Dawlaty (My Country) is a new Syrian non-profit organization that works toward the country Syrians strive to build once they topple President Bashar al-Assad.

On its official website, Dawlaty introduces itself as a “non-profit project working toward capacity development, as well as the development of audio-visual and written training materials that will assist in the democratization of and transitional justice for Syria.”

The project was established in 2012 by a group of Syrians who believe in collective civil resistance as a means for change. They hope to develop mechanisms that will help Syrians evolve from reacting to acting, per the following goals of the organization:

• Moving from a state of war to the desired state while attempting to minimize people’s desire for revenge and teaching them how true justice is served

• Encouraging others to accept different points of view

• Encouraging civil values and the rule of law

• Strengthening cooperation and dialogue between various sects of society

• Removing the prevalent belief that Syrians are alone, and that the only solution is the military solution; developing civil resistance and rewarding nonviolence

Dawlaty urges Syrians to think about the country they would like to build. The founders said, “The idea of the State in Syria was always scary. We always lived under the control of our State, instead of controlling it ourselves. Today, we want to build a new country. My country that I love and want to shape as I please, and your country and his country - it will be OUR country. If we don’t get it right, we’ll fix it.”

The organization works to suggest alternatives and develop skills, create training materials in different styles and at different levels, host workshops, and develop an online platform to share its productions and archive all forms of art that was created after March 2011”that can be shared easily and directly with all Syrian people, “built on a basis of human rights and equality in gender, religion and ethnicity.”

Animated films, bulletins, posters, graffiti, cartoons, broadcast programs, writings, comics and animations are some of the mediums Dawlaty uses to spread its message.

Some of the messages Dawlaty delivers are: civil participation, human rights, women’s rights, transitional justice, minority rights, protection of minorities, nationalism, constitutional concepts, creating civil society organizations and campaign, democratic elections, the formation of parties, transparency and justice.

In order to accomplish its goals, Dawlaty works with organizations to hold workshops for activists to promote nonviolent strategies and conflict mediation. They work to develop leadership skills and group work, as well as a command of social networking.

Find out more on Dawlaty’s website