YUVA Association - Support Urban Based Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Yuva Association fosters a sustainable life with poverty reduction and democratization through adult learning and promotes participatory teaching methods.

Today’s world witnesses the mass migration and the biggest refugee crisis of the century. due to the war, pressure, the threat of torture, violence and security issues, Syrians abandoning their lands. 95% of the Syrian refugees live in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, with Turkey hosting the majority by far. Only 10% of all refugees live in 26 refugee camps managed by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of the Republic of Turkey (AFAD). 90% of the refugees (which is more than 2.8 million people) struggle to carry on their lives with limited resources and in harsh conditions all around

The regulation on work permit has provided a possibility for refugees entering the formal labor market, however, 10% employment limitation, monetary burden and the highly bureaucratic and lengthy process of application to work permit restrict the employability of Syrians in the formal market. Therefore, it is estimated that 650 thousand Syrians stays in the informal market, paid irregularly and work under poor conditions which cause resorting negative coping mechanisms such as child labor and early marriages. The language barrier and lack of technical and transferable skills of the Syrian refugees as well as vulnerable host community members are also other challenges to employability, and therefore, to sustain a dignified life that makes a person self-reliant.

We aim developing language and professional skills of Syrian beneficiaries enable to improve their chances of finding work and improve relations with Turkish neighbors. Our target is vulnerable urban-based refugees living in Konya where the urban Syrian refugee population is dense. Through establishing Livelihood Center activities, YUVA will provide Turkish language training to 340 individuals, vocational training to 130 individuals and labor counseling to 130 beneficiaries in project locations. In order to foster a social network of Syrian refugees and host community’s on Turkish labor market, the project targets to organize social activities such visiting workplaces and private sector representatives, job fairs, with the aim of reaching a total of 500 individuals.