Page 114 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

to develop mutual understanding and tolerance among the cultures. The program is
carried out in the form of peer education training on children’s rights given by Turkish
and Syrian children registered to the provincial children’s committees. Socio-cultural
activities offered through the program include chess tournaments, children’s workshops,
sporting events, festivals, visits, artistic activities, meetings, seminars, and conferences;
so far about 30,000 children have been reached. Another program, was implemented
in May 2013 under a cooperation protocol signed by UNICEF and the Turkish Red
Crescent, is the “Child Protection Program under the Syria Emergency Situation
Intervention,” which aims to provide psychosocial support to children.

The program’s goal is to ensure that all Syrian children and youth under temporary
protection participate in safe, participatory, inclusive education and supportive
development activities in temporary accommodation centers, community centers,
and mobile child friendly areas. Within the scope of the Syria Emergency Situation
Intervention “Child Protection” aims to ensure the participation of all school-aged
Syrian children and adolescents under temporary protection in Türkiye in safe and
effective activities and education for their development. This program aims to provide
refugee children between the ages of 4 and 18 with access to “Child Friendly Areas.”
In addition, with the support of the Turkish Red Crescent Children’s Programs
Coordination Unit, a child protection center was established in Ankara with the aim
of organizing activities, workshops, seminars and trainings on various topics to provide
psychosocial support in the child friendly areas and youth friendly areas to children
between 6-18 ages; the center started its activities in March 2017. In the center, meals
coming from the meal center of the Turkish Red Crescent Ankara Branch are served to
the children and transportation service is provided. As of June 2017, 221 children had
benefited from these activities.

(Source: Anadolu News Agency)

114 SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT