“Our cultural heritage is our identity”
Why Syrian architect Lama Abboud rescues the cultural heritage of her country
#YCREATE is a digital movement powered by the Prince Claus Fund aimed at discovering the value of culture for young people across the world and celebrating young creators everywhere. We ask the next generation to share their creative talents and their views on arts and culture.
To start, we’re sharing stories from our worldwide network of creatives working in culture. Some are starting out and others have been at it all their lives. They all have amazing stories. Today: Lama Abboud.
What can you possibly do if you are an architect in a country at war? Lama Abboud is an architect in Syria. When she took part in a course on giving First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAC), she knew what she wanted to do: preserve and protect Syria’s ancient cultural heritage. We asked her why.
Why do you think saving heritage matters?
We rescue, restore, preserve and protect our heritage not only because it is our past, or because it is unique or beautiful. It is not a matter of buildings, stones or about intangible traditions; our cultural heritage is our identity, it represents our values, belongings, our strength, continuity and our pride. It is the treasure that we want our children to learn about and to keep for the following generations. It is the connections between the past and future, a part of history to understand correctly and learn from.
When we rescue and protect our heritage, it is the same as when we protect our children. Both carry parts of our souls and our ancestors’ spirits.
From a different point of view, heritage can play an important role in generating income for the government and in developing the community around it.When we rescue and protect our heritage, it is the same as when we protect our children, both carry parts of our souls and our ancestors’ spirits.
Do you think cultural heritage can bring people closer together? If so, how?
I believe cultural heritage can play an important role in building a bridge of peace within society and bringing people closer together. When Palmyra was attacked by ISIS, all Syrians were angry and condemned the invasion.
When I gave the FAC course (First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis) in my home town, Homs, Syria, the 30 participants were from all colors of Syrian society (religions & education). I asked them each to bring an object that holds meaning to them, to describe it and explain its value and importance. Later, I got many messages from participants showing their gratitude. That day was very memorable to all of us. It built a strong foundation among all the participants till today. They shared not only their stories and passions, but also their sorrow and tears. The same happened with another FAC course in Sharjah, UAE, among participants from Arab countries. It brought them together and for two years they’ve had almost daily connections, up till today.
What drives/inspires you in your work?
The responsibility and love I feel towards my country in its sickness is an important reason to work harder. Syria is called “the cradle of civilizations” and we watched our cultural heritage get destroyed. That’s why it is essential to raise awareness and develop plans in order to bring life back to our damaged cities and to protect them from further loss. This became even clearer when I saw the impact of the “First Aid to Culture heritage” course which showed how the creative power of cultural heritage gave participants strength and hope, and presented the beauty of Syria — not just the war. Additionally, it is really rewarding being able to motivate others especially the women, who will bring up the next generations.
It is not a shame that we fall or get broken, because even the broken crayon can still colour. The shame is to give up and to allow these catastrophes to take away our strength.
It is not a shame that we fall or get broken, because even the broken crayon can still colour.The shame is to give up and to allow these catastrophes to take away our strength.
What is it like to be a first aider in your country?
The term “First Aider to cultural heritage in times of crisis and conflict” is still new in Syria and few people have heard about it, but it sounds interesting and most people ask for explanations.
For me, I feel very proud to carry this title. It means you are able to save cultural heritage, respond correctly during crisis, manage risks, deal with the affected community and lead a team to accomplish the mission. To be a First Aider to cultural heritage means to carry out the amazingly effective FAC philosophy and principles and to spread them, be brave, and raise awareness of the importance of cultural heritage wherever you go.
The FAC course was a collaboration between the Prince Claus Fund ’s Cultural Emergency Response (CER) programme, the Smithsonian Institution and ICCROM (the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) and given in Washington, DC in 2016. Abboud wanted to spread the knowledge she’d gained, to make more people aware of the importance of Syria’s cultural legacy and the urgency of protecting it. She organised a 2-week training course in August 2017 in the Syrian city of Homs. Thirty people from different institutions and different educational backgrounds took part — 21 women and 9 men. Not only was the training a great success, many organisations subsequently asked her to replicate the course in other Syrian cities.
What are the obstacles to restoring/rescuing in your context and how do you deal with them?
The obstacles are many, starting with the huge destruction to all aspects of life, also the lack of experts, knowledge and understanding of the value of cultural heritage. The large demographical change caused by displacement in the Syrian territories has affected the distribution of the elements of intangible heritage and the abilities of local people to protect them. Instability and the absence of basic infrastructure compounds the difficulties of carrying out their activities and effectively using their skills. Most of the sites, museums, monasteries, churches and mosques have been robbed and looted.
We are planning to train more experts to be first aiders in all cities, give workshops, training courses, raise awareness, and prepare for many projects on emergency documentation for both tangible and intangible cultural heritage; to define the damage and risks and put in place emergency plans to save it.
Saving the Culture of Syria for the next generation, to build a better future.
What long-term goal do you work towards?
I think it is the time to speak about stabilization, rebuilding and rehabilitation, not about the destruction anymore. Our goal will be to strive to recapture the beauty and the value of Syrian culture heritage.
Do more training to spread the FAC philosophy in all Syrian cities through building a team of Syrian first Aiders who are able to work in a crisis situation (to rescue, restore and build better), and are also able to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and to develop risk plans in their departments and museums. With the First Aiders we will do the emergency documentation, preservation, restoration and rehabilitation projects, especially the ones that will save the Syrian cultural heritage that belongs not only to the Syrians but to everyone as a part the evolution of civilization.
My long-term goal in all of the above is to invite life back to my beloved city and to keep the memory alive for the next generation. — Lama Abboud
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#YCREATE
#YCreate: A platform for connection and creativity in an era of stark division
Art is at the heart of what makes us human. That’s why, in an era of building walls and blaming ‘the other’, it’s essential that cultural expression is free and valued. Every story counts, but not every story gets the attention it deserves. The Prince Claus Fund aims for change by launching #YCreate — a platform to connect the next generation with the extraordinary stories and diverse perspectives of creative people from all over the world.
Drawing from the Prince Claus Fund’s network, #YCreate explores the human palette of dreams, fears, and motivations with one key question: ‘Why do you create?’ Read the stories and dive into their work by visiting @ycreate_pcf on Instagram.
