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.)