Support TIAFI's community center

Since the inception of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, Turkey has been instrumental in providing sanctuary to the nearly six million refugees crossing international borders for asylum. Today, Turkey is home to nearly four million registered Syrian refugees, roughly 147,000 of whom reside in Izmir. TIAFI is a non-profit organization based in Izmir that runs a large community center in the multicultural and underserved Tepecik neighborhood.

TIAFI's center is an inclusive and supportive safe haven that is open every weekday. The center provides a range of services including: individual support at our drop-in ‘TIAFI Info Point’ support desk, free warm lunches, exercise programs for children with disabilities, and various skill-development activities for women and children. TIAFI's mission is to increase the empowerment, self-sufficiency, and integration of vulnerable Syrian and Turkish families in Izmir, Turkey.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Syrian refugee population in Turkey, and in many cases has exacerbated the barriers and difficulties that these already vulnerable groups face. At TIAFI we have seen a sharp rise in beneficiaries reporting unemployment and loss of income, seeking support in accessing state benefits and support, and a rise in urgent requests for food packs and rental assistance. With the global economy in downturn, and the spread of the virus making additional lockdowns in Turkey likely, we expect that this situation will worsen, or remain in crisis.

Today, TIAFI’s services are more critical than ever before. Right now we are directly feeding 200 community members through our lunch program, supporting childrens’ online learning through our ABC program, and providing a safe haven for all.