Escaping the Syrian civil war that has been continuing since 2011, many Syrians are crossing the border, and taking refuge in neighboring countries. The Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan) continues to support the Syrian refugees that have escaped into Turkey. Yoshifumi KAGEHIRA of Tokyo Headquarter reports.
Japanese-English translation by Ms Hanano SASAKI
English editing by Ms Kirsten GRIFFITHS
The article on this page has been translated and edited by volunteers as part of the AAR Volunteer Programme. Their generous contributions allow us to spread our activities and ideas globally, through an ever-growing selection of our reports from the field.
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| Ms. Zakiye (center above) who attends the community center opened by AAR, and her four children. Sachiko KAREKI, AAR staff, to the top left of the photo. To the right is Muna Albadran, a Syrian refugee working for AAR's office in Turkey. (July 8th, 2014) |
"I want to talk with the people of Turkey properly"
"There are still some Turkish people who are kind to us, but I think the number of people who feel hostile toward us has increased by far more. The Syrians are placed at the end of the waiting line at hospital. Also when we go shopping, they raise the price if they know we are Syrians. But to live here, we, too, must change. I want to learn Turkish language, and be able to talk with Turkish people properly. I believe that can improve our relationship,." says Ms. Zekiye (30), who escaped from Damascus, the Syrian capital, a year and a half ago. With her children, she attends the community center that AAR opened in Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa Province, southeastern Turkey in order to support the settlement of the refugees.
There are 180,000 Syrian refugees living in Sanliurfa Province, and among them, 110,000 live outside of the refugee camp. As there are no prospects of being able to return to their home country, many of them are beginning to take the path towards settlement.
However, that path is not easy. It is difficult for the refugees to benefit from or make use of their qualifications and career from back home, and they must acquire new skills. Unlike Syria where the official language is Arabic, they also need to learn Turkish. Also, the number of people who feel animosity toward the Syrian refugees is on the rise, and building amicable relationships with the local residents is increasingly challenging.
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| The community center is operated in the rented building located in the urban area of Sanliurfa city. |
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| Class in Arabic language for Syrian children, between age 9 and 12. Children are eagerly learning their mother tongue (July 8th, 2014) |
Opening of the Community Center to support the settlement
AAR is training volunteer instructors, and is running vocational training courses such as computer skills and hair dressing, and language classes on Turkish, English, Arabic and others, as well as preparing to open new courses. Also, AAR is planning to provide information to assist the refugees in their daily lives in Turkey on topics such as the availability of official government services and legal counseling, as well as developing the "Turkish Living Guide Book". In addition, AAR plans and organizes events in which Syrian refugees, who tend to be isolated, can gather and have the opportunities in which to interact with Turkish people. In June, 236 people attended the experimentally organized recreational event, which featured music classes and film showings, over the course of 19 days.
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| Children gathered at the experimentally organized recreational event (June, 2014) |
One month since its opening, around 300 people are registered and attending classes. "I want to improve my Turkish and make many friends. And when I do, I will bring them to the center," says Fatma (11). It made a strong impression on me when I asked her "which country would you like to visit in the future?" She answered, "I want to to go back to Syria". Waiting with hope for the day that she would be able to return home, Fatma is actively studying her mother tongue, Arabic.
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| Fatma who has begun attending after hearing about the center in her neighborhood (Left. To the right, Sachiko KAREKI of AAR). |
AAR will continue to support people who are now refugees in Turkey and have decided to settle and grow their roots in this country, so that they may establish their livelihood, and that children such as Fatma will be able to continue with their studies and have hopes for their future.
Note: In the light of the current political situation in Syria, assumed names have been used in the article to protect the identity of the refugees and those who are related to them.
Reporter
Yoshihiro KAGEHIRA, Tokyo Headquarters, AAR Japan
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| Mr. KAGEHIRA studied Education Development in Graduate School, and joined AAR after working in Kenya for an NGO following his graduation. He has been involved with the support program for Syrian refugees since November, 2012 in Turkey, working on the distribution of relief supplies and education support. He says “It has been half year since I’ve been in Turkey the last time. I can acutely feel that Turkish people’s view of the Syrian refugees are becoming harsher. I would like to serve for the improvement of their relationship even if it would be something very little.” (Mr. KAGEHIRA is from Osaka) |
English editing by Ms Kirsten GRIFFITHS
The article on this page has been translated and edited by volunteers as part of the AAR Volunteer Programme. Their generous contributions allow us to spread our activities and ideas globally, through an ever-growing selection of our reports from the field.