It’s called Beit Qamishlo, or the House of Qamishlo. It’s named after a city in northeastern Syria, though the house isn’t even in Syria — it’s just across the border in southern Turkey.
The house is humble, made of concrete blocks, with tile floors. Arabic slogans are taped on the walls: “Beit Qamishlo is a house for everyone,” “It’s a window to Syria’s future,” “Under one roof we plant life together and freedom.”
More than just ideas, Beit Qamishlo is also a hostel, a place for Syrians who’ve escaped their country to crash until they find more permanent digs. It’s an education center where young Syrian refugees take English and art classes on the weekends. And it’s a performance space, where readings, speeches and debates fill the night.
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