Syrian Children's Centre
Donation protected
Syrian Children’s Centre
We are two retired teachers living in the tourist town of Kas, Antalya, Turkey. This area is the closest point to the Greek island of Kastellorizo and also the main vegetable growing area for the Turkish market and for export to other countries. Consequently we have seen a large number of refugees attempting to cross into Europe but are also aware of many Syrian families living in this area where they can find work in the greenhouses during the growing season.
Over the past 3 years, we have been involved in trying to provide basic support to families who are living locally. For these families, life is very difficult as they are not allowed to register to live legally in the Antalya region and consequently do not have access to government services, such as medical and school services,which refugees living elsewhere in Turkey do.
The government has stated that it wishes to accommodate Syrian children in the Turkish schools. However, in the Antalya region, this is proving to be very difficult as many of them are registered in another part of turkey and only stay temporarily in this area as the work is seasonal. A large number of Syrian children living in and around Kaş do not attend school or have any other kind of educational experience. Many of them left Syria before they were of school age and the older ones have had their education disrupted by the war. This is a very sad situation and will make it more difficult for these children to find their place in society in the future.
Fortunately, there are two Syrian teachers living in our area: Jasem and Mohammed. Neither of them has the necessary Turkish qualifications to obtain employment in the Turkish schools but they are willing and able to offer lessons to the Syrian children. Consequently we are keen to start a small unregistered children's centre organised and run by Jasem and Mohammed, with our support. This project is not intended to be an alternative to the Turkish schools. If families are able to register locally and enrol their children at the Turkish school, this is the best option for their educational future. The centre aims to provide additional and supplementary opportunities or the Syrian children, such as lessons in Turkish and Arabic.
Jasem and Mohammed have found a small building which would be suitable and will be able to obtain teaching materials from aid organizations working in the east of Turkey where the large refugee camps are based. This way, our teachers will be able to provide the Syrian children with lessons in Turkish, Arabic, English etc. The centre will also provide a much needed meeting point and social centre for the children.
The main funding required will be to provide our two teachers with a modest salary. Without some income, they will have to seek work in the greenhouses in order to support their own families and will not be able to give their time to this project.
We hope to raise £1500 - £2400 ( $2000 to $3000) so that we can give them the go ahead to pay the modest rent required for the room they have identified and get started. We will undertake to purchase basic supplies and to pay both teachers a modest salary for the next 6 months. Please help us to make this a reality by making a donation to support this worthy project. Thank you.
We are two retired teachers living in the tourist town of Kas, Antalya, Turkey. This area is the closest point to the Greek island of Kastellorizo and also the main vegetable growing area for the Turkish market and for export to other countries. Consequently we have seen a large number of refugees attempting to cross into Europe but are also aware of many Syrian families living in this area where they can find work in the greenhouses during the growing season.
Over the past 3 years, we have been involved in trying to provide basic support to families who are living locally. For these families, life is very difficult as they are not allowed to register to live legally in the Antalya region and consequently do not have access to government services, such as medical and school services,which refugees living elsewhere in Turkey do.
The government has stated that it wishes to accommodate Syrian children in the Turkish schools. However, in the Antalya region, this is proving to be very difficult as many of them are registered in another part of turkey and only stay temporarily in this area as the work is seasonal. A large number of Syrian children living in and around Kaş do not attend school or have any other kind of educational experience. Many of them left Syria before they were of school age and the older ones have had their education disrupted by the war. This is a very sad situation and will make it more difficult for these children to find their place in society in the future.
Fortunately, there are two Syrian teachers living in our area: Jasem and Mohammed. Neither of them has the necessary Turkish qualifications to obtain employment in the Turkish schools but they are willing and able to offer lessons to the Syrian children. Consequently we are keen to start a small unregistered children's centre organised and run by Jasem and Mohammed, with our support. This project is not intended to be an alternative to the Turkish schools. If families are able to register locally and enrol their children at the Turkish school, this is the best option for their educational future. The centre aims to provide additional and supplementary opportunities or the Syrian children, such as lessons in Turkish and Arabic.
Jasem and Mohammed have found a small building which would be suitable and will be able to obtain teaching materials from aid organizations working in the east of Turkey where the large refugee camps are based. This way, our teachers will be able to provide the Syrian children with lessons in Turkish, Arabic, English etc. The centre will also provide a much needed meeting point and social centre for the children.
The main funding required will be to provide our two teachers with a modest salary. Without some income, they will have to seek work in the greenhouses in order to support their own families and will not be able to give their time to this project.
We hope to raise £1500 - £2400 ( $2000 to $3000) so that we can give them the go ahead to pay the modest rent required for the room they have identified and get started. We will undertake to purchase basic supplies and to pay both teachers a modest salary for the next 6 months. Please help us to make this a reality by making a donation to support this worthy project. Thank you.
Organizer
Gerard Kennedy
Organizer
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