PALEWELL PRESS

Douna Haj Ahmed is a Syrian writer, human rights advocate, and community organiser whose voice carries the weight of a generation displaced and determined to be heard. Born and raised in Syria, she fled Syria during the uprising, carrying with her not only memories of a shattered homeland but an unwavering resolve to testify for herself, for her people, and for all those denied the right to speak.

Now based in London, Douna has spent over a decade championing the rights of refugees and survivors of conflict. Her work spans grassroots organising, storytelling for advocacy, policy engagement, and mental health support for displaced communities. She has worked with international NGOs, refugee-led initiatives, and advocacy groups across the UK, Europe, and the MENA region. In 2025, she was appointed an Ambassador for Refugee Week in the UK in recognition of her role in bridging understanding through lived-experience storytelling and activism.

Douna is also a Chevening Scholar and alumna of the Refugee Journalism Project. She holds multiple master’s degrees in humanitarian action and social justice and has spoken publicly on the power of narrative in resisting erasure, including at major conferences, human rights forums, and community gatherings.

Between Two Worlds: a Syrian Odyssey is her debut memoir—written and completed nearly two years ago but delayed out of fear: fear of the Syrian regime’s reach, and for the safety of her loved ones back home. Publishing it now is not just a creative act it is an act of defiance, healing, and reclamation.