Photo by LEAP

Article by Ali Selim Kara, Communications Officer for LEAP

ÇORUM, TÜRKIYE – In Çorum, our local partner LEAP in Türkiye in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been actively fostering social cohesion, non-formal education, and protection interventions through a community-based approach. The “Increasing Resilience of Refugees and Vulnerable Host Community Members and Fostering Peaceful Co-Existence in Çorum” project is co-funded by the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Operations Department (ECHO) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Photos by LEAP.

As part of the project, LEAP has been providing Turkish language courses tailored to the diverse needs of refugees living in Çorum from various nationalities. These courses not only serve as a platform for language acquisition but also as a tool for social interaction and integration. 

“This course has not only improved my Turkish but has also empowered me with knowledge about different job sectors.”

One innovative aspect of these language courses was recently showcased in a themed session focused on professions and job opportunities. Each participant was tasked with selecting a profession, conducting research on it, and subsequently describing it in Turkish. This experience not only sharpened their language skills but also supported the improvement in their research and public speaking abilities. 

The session saw enthusiastic participation from refugees eager to enhance their language proficiency and broaden their understanding of the Turkish job market. Participants delved into various professions such as teacher, cook, painter, driver, police officer, pharmacist, or football player, to name a few. 

A Syrian participant expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to engage in such practical language learning. “This course has not only improved my Turkish but has also empowered me with knowledge about different job sectors,” he remarked. “I feel more confident about my prospects in the Turkish labor market.” 

Photos by LEAP.

Moreover, the interactive nature of the session fostered a sense of friendship among participants, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. According to project coordinator Ezgi, initiatives like these are essential in promoting peaceful coexistence and empowering refugees to navigate their new environment successfully. “Language is not just a means of communication; it is a gateway to opportunities,” she emphasized. “By equipping refugees with language skills tailored to their needs, we empower them to access employment and essential services.” 

This article has been prepared in the scope of the “Community-based Local Initiatives Project (CLIP 2)”, co-funded by the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Its content covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the commissioning parties.

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