The Syrian Young Entrepreneurs Association is a non-profit civil institution that works to strengthen the entrepreneurial capabilities of young people in Syria in order to help them launch projects that make them job creators, rather than job seekers. In order to do this, the Association endeavours to deepen the culture of entrepreneurship among young Syrians, encouraging them and providing them with the necessary information and experience to launch and continue projects, in addition to financing entrepreneurial activities. Since its launch in 2004, SYEA has become one of the foremost authorities on entrepreneurship in Syria. The Association has three branches in total: Aleppo, Deir Azour and its headquarters in Damascus.
In 2004, SYEA decided on four areas of work: helping young people to overcome psychological obstacles (fear of failure, the sense of an absence of opportunity, pressure from family and peers, and other prevailing beliefs); providing information and experience to young people desiring to set up businesses; providing an supporting entrepreneurial network of entrepreneurs who succeeded in setting up businesses and who are able to provide emerging entrepreneurs with advice; and finally, providing sources of funding whether through partnerships or through security loans to banks, or entrepreneurial competitions conclude with the offering of prizes. SYEA has a group of major programs implemented through various projects and activities.
