“Hope dies…but it’s also revivable.” ft. Omar Alshogre

Today, we are continuing our conversation with Omar Alshogre. Make sure to check out the previous episode if you haven’t.  Omar is among the few people who survived Syria's prisons after being arrested for participating in anti-government protests. In today’s episode, Omar shares with us the brutality, injustice, and darkness of his time in prison, in total of 3 years, where he lost his loved ones, including the cousin he loved the most, Bashir. Consider this a trigger warning, as we will be talking about death and gore in this episode, a brutal reality many Syrians are still suffering from under the authoritarian Bashar al Assad regime. Yet, there is a strong bond and solidarity formed among Omar and his fellow prisoners, they formed a University of Whispers. And… while…hope dies, it is also revivable. You have to follow Omar's story. Let’s start.  Omar is now the Director for Detainee Affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force. He is also a public speaker, actively and openly sharing his voice to enact change, to uphold human rights and justice, and to give hope. Omar has spoken at the UN Security Council, the Human Rights Foundation’s Oslo Freedom Forum, and several TED talks around the world. You can learn more of his work on Instagram @omaralshogre and Twitter @omarAlshogre. Photo caption: While there is darkness, there will also be light. This is a beautiful photo of Omar and his family from Sweden. Stay tuned to know how and why he made his way there