Feng-Ying Peng, Cai-jie You | Türkiye

Since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, for more than a decade, Tzu Chi volunteers in Türkiye have been sowing seeds of love and compassion in the hearts of Syrian refugee children, transforming lives through education and kindness.

Replacing Hatred with Love

The Syrian civil war which broke out in 2011, resulted in nearly 500,000 deaths and about 6.8 million people displaced, with nearly 3.8 million refugees fleeing to Türkiye. Upon hearing Master Cheng Yen’s advice to "use love to dissolve the seeds of hatred," Tzu Chi volunteers Faisal Hu, Nadya Chou, and David Yu began visiting refugees' homes to understand their lives and provide assistance.

In the wake of the 2011 Syrian civil war, nearly 3.8 million refugees fled to Turkey. Tzu Chi volunteers in Türkiye, including Faisal Hu (2nd from right), Nadya Chou (1st from right), and David Yu, visited these refugees to understand their lives and provide assistance. | Photo courtesy of David Yu

Master Cheng Yen emphasized: "We must help the children remove and let go of the hatred in their hearts. We need to further sow seeds of love and help them return to school and learn." Thus, in August 2015, Tzu Chi established El Menahil International School in Sultangazi, Istanbul.

El Menahil (المناهل) means "springs in the desert" in Arabic, symbolizing hope for Syrian refugee children deprived of education. After more than a decade of companionship, these children have grown, learned gratitude, and give back with love.

Mohammed Hak, who was in the fourth grade at El Menahil School in 2014, couldn’t speak a word of Turkish when volunteers visited on December 6. Faisal Hu had to translate for him in Arabic. "Master wants everyone to let go of the hatred in their hearts!" David Yu demonstrated the gesture for "letting go of hatred," which Hak remembered forever. David humorously recalls, "The interview at that time was truly 'blessed!'"

Mohammed Hak (2nd from the right) was a child encountered by Turkish volunteer Faisal Hu (first from the left) and others during a home visit. He was the first child they found on the streets and brought back to school. | Photo courtesy of David Yu

Hak was actually a child volunteers met on the street while visiting homes. He wasn’t on the list of refugee children enrolled in school. Faisal Hu wondered, "Why is there a child wandering on the street at this time?" He asked, "Are you in school?" "No," Hak replied expressionlessly. "Register immediately!" He became the first child Hu found on the street to enroll in school.

Master says, "Time takes away everything, but it can also accomplish everything." What did it accomplish? The children’s education, careers, and spiritual paths. Ten years later, Hak can answer David Yu's interview in Turkish; now, he is a member of the Tzu Chi media volunteer team.

Today, Hak has joined the ranks of Tzu Chi’s media volunteers. | Photo courtesy of Mohammed Nimir Aljamal

During the February 2023 earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, Hak used his camera to document Tzu Chi's efforts. His photography was featured in Tzu Chi Monthly. David Yu proudly said, "Everyone in the Tzu Chi documentary team hopes to be on the cover of Tzu Chi Monthly; it is an immense honor. My mentee Hak achieved this, and I am very grateful!"

Another Syrian refugee student, Mohammed Nur Alhajjar, now a senior at El Menahil School, walked over 30 minutes from his home to the school before dawn on the first day of school in late 2014. He stood at the gate waiting for the janitor to open it. David asked, "Why did you come so early when it was still dark and the gate wasn't open yet?" Alhajjar replied in broken Turkish, "I was afraid there wouldn’t be a seat if I arrived late."

Ten years later, Mohammed Nur Alhajjar (second left) can express his thoughts fluently in Turkish: "I want to double the love that Master Cheng Yen has given us and pass it on to those in need." (Hak is on the far right). | Photo courtesy of David Yu

Ten years later, Alhajjar can now fluently express himself in Turkish, "I want to repay the love Master gave us by giving back to those in need." He remembers how Nadya Chou taught them to express gratitude at the start of school. David explained, "We don’t want the children to thank us; we thank the Syrian refugees for showing their suffering, which moved Tzu Chi volunteers to realize life's impermanence, seize the moment, and give promptly. So, we express gratitude to them, and they express gratitude to us."

In February 2022, when news of the Ukrainian refugee crisis broke, the Syrian children donated money to help them, demonstrating love that knows no boundaries. "Ten years ago, Master Cheng Yen instructed Tzu Chi volunteers to help remove the hatred from refugee children’s hearts and plant seeds of love," David Yu affirmed. He feels that children who have experienced love can also give love to those in suffering.