Photo © RET International

Article by Ali Selim Kara, Communications Officer for LEAP

As part of RET’s localization strategy, RET and LEAP have worked together on a number of projects in Türkiye – and now Syria – with LEAP acting as a local implementing partner.

ALEPPO, SYRIA – RET International Türkiye, together with its local implementation partner LEAP Türkiye, has launched the “Community-Based Protection and Empowerment for Women and Youth” Project in the provinces of Mardin and Kilis in Türkiye and in the city of Aleppo, Syria. Running from January to December 2026, the project aims to build lasting, community-based support networks in both countries through awareness-raising, training, and psychosocial support activities for women and youth. One of the first activities under the project’s Syria component, a Life Skills Training session, was held with young participants at RET’s Community Center in Aleppo on 25 June 2026.

A Shared Goal in Two Countries: Protected and Empowered Communities

The project seeks to build communities where vulnerable women and youth are stronger, better informed, and safer. It pursues two core objectives: strengthening the rights, safety, and resilience of Syrian and Turkish women in Türkiye, and supporting youth in Syria to actively participate in community recovery through psychosocial support, protection awareness, and life skills. In Mardin and Kilis, the project delivers awareness sessions, community dialogues, and “Community Mothers” training for women from refugee and host communities, alongside workshops for youth on protection, social cohesion, and resilience. In Aleppo, activities for youth and adolescents — covering protection, community safety, and life skills — are carried out in partnership with a local civil society organization. One of the project’s most distinctive features is the uninterrupted support bridge it builds from Türkiye to Syria through its work with Syrian families in the voluntary return process.

Photos © RET International

Life Skills Training in Aleppo: Young People Discover Their Strengths

In line with these objectives, the Life Skills Training delivered by the Youth Worker at the RET Center in Aleppo aimed to strengthen participants’ communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and emotional management skills. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, participants were encouraged to build self-confidence and recognize their own strengths. The session unfolded in a highly engaging atmosphere, marked by active participation and meaningful discussions. By the end of the training, participants expressed greater confidence and motivation to apply these skills in their daily lives. Trainings of this kind support young people in Aleppo — a city still rebuilding after years of conflict — in becoming active drivers of community recovery.

Türkiye is home to more than 3 million refugees, more than any other country in the world. In Syria, voluntary returns began after the end of the prolonged conflict in late 2024, yet access to basic services has not been fully restored in many cities, including Aleppo. In these conditions, women and youth are both among the groups facing the greatest challenges and the most powerful drivers of community recovery. Together with its local implementation partners, RET continues to strengthen community resilience in Türkiye and Syria through this project. Project activities will continue in both countries throughout the year.

The “Community-Based Protection and Empowerment for Women and Youth” project is implemented by RET International and LEAP Türkiye from January to December 2026, across Mardin and Kilis in Türkiye and Aleppo in Syria.

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