The Affinity Project (Kardeşlik Bağı Projesi) is an education, social support and guidance project for Syrian refugee children. The principal purpose of this project is to establish sisterhood/brotherhood bonds between volunteers and Syrian children who went through traumatic experiences like war, immigration, social exclusion, etc. and to make positive psychological, social and academic progress in children’s lives through the healing effect of this bond. The project will start in October 2021 and will end in June 2022.

As part of the project, several “sisterhood/brotherhood groups” will be created. They will be composed of 3 refugee children of the same age and 2 volunteers. Every group will come together at least 3 hours a week at the central office of our association. The volunteers will give lessons complementary for school to the students according to their individual academic condition. According to the children’s interests and skills, once a month, they will attend an activity with the volunteers (sightseeing, sports, science and art workshops, etc.). Once every two months, common events will be organized for all the children and the volunteers in the project to attend. In the event of worsening conditions of the pandemic, the project could be rearranged so that the complementary lessons are given online and that the collective activities are postponed.

In order to facilitate the volunteers’ academic and non-academic activities with the refugee children and to contribute to the volunteers’ education and development, “Understanding the Refugee Children: Volunteer Training” will be held online on 18-19 September 2021. In addition, supervision and sharing-feedback meetings will be held online once every two weeks.

As an Affinity Project volunteer, you too can share your time, knowledge/experience and positive energy with the children and can establish invaluable and lasting bonds in their life.

Who Can Apply to be Volunteer?

If you are university student or graduate between the ages of 18-30*,
If you enjoy helping children with their lessons and accompanying them in social activities,
If you want to contribute to your own development as well as the children’s with the trainings you will attend,
If you can regularly allocate at least 5 hours every week until June, we are waiting for you.
*The applicants who reside in Istanbul will be given priority.

The volunteers will be determined by interview after their application. The attendance to “Understanding the Refugee Children: Volunteer Training” is mandatory for applicants. The training will be held on 18-19 September 2021 between 09.30-17.00. The volunteer application of those who do not attend the training will not be accepted.

For questions, opinions, feedbacks and suggestions for the project, you can send an e-mail to the address [email protected], or you can also call the central office of our association via the number +90 212 807 07 09.

The Affinity Project is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey within the scope the Youth Projects Support Program (2021-1).