Turkish and refugee youth rolled up their sleeves to ensure social cohesion through the “Youth in Harmony Committee” they established in Konya. The shared attribute of the youth who are part of this Committee, whose formation was supported by the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM), is that most of them are studying at the department of social services. Turkish individuals constitute the majority of these youth, whose paths crossed with the European Union-funded ASAM Konya Multi-Service Support Center. The Turkish and refugee youth formed the Youth in Harmony Committee with ASAM’s support to conduct “social cohesion” activities. 

Indicating that she joined this Committee because she could empathize with the refugees, 22-year-old Nurgül Gürbüz, who is a second-year student at the Department of Social Services at Necmettin Erbakan University, says, “We can’t know what people are going through, but I believe that we could think about it and work in that direction. This was my main purpose for joining this Committee. We want to explain to people that we are all human beings and we are not different from one another. Therefore, we aim to raise the awareness of both the refugees and the local community”. 

 Mücahit Ünlü, who graduated from the Social Services department of Atatürk University in 2019, mentions that social cohesion is the most important concept that he heard of last year. Explaining that they plan to work towards ensuring social cohesion, first among the youth and then among children, Ünlü goes on to say, “We want to explain to people the importance of social cohesion. At the moment, some of our friends believe that we could emphasize this issue more effectively through music, and some through theater”. 

Syrian Urya Mamo, who explains that the Committee will work to break down the prejudices against refugees, also studies at the Social Services department at Necmettin Erbakan University. Mamo explains her feelings with the following words: “I’m a social services student, but also a refugee. I’ve come from a difficult background and have made great efforts. I continue/will continue to make such efforts. I also have to continue to sustain my life better. This Committee is a good means for me”. 

On the other hand, Mahmud El Musa, who studies at Karatay University’s Translation and Interpreting department, believes that language is the greatest barrier to cohesion. Drawing attention to how important it is for the refugees to know Turkish so that they could live happily in Turkey, Musa explains, “I’m Syrian, but we not only come together here with Syrians, but also with youth from other nationalities, and this makes me feel good. This way, I don’t feel like I’m a foreigner. We will work together so that more people will feel like I do”. 

Nehir Gök, Programme Officer of ASAM’s Social Cohesion of Refugees Project, conveys, “We are working for social cohesion in the Multi-Service Support Centers established in 13 provinces with the financial support of the European Union. Social cohesion is not a unilateral process. The engagement of Turkish youth is also critical for achieving the project objectives. The youth will organize activities to reinforce social cohesion. ASAM, with its facilitating role, will support these activities”. 

ASAM Konya Multi-Service Support Center Youth Worker Esra Can expresses, “In scope of the Social Cohesion of Refugees Project, we have started coming together through “youth meetings” with youth from different nationalities who attend university, who have had university experience in their country, or those who will be attending a university in Turkey to receive their opinions on social cohesion activities. Most of the youth attending the meeting were students studying in the social services department. They were very determined and excited about the social cohesion activities. The meetings continued on a regular basis, and the youth committee was established approximately 3 months later. We believe that the youth will achieve many things. We are ready to offer our utmost support”.

Turkish and refugee youth rolled up their sleeves to ensure social cohesion through the “Youth in Harmony Committee” they established in Konya. The shared attribute of the youth who are part of this Committee, whose formation was supported by the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM), is that most of them are studying at the department of social services. Turkish individuals constitute the majority of these youth, whose paths crossed with the European Union-funded ASAM Konya Multi-Service Support Center. The Turkish and refugee youth formed the Youth in Harmony Committee with ASAM’s support to conduct “social cohesion” activities. 

Indicating that she joined this Committee because she could empathize with the refugees, 22-year-old Nurgül Gürbüz, who is a second-year student at the Department of Social Services at Necmettin Erbakan University, says, “We can’t know what people are going through, but I believe that we could think about it and work in that direction. This was my main purpose for joining this Committee. We want to explain to people that we are all human beings and we are not different from one another. Therefore, we aim to raise the awareness of both the refugees and the local community”. 

 Mücahit Ünlü, who graduated from the Social Services department of Atatürk University in 2019, mentions that social cohesion is the most important concept that he heard of last year. Explaining that they plan to work towards ensuring social cohesion, first among the youth and then among children, Ünlü goes on to say, “We want to explain to people the importance of social cohesion. At the moment, some of our friends believe that we could emphasize this issue more effectively through music, and some through theater”. 

Syrian Urya Mamo, who explains that the Committee will work to break down the prejudices against refugees, also studies at the Social Services department at Necmettin Erbakan University. Mamo explains her feelings with the following words: “I’m a social services student, but also a refugee. I’ve come from a difficult background and have made great efforts. I continue/will continue to make such efforts. I also have to continue to sustain my life better. This Committee is a good means for me”. 

On the other hand, Mahmud El Musa, who studies at Karatay University’s Translation and Interpreting department, believes that language is the greatest barrier to cohesion. Drawing attention to how important it is for the refugees to know Turkish so that they could live happily in Turkey, Musa explains, “I’m Syrian, but we not only come together here with Syrians, but also with youth from other nationalities, and this makes me feel good. This way, I don’t feel like I’m a foreigner. We will work together so that more people will feel like I do”. 

Nehir Gök, Programme Officer of ASAM’s Social Cohesion of Refugees Project, conveys, “We are working for social cohesion in the Multi-Service Support Centers established in 13 provinces with the financial support of the European Union. Social cohesion is not a unilateral process. The engagement of Turkish youth is also critical for achieving the project objectives. The youth will organize activities to reinforce social cohesion. ASAM, with its facilitating role, will support these activities”. 

ASAM Konya Multi-Service Support Center Youth Worker Esra Can expresses, “In scope of the Social Cohesion of Refugees Project, we have started coming together through “youth meetings” with youth from different nationalities who attend university, who have had university experience in their country, or those who will be attending a university in Turkey to receive their opinions on social cohesion activities. Most of the youth attending the meeting were students studying in the social services department. They were very determined and excited about the social cohesion activities. The meetings continued on a regular basis, and the youth committee was established approximately 3 months later. We believe that the youth will achieve many things. We are ready to offer our utmost support”.