More than 3.6 Million Syrian Refugees in Turkey; Livelihood Support is Vital

Turkey hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world–topping 3.6 million. While many had come to Turkey, expecting to return to Syrian within weeks, the reality is that, 11 years later, they haven’t been able to return home. 

Many of these refugee families are also orphan families, whose children have lost their father or both of their parents. Enduring so many hardships already, these families are often hurled into poverty without a way out–instead of going to school or having a safe home, many children and mothers have had to resort to begging in the streets for paltry change or help, in the hopes of getting something to eat. 

The Power of You

The All-Powerful, Allah (SWT), has put power and opportunity in your hands and in your heart to give charity through IRUSA, and to support efforts for our sisters and brothers in need. Here are just some of the ways your donations through IRUSA can be powerful for this project:

$25 can help deliver food aid and clothes

$250 can support entrepreneurial training for widowed mothers

$1,700 can support the entire suite of aid for a family

So, will you use your God-given power to help those in need? Say “YES!,” and click DONATE NOW or BECOME A FUNDRAISER to get started. You can either donate directly to this effort, or start a fundraising page to harness the power of your community to raise more awareness and support for this program.

To help Syrian refugee orphan families gain access to resources and livelihood opportunities, IRUSA, through the support of humanitarians like you, is implementing a powerful program that will support some 354 families. 

The ultimate goal of this project is to reduce the suffering and increase and maintain the human dignity and resilience of Syrian orphan refugee girls and boys and their mothers/caregivers in Turkey. You can give them the opportunity to break through the chains of poverty and hopelessness and reach success. 

Here are just some of the interventions we are working on:

• Providing orphan families shelter support, including monthly rental and utilities payments

• Delivering food, hygiene kits, and clothing to those living in an orphanage, and providing vouchers so that caregivers can go shopping for necessities in a dignified manner

• Providing tablets to gain access to online resources, and stationery and utensils for note-taking needs

• Making education and educational resources available to children, and following up on their attendance

• Setting up enrollment for Turkish language lessons

• Providing health support for those with chronic conditions

• Opening up economic opportunities for women, including through entrepreneurial training in categories like computer skills, craftsmanship, and hairstyling; technical support; counseling; and more.

• Conducting focus groups to ensure the people served are being supported effectively and efficiently

When you make the decision to fundraise for the effort, you harness humanitarian power to make a real IMPACT, and that is priceless! By fundraising, you make it possible to meet the needs of more families who are waiting for us to lend a helping hand.

And if you're reading this message, it's because you know you want to go farther and do more. 

So, let’s get to it! Just scroll to the top of the page and click "Become a Fundraiser" to set up your page. Follow the prompts to complete your page.

When you’re trying to decide on a fundraising goal, just remember: Every donation counts! Every single donation that comes through your effort, whether small or large, means another person will be served in greater ways. So aim high, and keep pushing. 
Once your page is set, you can start promoting it to your friends and family, using emails, social media, text messaging, Whatsapp … whatever way you prefer to communicate. 

If you have any questions, email IRUSA Engagement Specialist Salman Zaman at szaman@irusa.org for support. 

Most of all, remember to harness the power of you to see this through. 

May Allah (swt) reward all of your efforts - AMEEN!