More Than Play: LIFT Transforms Kids & Communities
🌱 What does it take to help a child thrive?
In Kilis, Türkiye, it’s not unusual to see children playing in NGO-run centres; drawing, laughing, joining in games. These spaces are safe and full of joy. But a question lingers: Is it enough?
Can we do more to truly change the trajectory of a child’s life, especially in places marked by poverty, instability, and emotional hardship? What would it take for children and adolescents to not only feel safe, but to heal, lead, and live with purpose?
These reflections gave birth to LIFT — Life in Fullness Together. This holistic program is designed not just for protection and for play, but for transformation: emotional growth, learning, resilience, and leadership that extends into homes, schools, and communities.
🔄 A Ripple Begins with One Step
When the LIFT team arrived in Kilis, a city close to the Syrian border and home to thousands of refugee families, they were met with warmth—but also hesitation. Teachers and principals expressed interest, but no students were referred. Families were cautious.
The team responded not with pressure, but with presence. They brewed tea, listened, and created a space where children and caregivers were seen, not assessed. Slowly, trust was taking root. A neighbour brought a friend. A child brought a cousin. A mother stayed for tea.
This quiet, organic beginning became the heartbeat of LIFT — what the team now calls their 'snowball effect.'
✨ When Curiosity Turns into Commitment
One of the first to notice the change was Süleyman Erdoğan, a Turkish teacher at Zeytçioğlu Middle School.
“The children who I thought were shy, unmotivated, or struggling — they were leading activities at LIFT. They were planning, guiding, helping one another. It changed everything I thought I knew about them.”
He recalled one quiet student who organised a school picnic for the whole school — from logistics to leading a dance performance on stage. “This child had never spoken up before,” Süleyman said. “Now he was leading with joy. I saw transformation unfold before my eyes.”
Caregivers and their children gather in the yard of the Kilis LIFT Center, preparing for a choreographed activity—a moment of shared joy, movement, and connection. —Samer Asaid, World Vision Syria Response
👣 Stories of Change: From Invisible to Empowered
Two students, who asked to remain anonymous, represent how deeply LIFT touches lives.
Ahmet*, a 13-year-old boy, was introduced to LIFT during a school visit.
“At the LIFT centre, I felt relaxed. Nobody judged me. I had fun, I made things, and for the first time, I felt like I belonged,” said Ahmet. “I didn’t want to drink from the mug I made at LIFT centre because it felt too special to use.” It symbolised something special, something earned.
Ahmet's mother echoed the sentiment:
“I saw my son become more confident, more social. At the Children’s Day April 23rd event, he guided younger children. He felt important—and that’s something we can’t teach in a classroom.”
Baraa*, also 13, came up with the idea and played a leading role in organising the Children's Day event.
“I told Can Abi and Sinem Abla (LIFT Facilitators) we should organise something for the little kids. They liked it. We planned everything together. When the mayor’s wife showed up, I was so proud.”
Baraa's mother couldn’t attend due to work, but she was moved by what he shared afterwards:
“He came home glowing. He said: ‘Everyone came. Our teachers came. We did marbling workshops, art, photos… It felt like we mattered.’”
These events became catalysts. Children and adolescents who had never led anything now coordinated logistics, took initiative, and mentored others. They learned to plan, to speak, to care.
“It wasn’t about being the best student,” Süleyman reflected. “It was about being seen and being trusted.”
Süleyman, a dedicated teacher, joined LIFT activities not as an educator—but as a father—participating alongside his daughter. He reflected: "This model is beyond what we ever dreamed of." —Samer Asaid, World Vision Syria Response
🎨 Colouring the Future—With Purpose
In LIFT, creating a welcoming and empowering space isn’t just about comfort, it’s about ownership.
From the beginning, children, adolescents, and caregivers were invited to shape their environment. At the LIFT centre, one of the most vibrant expressions of this came through painting the walls of the outdoor spaces. These weren’t just decorative moments. Led by cohort members, the painting sessions became a powerful way for participants to express their hopes, stories, and dreams.
“When I see the colours on the wall, I remember the day we made it ours,” said one of the youths. “It feels like home now.”
Through this process, a once neutral space was transformed into a living reflection of the people within it; a place of freedom, creativity, connecting with nature, and community.
When Süleyman visited the LIFT centre, he was struck by what he saw.
“The walls were alive with colours, movement, and joy. You could tell it wasn’t just decoration—it was theirs. It changed the way the space felt.”
Inspired by the transformation, Süleyman approached the LIFT team with a question:
“Would it be possible for the children to paint the school walls?”
Planning began with Principal Mahmut Bey, who welcomed the idea with open arms.
“Our goal is to support children in every way—not just academically, but emotionally. If this project makes them feel proud of their school and excited to come here, then it’s worth every drop of paint.”
The students designed the transformation. They brainstormed themes, sketched their ideas, and discussed symbols that reflected growth, joy, and belonging. The faded garden walls were soon covered in murals of birds, trees, messages of encouragement, and bursts of colour that could be seen from the street.
Students didn’t handle the spray-painting of the ground surface for safety reasons, but every other element carried their signature.
“This is our garden now,” one child said, beaming. “We made it.”
More than a beautification project, this was a shift in how children saw themselves—and how their school saw them. It was no longer just a place they attended. This was a space they helped build, mark, and make their own.
Adding colour to walls and life with the LIFT team — proving that small changes can make a big impact. 🌍🎨
🧭 A Journey Shared
LIFT’s ripple extends beyond children to caregivers and educators. Parents join sessions to explore responsive parenting, wellbeing, and emotional connection. Teachers shift from instructors to collaborators, witnessing children in new ways.
After seeing his daughter join an event, Süleyman asked to attend caregiver sessions himself: “As a father and a teacher, I saw how powerful these spaces are. I wanted to be a part of it — not just for my students, but for my child.”
📊 Trust in Numbers
What began with hesitation has grown into transformation:
- 120 adolescents have participated in wellbeing activities.
- 60 caregivers have joined parenting and wellness groups.
- Six schools have engaged in joint activities and referrals.
- Two adolescents are now co-facilitating sessions as peer leaders.
Teachers now refer students regularly. Families return again and again. The demand keeps growing.
🌍 Living Life in Fullness — Together
Today, the LIFT centre in Kilis is more than a safe space. It’s a catalyst for change that echoes through schools, homes, and neighbourhoods.
It’s in the pride of a student who paints a wall he once walked past unnoticed.
It’s in the smile of a teacher who sees new light in his most reserved pupil.
It’s in the laughter of caregivers who rediscover joy and connection.
When children are given the chance to lead, grow, and be seen — what they build doesn’t stay within walls. It grows with them, wherever they go.
📘 About LIFT
Life in Fullness Together (LIFT) is World Vision’s holistic program for promoting child and adolescent wellbeing in long-term humanitarian settings. LIFT was piloted in Türkiye in late 2023 as part of the Earthquake Response.
LIFT creates nurturing spaces that respond to the complex, layered experiences of children and adolescents in crises; not only ensuring safety, but actively supporting healing, learning, leadership, and positive family and social relationships.
Through its four-level learning journey: LIFT OFF, LIFT UP, LIFT MORE, and LIFT US, children, adolescents, and caregivers grow from trust-building to real-life application of leadership.
Each LIFT space is co-designed with children, adolescents and caregivers. This builds ownership, cultural relevance, and sustainability.
By weaving together responsive caregiving, agency, psychosocial support, learning opportunities, and safety, LIFT helps children of different age groups do more than survive. It helps them live a life in fullness.
Melek Nur shares: "This isn’t just a place—it’s where I find myself, where I connect with my community. I love being here. Coming to LIFT brings me joy" —Samer Asaid, World Vision Syria Response