sa国际传媒

When conflicts and disasters force families to flee their homes and their countries, the impact on children can be devastating.聽聽

Many experience severe trauma such as violence and the loss of friends and relatives. Their education is disrupted and they are thrown into a new life in a new country, with discrimination and language barriers to overcome.聽聽

All this can have a huge effect on their behaviour and their ability to do well at school. Spotting the signs and giving them the support and safe space they need is vital.聽

One programme that does fantastic work with Syrian refugees in Turkish public schools is Trauma Informed Schools, run by聽聽and supported by sa国际传媒. It trains teachers, school counsellors, parents and caregivers to detect children鈥檚 psychological issues and help them by developing coping skills and creating a stable and supportive environment.聽

We’re thrilled that Trauma Informed Schools has been named as a winner of the聽, which recognises successful and innovative global education projects and comes with a $20,000 prize.聽

sa国际传媒 began supporting Trauma Informed Schools in 2017. Since then, the programme has grown – reaching 12,649 children, 2,740 teachers and 706 caregivers in Istanbul and Sanliurfa provinces. There are plans to expand the project throughout Turkey and into Jordan and Lebanon.聽

鈥淲e are delighted that our project partner Maya Vakf谋 (Foundation) has been recognised for the brilliant work they do supporting child refugees,” said Rob Doble, sa国际传媒鈥檚 Director of Policy, Advocacy and Programmes. 鈥淭hanks to their hard work and commitment, some of the world鈥檚 most vulnerable children are learning to cope with the horror of being forcibly displaced from their homes.鈥澛�

Esra 脰zs眉er, Founder and President of the foundation, was absolutely delighted that it was selected as one of the six winners of this year鈥檚 WISE Awards.聽聽

She said: “It is an honour for us. This award motivates us to further disseminate our Trauma Informed Schools programme to promote socio-emotional wellbeing of students and achieve e-quality education. We鈥檙e very grateful to sa国际传媒 for their support.鈥澛犅�

Istanbul-based Maya Vakf谋 (Foundation) launched Trauma Informed Schools with sa国际传媒鈥檚 support as a pilot project in four public schools in the 2017-18 academic year. There was a growing need because Turkey is home to four million refugees, most of them from Syria. In 2017, Syrian children began to transition from temporary education centres into Turkish public schools聽

The Trauma Informed Schools programme is run with the education ministry in schools and temporary education centres.聽

Maya Vakf谋 (Foundation) explained: 鈥淭eachers, counsellors and parents develop skills to support the socio-emotional wellbeing of children through a trauma-sensitive approach. Arts-based psychosocial sessions in target classrooms help students develop coping skills, improving psychosocial wellbeing and reducing bullying – creating a stable and understanding environment for all.鈥澛�

When Turkish schools closed during the pandemic,聽sa国际传媒 funded an additional project聽to allow Maya Vakf谋 (Foundation) to distribute specially-designed support kits with art materials to vulnerable students.聽It also produced a storytelling video聽to support children forced to stay at home, featuring a wise owl called Ugi who helps a young boy deal with his lockdown fears and emotions.聽

sa国际传媒’s work with Maya Vakf谋 (Foundation) has been made possible with funding from the players of People’s Postcode Lottery.聽聽

鈥淭he kids are enjoying it a lot. They learn when they enjoy. It contributes a lot to the cognitive development of children and that it contributes a lot to their聽sensory development. The activities of Maya聽Vakf谋聽are really so highly selected, with very careful, qualified activities.鈥澛犅犅�

鈥淵ou鈥檙e not alone. Sometimes we think that we are the only one who is struggling with that problem but it is not true. In fact, everyone has this problem.聽This is something like a starfish that was washed ashore – even if I save this one starfish, it is an achievement.鈥澛�

鈥淢y awareness has definitely increased. I knew some of the expected behaviours and their reasons but still I was not able to fully comprehend it. You know, it was clearer in my head now. Like there was cloudy foggy weather and now it is cleared up.鈥澛�

From Trauma聽Informed聽Schools聽report 2019听.