Project on social adaptability for Syrian children bears first fruit

A recent project by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies that aims to increase the social adaptability of Syrian children refugees has granted the certificates of the first beneficiaries yesterday.

Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya attended the ceremony to give awards to 294 children refugees. "We have our brothers and sisters to whom we share the same geography, culture and belief with the inscription of the Ansar from the first day," Kaya stressed.

The trainees who finished language, health and hygiene courses displayed various performances on the stage. Vaad al-Asali who is one of the refugees gave a gratitude speech and thanked to Turkish government. "We have never felt like foreigners in Turkey," she said.

Furthermore, Kaya stressed that this project will strengthen the social capacity of Syrian adolescents, adding, "We do not distinguish the children of our Syrian brothers who are hosted in our country from our own children." The family minister underlined the efforts of the Turkish government to help oppressed people all over the world.

"We have always stood by the oppressed in Turkey and will continue to do so. We carry out all these services with the cooperation between the state and nation. Our greatest wish is that the efforts Turkey make in this regard be taken as model in the whole world," the minister said.

The Turkey representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Paolo Artini also gave a speech about the importance of the project and Turkey's assistance in the refugee crisis. "The response provided by Turkey as the top host country of refugees is a very important example of a comprehensive response framework and actually most relevant in the global consultations leading a global compact on refugees," Artini said. The family minister underscored that the Turkish state has always paid attention to civilians and will continue to do so in the future. "It is our civilization and state tradition to take care of civilian people, to embrace oppressed people, to oppose bullying, to adhere to the principles of justice and rights," she concluded.

The U.N.-funded project of Educational and Psychosocial Support for Temporary Asylum-Seekers, which currently operates with a total of 550 Syrian children, is conducted by the mutual contribution of UNHCR and the Ministry of Family and Social Policies.