Meryem’s Journey Back to Education
Meryem’s Journey Back to Education
With the support of the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Operations, UNHCR and its partners in Türkiye are facilitating access to education and protection for refugee children under international and temporary protection. A mentoring program run by UNHCR’s partner, the Refugees Association (RASAS/MSYDD), plays a key role in helping young people cope with the challenges they face and, in some cases, return to school.
Meryem* (13) is a Syrian student living in Istanbul with her family. She came to Türkiye when she was only three years old and loves music, art, and Turkish lessons. Her mother hopes that she will become a pharmacist one day. However, due to challenges in her personal circumstances, Meryem had to drop out of school for a while. In this critical moment, she was introduced to the mentoring programme run by the Refugees Association and met with one of the mentors, Bashair. This encounter became a turning point in Meryem’s path back to school.
Bashair is a psychology graduate who works as a therapist and takes part in volunteer projects aimed at understanding human behaviour and increasing psychological awareness. Having come to Istanbul from Yemen in 2019 for her studies, she soon became actively involved in the activities of the Refugees Association.
Meryem meets Bashair every two weeks. At first, they talked about the importance of education and Meryem’s dreams for the future. “I realised that I needed to go back to school to reach my dreams. I understood that, in order to get the job I want and to be successful in that profession, I have to complete my education,” says Meryem.
After she returned to school, Bashair continued to support her in her school and social life. Meryem’s biggest challenges are English and mathematics. Together, they discuss the problems Meryem encounters and explore ways to solve them.
Bashair also underlines how important Meryem’s mother’s support is. “Meryem’s biggest supporter in continuing her education was her mother. We held regular meetings throughout this process. Meryem realised that she could fulfil her potential through education,” she explains.
Meryem’s mother also stresses how vital this kind of support is for children:
“Education is very, very important for children. But children also need support in this regard. Because we lacked sufficient support, Meryem had to leave school. However, during the time she was out of school, she came here, and with the support she received, she went back to school.”
With the contribution from the European Union and other generous donors, UNHCR Türkiye and its partners organise these mentoring sessions as part of the broader child protection program that aims to empower parents, children, and caregivers and to create a protective environment for all children at risk.
UNHCR and its partners also organise community-based child protection activities on issues such as peer bullying and personal boundaries, as well as regular and structured activities for children, including art and sports activities.
UNHCR and its partners identify children at risk, carry out assessments, refer them to public protection services, or provide targeted protection services directly to children at risk and their caregivers. Thanks to these activities, young people like Meryem find the strength to continue their education and pursue their dreams. So far this year, more than 22,000 children at risk and caregivers received child protection services from UNHCR and its partners.
*Name changed for protection reasons