When the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, millions of people were forced to leave everything behind and seek safety in neighboring countries. According to UNHCR Türkiye – Fact Sheet February 2022, Türkiye hosts the world’s largest refugee population with 3.7 million Syrians under temporary protection and over 320,000 refugees and asylum-seekers under international protection. Many arrived with only the clothes they were wearing. Their homes, schools, and communities had been destroyed; their lives were suddenly filled with uncertainty. 

In the midst of this enormous humanitarian crisis, Tzu Chi volunteers began their journey of accompanying and caring for displaced families. What began as emergency relief gradually evolved into a comprehensive, long-term program. Tzu Chi volunteers in Türkiye now provide education, food assistance, medical help, and emotional support, offering refugees opportunities to regain dignity and hope. All these efforts are guided by Master Cheng Yen’s three wishes: “May all hearts be purified; May all societies be in harmony; May the world be free of disasters.”

The unfolding crisis: a call to action

Tzu Chi’s work with Syrian refugees in Türkiye began in October and November 2014, during a period when large waves of families were crossing the Syria–Türkiye border in search of safety. Volunteers, including Faisal Hu (胡光中), Nadya Chou (周如意), and David Yu (余自成), collaborated with a Syrian professor, himself a refugee, to recruit Syrian volunteers. Together, they conducted home visits and distributed essential relief goods, such as blankets and livelihood items, to approximately 2,000 Syrian families in areas like Gaziosmanpaşa, Arnavutköy, and Sultangazi.

Faisal Hu, Director of Tzu Chi Türkiye and the first Muslim Tzu Chi Commissioner, recounted harrowing stories of child labor, such as a 12-year-old boy enduring 13-hour factory shifts with minimal breaks. These children, paid horribly low wages, were vulnerable to mistreatment. Many refugee parents faced the agonizing choice of sending their young children to work to survive, knowing it meant sacrificing their education. Refugees, fearing deportation, were often reluctant to report violence or abuse. Witnessing these injustices, Faisal Hu brought these cases to Master Cheng Yen, who emphasized that without intervention, these children risked growing up with deep-seated hatred. She insisted that education was paramount, not just for a better life, but to instill a sense of safety and respect.

This profound insight resonated deeply with the volunteers. Nadya Chou, Faisal’s wife and a dedicated volunteer, was profoundly moved by the sight of begging children. She also witnessed refugees, desperate for their children’s education, offering essential items like blankets in exchange for school fees during relief efforts. These powerful observations, combined with Master Cheng Yen’s emphasis on education, solidified a collective determination among the volunteers. This resolution to provide children with learning opportunities instead of labor then paved the way for long-term education initiatives in Türkiye.

El Menahil: education oasis for Syrian refugees

In May 2015, El Menahil International School officially opened in Sultangazi District in Istanbul as an elementary and high school, marking a significant milestone in Tzu Chi’s mission to support Syrian refugees. Tzu Chi provided the funds for the school’s operations, while the government supplied the land, water, and electricity. The academic staff was made up primarily of Syrian teachers, many of whom were professionals and educators in their home country but had been forced into menial labor in Türkiye. Hiring them not only provided decent wages but also offered them the chance to serve as vital role models, helping students process trauma and bridging cultural and linguistic gaps.

El Menahil, meaning “oasis in the desert” in Arabic, quickly grew from its initial 578 students and single campus to serve approximately 2,300 elementary, middle, and high school students across multiple campuses by 2017. In 2025, El Menahil International School provides educational support to more than 4,000 students at the primary and high school level. It stands as the first privately funded school in Türkiye that teaches primarily in Arabic. Crucially, Tzu Chi provides monthly allowances for over 3,000 students, enabling them to continue their schooling instead of having to work. This program allows them to enjoy peace of mind while they study.

The school’s comprehensive curriculum includes math, physics, chemistry, history, Arabic, English, Turkish, etc. The school’s diplomas are recognized by both the Turkish government and American accreditation bodies, allowing Syrian refugee children to further their education in Turkish universities or colleges and providing pathways for their future.

The transformative impact of El Menahil School is evident in the lives of its students. Shaimaa, who lost her father as a baby and fled the war, had to work in workshops, giving up her dreams. Thanks to a scholarship from El Menahil, she is now a student at a top university in Istanbul. Another inspiring example is Fakhri Al-Sheikh Rashid, who spent years out of school, working in factories for low wages. After joining El Menahil, he received a scholarship and moral support, achieving a perfect score on his university entrance exam. He is now a second-year college student. These stories exemplify El Menahil School’s transformative impact, moving a generation from despair to hope and enabling hundreds to pursue higher education in Türkiye. As Master Cheng Yen once said, “Do not let the seeds of hatred grow in children who are still fleeing. Instead, plant seeds of love and gratitude in their hearts.” This teaching is truly embodied here, as the school cultivates love and resolves hatred, providing a foundation for a brighter future.

Comprehensive care: sustaining lives and health

Education alone cannot solve all the challenges refugee families face. To ensure stability in their daily lives, Tzu Chi established a monthly aid program that provides financial assistance and essential supplies to thousands of families. The comprehensive relief program includes four major distributions each month, charity home visits, and a work relief program. In 2017 alone, the Foundation assisted an estimated 6,300 Syrian refugee families under its long-term aid program.

Tzu Chi renders assistance based on its relief principles of timeliness, directness, priority, respect, gratitude, and practicality. Through home visits, volunteers identify and enroll families most in need as long-term aid beneficiaries, providing them with monthly cash cards to purchase daily necessities. Living allowances are also provided to vulnerable families with working children or physically challenged members. During winter, when temperatures drop sharply, Tzu Chi volunteers also deliver warm clothing, eco-blankets, and heaters to help families stay safe through the cold months. Each distribution is carried out with respect, allowing families to choose what they need while preserving their dignity.

A community that gives back

One meaningful transformation that emerged from this long-term mission is the growth of Syrian refugee volunteers within Tzu Chi. Many individuals who once received assistance now choose to give back by joining volunteer activities, translating, organizing distributions, or helping in classrooms. Their participation represents the spirit of gratitude and mutual support. It also strengthens the connection within the refugee community, showing that even in the hardest circumstances, kindness can inspire more kindness.

This was demonstrated during the devastating earthquake in Türkiye in February 2023. El Menahil graduates and Syrian volunteers became invaluable members of Tzu Chi’s disaster relief team, leveraging their language skills and volunteer training to assist with aid distribution and support. The entire El Menahil community mobilized, with teachers, students, and graduates traveling over a thousand kilometers to the quake zone, bringing their time, energy, and practical support to ensure smooth aid distributions.

The spirit of giving back extends beyond local relief. In July 2016, upon learning of Typhoon Nepartak’s devastation in Taitung, Taiwan, and other global disasters, El Menahil students and teachers initiated a fundraising campaign. They enthusiastically held up posters, declaring, “Seeing the disasters you are experiencing, we feel your pain. We empathize and stand with you.” This act of global compassion, raising millions of Taiwan dollars, showcased the early fruits of the seeds of love planted in their hearts.

Continuing the journey of accompaniment

Today, Tzu Chi remains active in Türkiye, continuing education programs, monthly aid, community support, and post-earthquake recovery efforts. Some Syrian families have begun rebuilding their lives or planning to return home, while others continue to rely on the stability offered by Tzu Chi’s long-term presence.

Through every visit, distribution, and classroom lesson, Tzu Chi volunteers uphold the belief that compassion can cross borders. The journey that began more than a decade ago continues, bringing hope to families who have endured unimaginable hardship.

In a world where crises can make people feel forgotten, Tzu Chi’s work in Türkiye stands as a testament to how compassion becomes a shelter, reminding us that kindness and human connection can restore dignity and create a renewed sense of future for those who need it most. As Master Cheng Yen teaches, “Gratitude is the most beautiful language in the world, and it is the most sincere way of treating one another.”