European Journalists Visited EU-funded Facility Projects in İstanbul
14 European journalists from 11 different media outlets across Europe visited several projects in İstanbul which are funded by the European Union under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT). The press trip was organized with the aim of providing the participants with in-depth background information on the EU’s commitment to supporting Turkey in its efforts to host the largest number of refugees in the world, especially from Syria. The journalists were welcomed by the Head of EU Delegation Ambassador Christian Berger who gave an overview of the assistance the EU is providing to refugees and host communities in Turkey and also in the region. The press members were also given detailed information about the programming of the projects and their process by the Head of FRIT, Libor Chlad.
The first day the journalists visited Beyoğlu İhsan Şerif Primary School which is one of many schools where the PIKTES (Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into Turkish Education System) project is implemented. Later the journalists were shown the activities of the Kızılay Community Center in Bağcılar including cooking classes, Turkish language courses and psycho-social support areas. Finally the journalists arrived in İpek Hotel where two Syrian brothers are employed after receiving training from the ILO that supports job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities for Syrians and the host communities.
The second day of the press trip included a migrant health center visit under the SIHHAT project implemented by the Ministry of Health. The journalists had a chance to interview the patients and Syrian medical staff. Finally the journalists visited Bağcılar Public Education Center where the Syrian people receive Turkish language courses that will help them adapt to the society.
The press trip provided the European journalists with the on-site information in different sectors including health, education and socio-economic support. Within two days the journalists were able to visit project sites, had face-to-face meetings with the beneficiaries of the projects and got a sense of the achievements of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey.
