Course: Volunteering with Refugees 

This course aims to help volunteers understand how they can best support the linguistic and social needs of refugees. It would be a good opportunity to  more efficient volunteering for people who need your help.

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/volunteering-with-refugees

İhtiyaç Haritası

It is a Turkish website which connects people who want to support and who need help. It gives an access to a map that shows needs and supports that has been announced.

https://www.ihtiyacharitasi.org/ 

İSTANBUL

 MUDEM- Mülteci Destek Dernegi / RSC- Refugee Support Center

RSC carries out activities at home and abroad designed to address the challenges faced by asylum-seekers, refugees, immigrants, trafficking victims, international protection applicants and stateless persons.

http://mudem.org/en/

Mülteciler ve Sığınmacılar Yardımlaşma ve Dayanışma Derneği (Mülteciler Derneği)/ Refugees and Asylum Seekers Assistance and Solidarity Association (RASAS)

RASAS was established in 2014 to seek solutions to the problems of people who have left their country and are in need of international protection. RASAS is supporting people in need with their staff of different nationalities and work in cooperation with the private sector, NGOs and public institutions and organizations to help solve problems about vital needs and create social inclusion.

https://multeciler.org.tr

Sığınmacılar ve Göçmenlerle Dayanışma Derneği (SGDD)/ The Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM)

The Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (SGDD-ASAM) was established in 1995 in Ankara as an independent, impartial and non-profit association to assist refugees and asylum-seekers living in Turkey. SGDD-ASAM has been providing social and legal support for the refugees and asylum-seekers in reaching their rights and services; psychosocial support and organizing numerous courses and activities for the purposes of integrating them into social life since its establishment and currently continues its activities in more than 60 offices across more than 40 provinces in Turkey.

http://sgdd.org.tr

Yurttaşlık Derneği/ Citizens Assembly

 Citizens’ Assembly (formerly Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly) is a civil society organization working on fundamental rights and freedoms, peace, democracy and pluralism. The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Turkey started its activities in 1990 in parallel with the initiative of the international Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and was established in Istanbul in 1993 as a non-governmental organization, recognized as an internationally operating organization by the Council of Ministers. Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly was renamed as Citizens’ Assembly with the decision of the General Assembly held in 2016.

https://www.hyd.org.tr/tr/

 Mülteciler ve Sığınmacılarla Yardımlaşma Dayanışma ve Destekleme Derneği (MSYD)/Association for Assistance Solidarity and Support with Refugees and Asylum Seekers (ASRA)

 ASRA, is a non-governmental and humanitarian aid organisation which mainly aims at meeting basic needs and improving living conditions of the individuals and communities who are affected by humanitarian crisis, conflicts, human rights violations and natural disasters. ASRA continues its works at national and international level within principles of non-discrimination, transparency, impartiality, and accountability, according to the international standards of humanitarian privacy. ASRA has a role in enhancing living conditions of crisis affected individuals and communities through activities and emergency responses carried out at national and international level.

http://msyd.org

YUVA Derneği/ YUVA Association

People who envisioned a different kind of a world founded YUVA in 2010. Our aim is to foster a life that respects the rights of all living beings and future generations. And for this purpose we take measures for sustainable life styles, poverty reduction and democratization through adult learning and promote participatory teaching methods. YUVA Association carries out its work with an objective of supporting the personal development of adults and youth through non-formal education and lifelong learning, increasing the ecological awareness and contributing to eliminating the poverty. Our aim is to enable a sustainable life for all living beings.

https://www.yuva.org.tr/koruma/

 Mülteci Hakları Merkezi / Refugee Rights Turkey

 Refugee Rights Turkey is an independent NGO based in Istanbul that provides specialized legal counseling and assistance services to refugees and asylum seekers in Turkey; delivers trainings, reference materials and other types of expertise support to lawyers and legal practitioners on refugee law and Turkish asylum procedures; advocates for improvements in Turkey’s asylum legislation and policies in line with international standards; and engages local communities and public opinion to encourage solidarity and positive attitudes towards persons escaping war and persecution and seeking legal protection and long term integration in Turkey.

 https://www.mhd.org.tr/tr/

Small Projects Istanbul

Small Projects Istanbul operates a community center which brings together displaced Syrian families living in the Capa neighborhood of Istanbul. Through enrichment, integration, and Women’s Skills Development programs, SPI is a space in which key tools are transferred to families, allowing them to integrate and develop a sense of belonging as they rebuild their lives in Istanbul and beyond.

https://www.smallprojectsistanbul.org

Habitat Dernegi/ Habitat Association

Habitat Association (Habitat) is a non-governmental organization that works in the field of sustainable development. Habitat was founded in 1997 by activists who came together for the Copenhagen Social Development Summit and the United Nations Habitat II Summit in 1995, aiming youth to play an active role in sustainable development. With the organisational vision of building communication bridges between worlds’s and Turkey’s youth, Habitat has developed multiple projects and programs in order to improve the capacities of young people and establish international partnerships. Habitat, which believes in the effectiveness of societies that act with organized and voluntary awareness, pioneered the establishment of the City Council, Youth, Women, Disabled and Children’s Assemblies and the National Youth Parliament. Also supported the formation of many mechanisms such as “TOBB Boards of Young and Female Entrepreneurs”.

http://habitatdernegi.org

 

  Hayata Destek Dernegi/ Support to Life Association

Support to Life is an independent humanitarian organization founded with the principle aim of helping disaster affected communities meet their basic needs and rights. We are conducting our activities since 2005 with principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence and accountability. Currently, our primary areas of work are Emergency Assistance, Refugee Support, Child Protection in Seasonal Agriculture and Capacity Building.

http://www.hayatadestek.org

 

MARDİN

 Her Yerde Sanat Derneği/ Art Anywhere Association

Art Anywhere Association was founded in 2012, firstly initiated a one-time festival in Mardin. Sirkhane Social Circus and Art School within the Association provides a life space which brings together Turkish and refugee children where the only common language is art. Trainers of Sirkhane use social circus as a pedagogical tool. With the trainings they provide, they help children with less opportunities to overcome negative effects of war and to develop their imagination.

https://heryerdesanat.org

 

MERSİN

Birlikte Hayat Dernegi

Birlikte Hayat Association’s aim is strengthening intercultural networks and ties to open the door to equal opportunity and coexistence and to support socio-economic and cultural integration of disadvantaged groups.

http://www.birhay.org

 

GREECE

Volunteers Needed

It is a Greece-based volunteering website which provides volunteer starter kit, experiences of volunteers, useful facts and links and volunteering opportunities in many countries, especially from Greece.

https://www.greecevol.info/task.list.php

Lifting Hands International

Lifting Hands International is a humanitarian non-profit movement dedicated to providing clear and meaningful ways for refugees both home and abroad.

https://www.liftinghandsinternational.org

 Project Elea

Project Elea is a group of volunteers from around the world who have come together to work collaboratively with the residents of Eleonas Refugee Camp in Athens to improve living standards and community well-being. Approved by the Greek Ministry of Migration and working independently within the camp, the project is a long-term one. In addition to providing basic services such as food & clothing distribution enormous emphasis goes into creative engagement through a varied schedule of activities (10-12 per day) focusing on education, sports, culture, environment and skill-sharing for both children and adults. The objective is to make the endless time residents spent at the camp more pleasant, positive and productive. Our vision is to help create an environment of peace, stability, with a strong sense of community and pride as well as to empower the refugees to stand on their feet so that they can begin rebuilding their lives and their families on solid foundations, with hope and inspiration for the future.

https://projectelea.org