Education Versus Lost Generation!

As the Syrian war completes its 11th year, four sisters who had to leave their country dreams about the future in view of going to school in Turkey. The sisters have left behind the ravages of the war thanks to psychosocial activities conducted in the Association for Solidarity with Asylum-Seekers and Migrants (ASAM). The sisters both sing in the children's choir and take instrument lessons. Thanks to school which children see as the key to the future, they can aim to reach their dream job. Along with psychosocial support, they are just a few of the children who are chasing their dreams by gaining access to education.

The family came to Turkey due to the Syrian War in 2015. The children starting school have not just learned Turkish but have made Turkish friends as well. Sema, 12, is singing songs in both Arabic and Turkish languages in the child choir. Sema’s favorite lesson is Turkish and she wants to be a guitar instructor when she is grow up. Sema says that ‘I like music and choir very much. It is very overjoyed for me to be friends together and sing, I am very happy.’

Rim, 17, going to 9th class. Her favorite lesson is English and she has many friends from school. Rim, who says she is very happy at school, dreams of becoming a doctor and healing sick children in the future. Rim likes to play guitar, likewise Sema. She tells that she has experienced great alterations in her life thanks to choir lessons in ASAM and made new friends, thus becoming more comfortable in her social life.

Nur, 15 years old, going to 7th class. Her favorite lesson is math. She says that her Turkish is improving and having more friends on account of going to school. She wants to be a lawyer in the future. Nur tells ‘I didn’t know anything regarding choir and instrument at first, however, I felt happier after the lessons had begun. When I see my success at rhythm courses, I believe in myself to be successful in any other areas.’ Even though she wants to be a lawyer in the future, she has more dreams: being a darbuka maker, going to other countries and traveling a lot…

Umran, 10 years old, is going to 6th grade of school, is dreaming about being a police officer. She says ‘I like my school teachers, I have increased my Turkish friends and improved Turkish language skills. My favorite lesson is Turkish since I love my teacher so much’..  Umran is attending choir activities like her sisters and she says ‘ I learned new songs at ASAM Child Choir as well as singing songs' rules. I have good times with my friends.’ Umran’s biggest dream is traveling Europe and meeting new people. Also, she wants to sing in different languages.

‘Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants’ has been operating activities in the field of migration for more than a quarter of a century. Currently, ASAM continues its activities with more than 56 offices in 31 provinces and carries out studies to remove the barriers related to children’s access to education and provide support by providing access to education for out-of-school children. In this context, since 2020, more than 36.000 children have been enrolled in school and access to education has been achieved.

(NOTE: Real names of beneficiaries have been changed.)

MY DREAM IS TO STAND ON MY FEET

According to UNESCO’s data, 258 million children and youth are out of school, 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and even do simple math. Nearly 4 million children and youth asylum seekers cannot go to school. Turkey hosts hundreds of thousands of children and youth asylum seekers who have overcome their bad luck and aim to make their dreams come true by providing education opportunities. Sidra K. is one of these young people, 21 years old. She came from Syria to Turkey when she was 14. Sidra continues university for a better life with the support of her mother who was married at a young age. Sidra is a third-year student at Çukurova University Faculty of Economics, she would like to get a master’s and doctorate to have a great job.

Sidra was in Aleppo with her family when the Syrian War began. She had to study by candlelight for two years because of the war. After Sidra, her mother and her sister fled from Syria to Adana, she started to the second grade of High School. Sidra said that she got used to school and Turkish easily because she loved her Turkish teacher at school. Explaining that her mother is the biggest supporter in her education life, Sidra said, “My mother could only study until the 6th grade. She goes to language courses in Turkey. I learned a lot from her. One of them is not to give up. My goal is to enroll in a university. What my mother wants most is for me to stand on my own feet after completing my education. Her motivation in life and not giving up is an example to me.” Sidra works hard for the foreign student exam and she wants to buy a house for her family after she works.

She highlights that education has crucial importance in the life of refugees. She says ‘Individuals can cope with difficulties and become strong thanks to education. This is implied both for women and men. When you come here, you know nothing and you don't know anyone. Where will you stay? Where will you work? When you get an education and develop yourself, you can work and take care of yourself and your family, and you can do everything you need yourself.”

Seref Mert Yoleri, Director of Adana Al Farah Child and Family Support Center which run by the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (SGDD-ASAM) partnered with UNICEF, said that Sidra has joined psychosocial events in the center since she came to Turkey, thus the center provides Sidra’s not only social cohesion with locals but also knowledge of a new country's trust. Yoleri, also attention to the importance of education for peace and development, said that Al Farah Child and Family Supports Center supports the enhancement of psychosocial well-being, social cohesion activities, and providing information and knowledge needed in life to asylum seekers and their families.

“We provide referral and counseling via Al Farah Child and Family Support Center in different cities in Turkey to provide education services to out-of-school children and enhance the rate of enrolment. Once a child began his/her education, we also give necessary referrals or counseling to adapt to the school and to refer for benefit from psychological psychological support mechanisms and counseling system. Yoleri also explains that they refer adults to educational training for their participation in employment and organize activities for parents to the importance of education.