In the heart of Old Damascus, where ancient alleys intersect with the scent of history, the historic Goldsmiths’ Market is once again alive with the spirit of youth and enthusiasm through the “Damascus in Our Eyes” initiative launched by the Friends of Museums Association and the Molham Volunteer Team, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and the Damascus Governorate.

The voluntary youth initiative aims to clean and rehabilitate the historic Goldsmiths’ Market adjacent to the Umayyad Mosque, highlighting its historical value in a step that embodies love for the city and the desire to keep its heritage alive across generations.

The initiative comes to preserve the historic site of the Goldsmiths’ Market, which has suffered over past decades from natural factors and human violations. During the Ottoman era, it was one of the most important centers for gold and jewelry trade before suffering significant damage in a fire in the 1960s, according to Ghanem.

Anahida Tanta, a sign language interpreter and member of the Friends of Museums Association, confirmed that the participation of deaf youth in the initiative coinciding with the International Day of Sign Languages represents an important step towards the effective and inclusive integration of this group into society.

The “Damascus in Our Eyes” initiative continues for two weeks since its launch on September 21, aiming to consolidate community awareness of the importance of protecting Syrian heritage and preserving it from neglect and violations, and to enhance community participation of the hearing-impaired and university students, affirming that heritage is the responsibility of all citizens.