In southern Turkey, Olive Branch gives refugee families a new future
Apr 04 2024
6 minutes
More than 3,6 million refugees are living along the Turkish-Syrian border, the largest number in the world. After the earthquake of February 2023, the already enormous challenges have piled up even further. 11.11.11-partner Olive Branch has been providing humanitarian aid since the Syrian civil war in 2012 and lost 11 workers in the earthquake. The organization sees the need for a long-term solution growing. Nart Izhak, Project Manager at Olive Branch, who left a career in real estate to do humanitarian work, shares how microgranting can provide a light at the end of the tunnel.
How did Olive Branch respond after the earthquake?
'We have been providing humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees for 12 years, focusing primarily on education. But after the earthquake, the population was particularly in need of emergency aid, including in southern Turkey. People had to leave their homes in a hurry and seek shelter outside in the cold of February.'
'Olive Branch focused on basic needs such as ready-made meals, shelter, winter clothing, and hygiene products. Even though people had money, there was no soap or food to buy. The fact that we were already active in the affected areas was very useful. We already had a network and could respond quickly by importing relief supplies from non-affected areas.'
A bereaved family from Syria testifies:
"The earthquake was devastating. We lost loved ones and all our belongings in a matter of seconds. The psychological impact was enormous, but we had to get back up."
What is the situation in the area now?
'Believe me, if you go there you will become desperate. In Syria, the authorities make it impossible to provide good shelter and many people in the region are still living in tent camps. There are no good sanitary facilities and children can hardly go to school. People often have no money to go to the doctor and sell their belongings to be able to eat. Child labor is also a growing problem.'
'The situation in southern Turkey is also still difficult. The government promises to provide more aid, but there are serious doubts about this. People have to compete with each other for the available resources, because there is not enough for everyone. So many people together on a small piece of land inevitably leads to tensions. Some Syrians are discriminated against, even if this is not always intentional. So in addition to helping the Syrians, we are also working more broadly to stimulate a peaceful coexistence with the Turkish people. The empowerment of young people and women is crucial in this.'
How do you tackle problems of this magnitude?
'As we provided emergency aid, we came into closer contact with the affected people. Factories and businesses collapsed, and hundreds of thousands or even millions of people lost their jobs, and with them their incomes. Many people who had fled to intact areas in southern Turkey began to settle there permanently. In some towns, the number of inhabitants tripled overnight.'
'You can imagine how much pressure this puts on infrastructure and employment. That's why it's very important to work on development and recovery. You can't keep giving emergency aid forever. People have to become independent again and earn their own income. Then they can rent a house, buy food for their family and stand on their own two feet again.'
How do you ensure that people earn their own income again?
'It is important to realize that many people are traumatized. They are still suffering severely from the mental consequences of the war in Syria, the earthquake or often both. First you have to get people mentally fit again. Olive Branch offers psychosocial help for that. Only when the past is given a place, can we look to the future.'
'In order to generate our own income, we sponsor local businesses through micro-grants. People first receive training in management, law, administration and are guided in writing a good business plan. The projects they propose must respond to the needs of people and take into account the available resources in the area. They often know these better than we do. Olive Branch then selects the promising proposals for funding.'
A family testifies:
“We thank fate for giving us this fair the opportunity to emerge from this crisis and its consequences.”
Who is eligible for a grant?
'We give the grants to groups of 3 families who have lost their homes. This stimulates cooperation, they can learn from each other and there is a great sense of responsibility. For example, we link a farmer to a trader and a seller so that the families can form a business together. So they complement each other. The families get a coach who has knowledge of the sector they choose, so that we can continue to monitor the businesses daily and see the progress.'
A family about the fair:
'Although the purse was small, it was enough to buy livestock, equipment and clothing. Now we have enough income for our three families.'
'We would like to expand the project to other regions, but that is not easy. Before people can work, they have to be registered and receive social security. The slowness with which this happens is often downright depressing. In Turkey we have a formal license as a non-profit organization, which increases our possibilities, but in other countries that is not the case.'
What business ideas do the families come up with?
'People often build on their existing experience. It's a rural area so there are mainly agricultural businesses, but we also try to stimulate other projects. We have carpenters, a group of ladies who sell their crochet, a company that makes ice cream from milk from local farmers, jewellery makers, a barbershop, you name it. Some businesses are growing. For example, the jewellery makers have signed a contract with a factory and now have 12 paid employees.'
Are there already concrete results to be seen from the micro-fairs?
'The project is still in full swing, so it is too early to see all the results. But we are already seeing some successful businesses earning some money, which is helping families to provide care and food. We have already given out 150 grants, which means that 450 families have been helped. If their business is successful, they can hire new employees. According to our latest figures, around 2.327 people have received an income. So the effect is multiplying, which we had not thought about beforehand, but it is fantastic news.'
One of the companies:
'We have already hired twelve people. In this way we have been able to help many other families to generate their own income.'
'We want to continue giving out the scholarships for at least another 3 years. Of course, we need more funding for that, to be able to offer more people a future perspective.'
Do you support our partners?
In Turkey, Olive Branch offers vulnerable families affected by war and earthquakes a chance for a new future. With micro-grants and guidance, they help them generate income again and rebuild their lives. Will you help?
