24/09/2026
“As Syria emerged from Assad’s dark cloud last fall, soccer, long an antidote to the bitterness of loss, took on a new form. Driven by former professional players and coaches, and powered by young athletes and a population hungry for a sense of normalcy, soccer has begun to provide a vision of freedom outside violence, and a pathway to a brighter tomorrow.”
Our readers voted for it, and we are happy to officially announce that “From Ashes” the story of Syria’s soccer rebirth, has won the 6th Ori Creative Grant. Journalist Ramez Daoud and photojournalist Santiago Montag took us inside the Middle Eastern country in vivid detail, showing us the human stories on the other side of the news ticker.
This feature was part of Issue 06, our World Cup issue. Thanks to our readers, these professional storytellers will receive additional funds to continue their work in Syria and beyond. Congrats team, this one was well earned.