dar’a, we have 1 office servicing the governorate.

What kinds of programs does Ihsan implement?

Our approach to service provision is focused on two tracks: emergency response and early development activities include emergency response projects,  to deliver food baskets, summer and winter baskets, hygiene kits and many other urgent relief items.

  • Food Security and Livelihoods
  • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
  • Protection: Woman and Child protection projects
  • Education
  • Non-Food Items/Shelter

How can I join the Ihsan team?

Opportunities to join our team are announced online on our website, as well as on various social media pages. Please make sure to keep checking our vacancies online, and make sure to follow the steps outlined via this link: https://www.ihsanrd.org/how_to_apply/

How can we contact Ihsan?

To contact Ihsan for general inquiries or to help us identify needs, you can e-mail our organization at [email protected]. If you are inside Syria or Turkey, you are welcome to visit our offices.

Where can I send my complaints and feedback on the work of Ihsan?

Getting your feedback is key to improving our programs and work therefore we have set up a Whatsapp number for you to directly send us your feedback. The number is 0090 544 544 15 05.
Or via sending an email to the following address: [email protected]