
About Qisetna
With stories from the narrow alleys of Old Damascus to the cotton fields of Deir Ezzor, Qisetna is at the frontier of Syrian arts and culture, a place where ordinary people write about their precious memories and so reclaim their cultural identity.
Qisetna touches people from New York and Stockholm to Cairo and Tokyo, sharing not only Syria’s ancient oral heritage – the art of hakawati (storytelling) – but also the most recent works of its contemporary artists.
The stories here have become an important archive of Syrian experience which has been recognised by the Community Archive and Heritage Group of the Year award in 2017.
Qisetna’s work includes storytelling workshops for young people in Syria and Turkey, UK storytelling workshops to share culture and build community and appearances at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.
Submissions and enquiries are welcome. Please share your story or contact [email protected] for more information.
#Unite4Heritage: Talking SyriaFor Syrians overseas, simple things like staying in touch with home can be extremely difficult. These young Syrians in London are writing stories and articles online to allow people from Syria to keep up-to-date, and others to learn about the amazing and unique culture of the country. An inspiring example of how everyone can come together to #Unite4Heritage – learn how you can contribute at http://www.unite4heritage.org/You can visit Talking Syria here: https://www.qisetna.com/Filmed at Leighton House Museum, London.
Posted by UNESCO on Monday, March 7, 2016
Who We Are

Juan delGado
Founder, Creative Producer
Laura AlJundi
Content Writer
Bayan Lababidi
Arabic Editor
Sarah Barker
Content Editor
Khaled Alesmael
Artistic Director
Isabel (Izzy) Thomas
Content Editor
Abdullah Alesmael
Project Manager
Cristina Martinez
Executive Assistant
Jamal Aljundi
Content Editor
Ana – FLAT26
Studio & Web Designers
Alvaro – FLAT26
Studio & Web Designers
SERNA – FLAT26
Studio & Web Designers
Carola Cappellari
Picture Editor
Ali Hassan AlMatroud
Translator & Arabic Editor
Lisa McQuillan
Digital Archives
Abdulmonam Eassa
Photographer
Dil M. Limbu
Marketing
Nazy Raouf
Digital Imaging
Riccardo Di Molfetta
Researcher
Neil Mannix
Copy Editor
Alexandra Fedorova
Content Editor
Reece Bradley
Content Editor
Muhammad Ali
Graphic Design
Basem Nabhan
Filmmaker & Video Editor
Encarni Pindado
Multimedia Content Manager
Connie Booth
Content Writer & Mentor
Rousel Goes
Social Media
Mahmoud Barakat
Project Officer
Andy Sykes
Filmmaker