We Support Women and Children No Matter the Circumstances!

We Support Women and Children No Matter the Circumstances!

Since 2019, we have been working with women and children in repatriation centers. Let’s take a look at the details of our work together.

Women and children face many challenges in repatriation centers. Prolonged uncertainty, stressful waiting, limited space and traumatic past experiences can negatively affect their mental health. Children are deprived of education and cannot play. Women have to carry their own emotional burdens and meet the needs of their children. This situation can put even more strain on them. The lack of private spaces for women is also a source of stress.

We started our work in Selimpaşa Repatriation Center and we continue our work in Arnavutköy Repatriation Center in 2024. Our work is accompanied by social workers, psychologists and interpreters. We support women and children to have fun, find morale and feel better about themselves.

As of August 2024, we started organizing a “children’s festival” at Arnavutköy Repatriation Center.

 During the festival, they have fun with face painting, making shapes with play dough, ball games and music. Through games, we help them get away from the stress they experience for a while and strengthen their communication with their peers.

We also organize various entertaining and informative activities with women from different countries. The women tell anecdotes and fun memories from their cultures and spend a pleasant time together. They also have the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with each other. These activities help women cope with stress, stand in solidarity and feel stronger.

The feedback we receive during our visits is very valuable for us.

Both children and women say that the activities we organize are good for them. They express that they want these activities to continue. Women state that they feel relieved and uplifted especially when they see the happiness of their children.

Infectious Diseases Informative Training

In addition to our work with women and children, we provided information trainings for the staff of the repatriation centers. They were given detailed information about infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis and scabies. The main purpose of these trainings is to support the staff working in repatriation centers to provide services in line with the needs of women and children and to be informed about possible health risks.

Participants listened to the training with interest, asked questions and expressed their satisfaction with the information provided.

What Do Repatriation Centers Do?

These are temporary detention centers for foreign nationals who have entered Turkey illegally, do not have a residence permit or have committed visa violations. In these centers, basic needs are met and legal support is provided throughout the deportation process. Managed by the Migration Management Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, the centers provide foreigners with free health services and access to lawyers and legal representatives. Special accommodation and education opportunities are provided for families and children, with arrangements that take into account the best interests of children.

• The Women’s Counseling Center and Mentoring Project is supported by the “Development of Community Based Social Services for Refugees and Host Communities (CLIP 2)” implemented by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ).