Adel AlBaghdadi


Pronouns: He/Him

Organisation: WE Organisation, Netherlands

Country of origin: Syria


Profile

Adel AlBaghdadi grew up in Damascus. He had hoped to work for a multinational humanitarian organisation after obtaining his law degree, but his plans were interrupted by conflict in Syria. He had to leave Syria and ended up in the Netherlands in 2015, where Adel began addressing issues concerning conflict, tension, and xenophobia. He recognized these as significant challenges that immigrant communities often face  in Europe.



WE Organisation NL, established in 2016 by Adel, is an initiative led by refugee youth who develop projects aimed at battling xenophobia, fostering social bonds, and promoting social inclusion. WE is committed to breaking down barriers and building bridges through constructive dialogue and meaningful interaction. Their approach involves the development of projects designed to create sustainable connections between diverse groups within society. This includes educational and training initiatives, as well as consulting services related to migration, integration, emancipation, diversity, inclusion, intercultural communication, youth participation and storytelling.

Story

Adel AlBaghdadi said he remembers his journey with a mix of pride and humility. He transitioned from being ‘not at zero, but at minus’ to founding the WE Organisation NL, dedicated to countering xenophobic narratives through storytelling initiatives. Adel grew up in Syria where he faced danger and helped provide refuge, volunteering with displaced people from neighbouring conflicts. This experience, coupled with his ambition to work in diplomacy and humanitarianism, pointed him towards law school.

Adel’s explanation of the impact of personal stories highlights a significant issue – the need for better, more accessible means of sharing narratives, especially with those who are resistant to hearing them. He recalls poignant moments, such as when a 12-year-old girl from a Dutch town known for its anti-refugee sentiments apologised to him after hearing one of his stories. Another touching experience occurred when a woman attending one of his corporate conferences approached him a year later to share that his talk had inspired her to adopt a refugee child. These instances underscore the profound impact of storytelling, prompting Adel to advocate for a more effective approach to sharing refugee narratives. He asserts the importance of governmental and organisational support in this endeavour, acknowledging that while significant strides have been made, the work is far from finished – there is always more to be done.

The conflict in Syria in 2015 compelled Adel to flee to the Netherlands – challenging his plans, yet fuelling his determination. Adel said he rejects the label of a refugee ‘crisis’ and founded WE Organisation NL to humanise narratives and combat xenophobia through storytelling. Despite personal and professional challenges, including struggles with funding and bureaucracy, Adel said he remains committed to WE Organisation NL’s mission. He emphasises the transformative power of personal stories in shifting perceptions and advocating for better support systems. Adel envisions collaboration with government institutions and other organisations to further amplify the impact of storytelling in fostering empathy and understanding.


In addition to the personal challenges Adel has faced following the upheavals in his life, he also encounters professional struggles. Despite his extensive experience and qualifications, he often finds himself grappling with being taken seriously. One constant battle concerns funding, particularly for a small NGO like WE Organisation NL which lacks the robust networks and infrastructure of larger organisations. The intricate bureaucracy involved in completing grant applications can consume two to three weeks of fulltime work for Adel’s team. This adds to their frustration as they often find themselves overlooked for support. Adel balances two additional jobs alongside his work with WE and said he sometimes questions the value of investing time in these applications. Moreover, the sporadic attention from funders often implies that his team should be grateful for whatever little support they do receive and this compounds their sense of frustration.