Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM) Al Farah Izmir Child and Family Support Center, ASAM Izmir Multi-Service Support Center, and Manisa Yunus Emre Hafsa Sultan Primary School organized an activity for the social cohesion of asylum seeker and refugee children.
16 Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan and Syrian asylum seeker and refugee students of Hafta Sultan Primary School had breakfast together with 16 Turkish students who directly help them out. After breakfast, they played outdoor games like Hamster, Centipede, Giant Jenga, and Twister. The children also took part in face painting and balloon folding activities.
ASAM Al Farah Izmir Child and Family Support Center manager Dilara Çakır pointed out that their objective is for Turkish and foreign children to get to know each other better by spending time together in scope of social cohesion. Çakır stated, “Children are learning to support each other and have good communication and collaboration when playing team games. As ASAM Al Farah Izmir Child and Family Support Center, we are making special efforts to ensure social cohesion among asylum seeker and refugee children”.
Izmir Multi-Service Support Center Peacebuilding Officer Pelin Doğan explained that they are organizing Turkish language courses for the refugees at Izmir Multi-Service Support Center, and are planning activities for the social cohesion of Turkish and Syrian persons. Pelin Doğan indicated, “We also held a meeting in Manisa, where Turkish and foreign students were together, and inclusion and solidarity was increased. Children from different cultures teach each other many different things; they teach their language and cultural dishes. This “cultural fusion” is exactly what we support”.
One of the most interesting aspects of the children, who participated in the activity, was the “true friends” exercise conducted at school. According to this exercise, asylum seeker or refugee children are paired with a Turkish child. The Turkish children help out their “true friend” asylum seeker and refugees when necessary. Syrian Rashit Ahmed and Enes Yıldırım, born in Ağrı, is the best example of this. 10-year-old Enes Yıldırım explained that they like to play football and hold matches together. Yıldırım conveyed, “Raşit’s dad taught me how to draw since he’s an artist. I’m helping him to learn Turkish”. Whereas, 13-year-old Rashit Ahmed stated, “I became friends with Enes in 2’nd grade after I came from Syria. We love playing football and holding matches. I learned Turkish from Enes”.
