With the start of a new year, many of us are looking to turn a new page and do something new, productive and positive for ourselves and for others. In this day and age there are a number of excellent causes to call your own, but one of the deepest crises in human history has been unfolding just on the other side of Turkey’s borders. As a result, Turkey has taken the brunt of the crisis hosting, 2.8 million Syrians forced to try to forge a new existence in their neighboring country. As a result, there are a number of organizations based in or operating in Istanbul that work to assist and ease the transition for refugees residing in Turkey.

HumanwireHumanwire is a U.S.-based NGO with branches in Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. They work to connect donors in the US with families in need, which is done through their website Humanwire.org. Owen Harris, one of the vocalists and accordion player for the band Country for Syria explains, “We interview families, create a profile for them with their needs, and set up a campaign and donation page so that donors can share it with their friends and raise money. Then Humanwire teams on the ground in the Middle East deliver the money and help the families communicate with the donors, take them to the hospital, register them for school, and provide whatever services they need.” To find out more, check out: http://www.humanwire.org.

Small Projects Istanbul”Helping those displaced by the conflict in Syria rebuild their lives,” is the focus of Small Projects Istanbul, an initiative started up by Australian expat Karyn Thomas in 2013, is a foundation that provides assistance, courses and workshops to displaced Syrians in Istanbul from their Olive Tree Community Education Center located in Fatih.

MORE:   http://www.dailysabah.com/expat-corner/2017/01/10/volunteering-in-istanbul-ways-to-do-good-by-helping-refugees