Back to School Programme | Imece Inisiyatifi

Back to School Program

Without education the future is uncertain

Millions of children worldwide either have their education severely disrupted or don’t receive one at all. Access to this basic human right has the ability to change a child’s entire life.

Surviving not thriving

The vulnerable groups we work with have been in crisis mode for years, focused only on getting through another day. The youngest of these groups have never known anything but this struggle for survival. Research shows that when a person's basic needs are not met, their ability to grow and learn is severely impaired. In close cooperation with the people in the camps, we have developed an educational programme, the "Back to School" programme. This takes into account that the children have never had contact with formal education and that their families often do not have the time, resources or education themselves to support the children.

Imece Inisiyatifi

Starting with the basics

When we start the mobile education activities in the camps, the initial focus is on teaching the children basic skills about hygiene, language and communication. For example, we organise activities such as brushing teeth and washing hands, as well as lessons in Turkish. Psychosocial components, such as dealing with anger and aggression, are practised in games.

Imece Inisiyatifi

Back to school

As a provision of Turkey’s Temporary Protection Regulation refugee children are legally entitled to enter state education but many factors act as barriers to this becoming a reality. The first being the need for a basic level of Turkish comprehension. In order to enter formal schooling and also participate in everyday life, being able to communicate is paramount. The Back to School Programme provides lessons in reading, writing and basic maths and science. Further to the lessons themselves the children learn to sit and focus for extended periods and unfamiliar school appropriate etiquette like taking instruction from a teacher and allowing others a turn to speak.

Imece Inisiyatifi
Imece Bus / İmece Otobüsü
Mobile Education Program - Songs in Torbali

Mobile Education Program - Songs in Torbali

Mobile Education Program - 2017

Mobile Education Program - 2017

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Who is funding this project


This project is fully financed by small private donors who are regularly supporting imece’s activities. Without you nothing would be possible, a huge thank you!