The IGAM Refugee Consultation and Support Hub, which's operations were facilitated by the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Operations (ECHO)'s World Vision International through the World Vision International program from the 1st of April 2018 through the 31st of August 2021; From September 1, 2021 onwards, the German International Cooperation Institution (GIZ) Gmbh and the United Nations High Commision on Refugees (UNHCR) will all help support the operations at the Kecioren Refugee Consultation and Support Hub.
In this office, we have a lawyer, a psychosocial support officer, and caseworkers, all of who work together and provide their services to Syrian, Afghan, Iraqi, Somali, and many other nationalities of refugees, asylum seekers, and foreigners.
We provide services in a multitude of ways, including but not limited to helping with school registration, processes for obtaining an ID, how to access certain social benefits, the legal rights and responsibilities given to all foreigners and refugees, psychological help for post-traumatic stress disorders, informing refugee women of societal gender violence and how it impacts children's development.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic which shook the whole world, we, unfortunately, had to temporarily shut down our office from Mart 2020 until May 2020. In that lockdown period, we continued to conduct our operations and provide our services via phone lines and online means through teleconferencing and social media. In June 2020, we were able to reopen our office and once more and it has been open since then. Even though the office reopened, we continue to provide support through the phone or via teleconferencing and social media communication channels.
Since August 2019, nearly 8.000 people have benefited from the services we provide.
Below are some photos which can be used as a visual example of the services we provide. (anonymity has been maintained in captioning the photos in order to protect the photographed individuals' identities. The names utilized are not their real names.)
A Syrian beneficiary Ayse has come to IGAM's Refugee Consultation and Support Hub. She has some questions about the beaureacratic process required for her to get an ID. This matter is extremely significant for her, as the cancellation of her previous ID card has meant that she can not access any sort of healthcare services. After referring to our legal worker, Ayse has been given directions on what to do and where to go in order to solve her problem.
Our Protection Worker at the IGAM Refugee Consultation and Support Hub conducts a pyschosocial support activity in a small group and in correspondance with local covid-19 guidelines. In this activity, these little kids had an oppurtunity to have fun and color as they wish. The artistic aspect of the coloring also allowed the children to express their emotions through art.
At the IGAM Refugee Consultation and Support hub, we still celebrate the important cultural holidays of refugees cultures, in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines. On the 8th of March, 2020, we conducted an informative event in commamoration of women's day with Afghan, Syrian, and Iraqi refugee women in attendance. The event informed the refugee women about their legal rights, and how to navigate any potential gender-based violence they may face.
To commamorate National Sovereignty and Children's Day on the 23rd of April, IGAM organized outdoors activities for children. The participating kids watched cartoons and later had fun at the park.
Every single one of our beneficiaries speaks to an Accountability Worker after recieving any services at our Refugee Consultation and Support Hub. This Accountability Worker speaks to the beneficiary in their native language and gives the beneficiary a chance to point out any improper conduct they may have faced from our other workers. It is also an oppurtunity for us to recieve feedback and improve the quality of our services.
After the beneficiary has recieved all of the requested services, they are also offered a brochure in either Turkish, Arabic, or Farsi. In this instance, this beneficiary who goes by Muhammad says that he will certainly inform and reccomend his circle the services provided by IGAM's Refugee Consultation and Support Office.
You can follow the official Facebook account of our Refugee Consultation and Support Office here:
https://www.facebook.com/igam.mbdn
