Karen Leigh is the managing editor of News Deeply. https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/youmna-al-dimashqi-and-karen-leigh/rss en Human Rights Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Youmna al-Dimashqi and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/18/child-slavery-on-the-rise-a-syrian-mother-speaks-of-her-son-sold-into-battle https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/18/child-slavery-on-the-rise-a-syrian-mother-speaks-of-her-son-sold-into-battle The trafficking of young men as soldiers is on the rise. One mother who thought her 16-year-old was being taken to find medical treatment – until she saw a photo of him in uniform. Arts & Culture Civil Society Tue, 10 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Youmna al-Dimashqi and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/10/arts-culture-meet-the-rebel-artist-painting-on-mortar-shells https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/10/arts-culture-meet-the-rebel-artist-painting-on-mortar-shells With canvas in short supply, Akram Abou al-Fouz paints on the shells scattered around his neighborhood in Douma. “We had shelling showers, so to speak,” he says. Civil Society War Economy Wed, 09 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Youmna al-Dimashqi and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/04/09/local-initiatives-including-homemade-yogurt-tackle-rising-unemployment https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/04/09/local-initiatives-including-homemade-yogurt-tackle-rising-unemployment As joblessness skyrockets, civilians in Damascus province are tackling the problem by spearheading small projects – from ceramic painting to schools to yogurt – which provide employment.