AÇEV’s Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

AÇEV conducts research, runs awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns, develops science-based early childhood development (ECD), parenting, and other adult education programs.

AÇEV’s mission is to make a lasting contribution to society by improving the quality of individuals’ lives through education.

Syrian Refugee Crisis in Turkey

Our aim is to formulate integration policies for the education

and livelihood of Syrian refugee children

Language adaptation challanges for non-Turkish speaking Syrian

children

Since the conflict in Syria is likely to continue for several more years,

learn Turkish to better integrate into Turkish society.

3,106,932 Syrian refugees in Turkey

0-4 age group with no access to ECE services 425,650

Project Goals

• Aim to reach 5-6 years old children who are not benefiting from a form of ECD service

• Provide Syrian refugee

children an accelerated preschool program and hence an opportunity to be prepared to enter first grade of a Turkish.

INTENSIVE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SYRIAN CHILDREN

GAP

MULTIPLE PARTNERSHIPS REACHING ACROSS TURKEY

MoNe Istanbul Directorate, Esenler District

MoNE, Plan International and Siemens

AÇEV trained both Turkish and Syrian teachers

At the completion of the program, all program-related classroom equipment transferred to MoNE’s public schools, providing newly-furnished preschool classrooms to the area Showcases a successful ECD model to scale up the program to broader contexts in other regions of Turkey and the Middle East

Compliant with INEE standards

1 Turkish, 1 Syrian

teacher in each

classroom

2016 summer

AÇEV- UNICEF -- South-Eastern Administration PARTNERSHIP

ACEV & UNICEF partnered with the South

Eastern Regional Administration for :

an early childhood education response

in systems strengthening, increased

access, and improved quality of

inclusive education for Syrian children

Preschool program was implemented in

20 Community Centers, 300 children

during the 2016 summer

Project scaled up during the 2017

summer:

- 10 provinces

- 140 classrooms

- Turkish-Arabic bi-lingual trainers

- 2100 children

Project Impact Short Term

Children get a chance to start 1st grade as ready as their economically more

advantageous peers

Children will be better acquainted with Turkish so

they do not suffer academically and

psychologically in first grade

Refurbishment for four preschool classes in the

district

Long Term

Fill the gap between the high supply of and high need for

ECE services for Syrian refugee children

Children who attend the program will be more likely to

enroll in and remain in primary school

Local capacity building of young Turkish and Syrian teachers

working together in the project

Showcase quality preschool classrooms for future ECE

implementations in the area

Impact on Children:

• Enhanced pre-numeracy,

pre-literacy, linguistic skills

and self care skills Improved

self-confidence and social

skills with peers and adults.

• Enrollment into first grade in

the fall and continuation to

primary school—as they will

have fewer problems with

understanding the language

of instruction.

Capacity Building:

• Increased supply of

furbished preschool

classes.

• Generates employment and

develop capacity in the

locally hired project team.

• Trained preschool teachers,

supervisors, and

school/center coordinators,

hence developing capacity

in the area for delivering

preschool training in the

future.

Next

Steps

Raising mothers’ awareness, knowledge, and skills on early childhood development

Positively affecting their child-rearing attitudes through involving them in a parenting program, where mothers meet weekly and discuss child development topics with a trained program facilitator

Providing custom-tailored trainings leveraging AÇEV’s scientifically-proven education programs and training staff to implement them in community centers serving Syrian refugees

Scaling the Preschool Program & Training Parents

A FAIR START

ONE MORE CHILD