TUR STL Facilitating the PRotection and Resilience of Syrian Refugees in Istanbul

The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey has risen to 3.1 million today (end-2015: 1.6 million). A large majority of the refugees live in urban areas across Turkey, with Istanbul hosting the highest number of them (0.5 million).

The temporary protection status of refugees in Turkey makes them vulnerable to inconsistent and changing administrative practices in giving them access to health, education and the labour market. As the country faces a political and economic crisis they find themselves caught in a polarized society. Relations with the host community are fragile and at times tense. Refugee women, children and youth are particularly exposed to discrimination, exploitation and abuse.

STL's Community Center (CC) in Küçükçekemece, a large, multi-ethnic industrial district in Istanbul, was established in 2015 to provide protection and social services to refugees, foster social cohesion between refugees and host community and act as a referral bridge to state services.

SDC has provided partial funding to the center from the outset. Project Phase III will bring in a new co-donor and project partner, the INGO Save the Children. This will strenghten the center's focus on the vulnerabilities of children an the youth, andn o livelihood support to families. 

Resultados previstos:  

1. Children and youth (age 5-17) benefit from child-friendly psychosocial support and learning activities.
2. Syrian refugee children and families have improved access to basic social services.
3. Vulnerable youth from refugee and host communities have improved livelihood opportunities. 

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

• The CC served a total of 2'222 unique beneficiaries, contributing to their empowerment and well-being through psycho-social and legal support, non-fromal training courses and awareness-raising activites during both phases (December 2015 - May 2017).
• An in-depth needs assessment was conducted and the report was shared with stakeholders. Two networking events were held with humanitarian actors in Istanbul, to coordinate with them on addressing the needs and gaps.
• The focus of the CC has shifted to refugee children and youth as well as their parents, in line with the findings of the Vulnerability Assessment by STL and the lessons learned form the previous phases. 

Fase 3 01.10.2017 - 30.11.2019   (Completed)