Yusra was created by Shahla Raza in April 2016 in the popular district of Balat in Istanbul’s Golden Horn.

Arriving through the south of Turkey in September 2015, Shahla moved to Antakya where she became aware of the difficulties encountered by Syrian emigrants crossing the border to seek refuge and relief.

She came to Istanbul in September 2016.

Yusra is made up of volunteers, and welcomes children from 4 to 7, providing meals, school activities, readings; A place of safety and comfort for children refugees from Syria, mainly from small towns around Aleppo.

After an influx of some sixty children, at the opening, who were almost all able to attend school, that day 20 to 25 children came to sit around the small tables of the centre.

For the past few weeks, a small 4-floor building has been under construction at the centre. It will enable them to differentiate between different age groups, but also to develop new activities (like art therapy) and new means of subsistence for women such as cooking, catering and gardening.

The centre therefore has a great need for supplies and kitchen utensils …

It is also opening a library and a place dedicated to music … everything uprooted children need to find true joy and to learn.

Here is the affectional presentation: Shahla is Indian, she created a similar organization in Bombay and when we met her we felt very close to the experience we had last year in Pondicherry with the Gayatri House!

She has the same will to take care of these children: education, subsistence, safety.

Closer to home, we decided to support a neighbour by donating $1,000 to this generous organization.

You too can send your donations through our website or on this on-line platform:
www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/yusra-community-center