World Vision collaborates with the Governor of Sanliurfa and the Turkish Red Crescent to support vulnerable communities

A group photo at the protocol signing ceremony
Monday, June 7, 2021
  • World Vision’s new project in Sanliurfa helps Syrians and local communities access employment and protection services  

  • Governor of Sanliurfa, Turkish Red Crescent and World Vision signing ceremony takes place on June 1st to mark the start of the project 

  • The project targets 300 Syrian and host community members improving access economic opportunities through supporting with both information dissemination activities and in kind supports 

Sanliurfa, 1 June 2020 – The international humanitarian and development organisation, World Vision, launches a new project in Sanliurfa to support Syrians and host communities accessing income generating opportunities. With the presence of the Governor of Sanliurfa, Abdullah Erin, World Vision Syria Response Director, Johan Mooij, and implementing partner representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent, are holding an official protocol signing ceremony took place today at the Governor’s meeting hall. 

Abdullah Erin, Governor of Sanliurfa says: "We have been closely following up on the projects that have been implemented before and we are thrilled about their success.” The Governor states that there are approximately 650,000 Syrians living in Şanlıurfa, Telabyad and Rasulayn and that in addition to the support of the state, non-governmental organisations and citizens have also provided assistance to the Syrians.  

Reminding that the needs of the people who have lived here for ten years have been met, Governor Erin continues: “The uncertainty in Syria is still ongoing and it is important for these people to reach a point where they are able to support themselves.” Noting that 200,000 of the Syrians living in Şanlıurfa are of working age and the projects implemented in the city were a success, “we studied this project and decided that it would be carried out in cooperation with World Vision International and the Red Crescent. We will also offer all kinds of support that is needed,” he adds. 

Johan Mooij, Syria Response Director at World Vision comments: “I am pleased to be present today to witness a new collaboration between World Vision and the Governor of Sanilurfa. Last year represented a successful collaboration where we supported Syrian refugees and Turkish host community members in need to access employment opportunities. We continue to mobilise our resources and other funding to support the people in Urfa build their resilience. The new opportunity in hand will allow beneficiaries to have the chance to participate in a sustainable employment network and gain economic self-sufficiency by using their own talents and skills.” 

Turkey currently hosts over 3.6 million Syrian refugees1 and while the conflict in Syria is currently in its 10th year, the future of these refugees remains uncertain. Projects that support the livelihood of refugees aspire to decrease economic competition between refugees and local citizens and allow for an enhanced integration in the community.  

Alper Küçük, Deputy Director-General of Turkish Red Crescent comments: “We are very glad to initiate a new project in June, this time with valuable cooperation between Turkish Red Crescent, World Vision International and Governorship of Şanlıurfa. In line with its aim, which is to provide dignified life for communities and to increase their resilience with socioeconomic empowerment and protection support, the upcoming project will include activities for both parents and children which, in the end, will contribute to the efforts made to fight against child labour. As the Turkish Red Crescent, we strongly recognise the significance of children's access to education and fully embrace the efforts that will support families and actors involved in education issue.” 

ENDS 

 

Note to editors: 

  • Through the new project entitled ‘Ensuring Dignity and Resilience of Vulnerable Communities through Socio-economic Empowerment and Protection Support’, World Vision, in partnership with the local implementing partner, the Turkish Red Crescent, will work with local stakeholders to tackle the most urgent needs of Syrians and Turkish citizens living in Sanliurfa. 

  • The joint project aims to support the beneficiaries in accessing regular and meaningful income generating opportunities, which helps decrease the number of out-of-school children who are working to support their families. With the project, which has a budget of approximately 3.500.000 TL, awareness-raising information seminars that aim at preventing child labour, introducing child rights, addressing protection issues, and raising psychosocial awareness will be held within the scope of protection and psychosocial support activities for 300 households. 

  • Through the project, 45 beneficiaries will be provided with materials that contribute to their home-based production, along with vocational training. 

  • The project will be implemented between June 2021 and February 2022 under the coordination of Şanlıurfa Governorship, in partnership with World Vision International and the Red Crescent.  

  • Scope of activities within the project are aimed at minimising child labour risks and providing school kits containing stationery, school bags and similar materials in order to support 300 children's access to education. Schools with capacity building needs will be provided with in-kind support. 

About World Vision International 

World Vision is a global relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  

World Vision is working with children and families affected by the Syria crisis across the region and has reached more than 7 million people across the Northwestern part of Syria, Turkey and Jordan.  

In Turkey, World Vision has been directly operating in Turkey since July 2015, with the response to an influx of almost 25,000 Syrian refugees in Akçakale, Sanliurfa. Since that time, World Vision’s programmes in Turkey have increased, and the international aid organisation is currently implementing protection projects in Ankara and Istanbul through local partner organisations. Since 2016, over 80,000 refugees have benefited from Protection services through the establishment of InfoHubs centres to provide the information and protection assistance and to link them to the state services, under the current funding by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). 

About the Turkish Red Crescent 

The Turkish Red Crescent assumes substantial tasks such as ensuring social solidarity, contributing to improvement of social welfare, providing the poor and those in need with accommodation, food and healthcare. The association also offers diverse services such as blood, disaster operations, healthcare, youth and education.  

Besides fulfilling basic necessities such as housing, alimentation and healthcare in the aftermath of a disaster, the Turkish Red Crescent achieved long-lasting projects to ensure permanent welfare and realised development projects in Palestine, Somali, Pakistan, Iraq, Indonesia and many other regions. 

Today, the Turkish Red Crescent has become a global actor in humanitarian relief and now offers relief works in many different geographies. The Turkish Red Crescent has reached 148 countries so far. Kızılay has 17 permanent delegations across the world. 

 

For media enquiries please contact: 

Yusuf Avci, Turkey Portfolio Manager, World Vision International  

+905351053487 | yusuf_avci@wvi.org 

Alexandra Matei, Syria Response Advocacy and Communications Director, World Vision International 

+962 778482436 | alexandra_matei@wvi.org