A Safe Space for All: Where Migrant, Refugee and Local Communities in Türkiye Come Together

Nuha is one of the millions of Syrians who fled their homes when the war broke out. 

The past eight years took her from Lebanon to Mersin in Türkiye’s southeast, then finally to the neighbouring province of Adana. 

Like countless others, her journey adapting in a new home has not always been easy. “Affording rent, finding a job, and sending our children to school are some of the things we had to face.” 

Finding a sense of community and belonging was another challenge Nuha grappled with – until she came across the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s and Adana Metropolitan Municipality’s Migrant Centre. 

First hearing about it from a friend, Nuha now visits the centre regularly, most recently taking part in sewing classes being offered. “I feel very comfortable here. We are treated with respect,” she explains. “We interact well with the [sewing] teacher and interpreter.” 

The centre was opened in 2018, an initiative by IOM and the municipality to connect migrants and refugees with needed support. It is one of six centres operating nationwide, with others located in Ankara (Kecioren), Gaziantep, Kilis, Mersin and Şanlıurfa. 

Since its establishment, the centre in Adana has assisted over 50,000 individuals through informal and formal education, protection and legal counselling, psychosocial support, skills and language training, and social services. 

More than that, it is a space for migrant, refugee and local communities to come together. In Nuha’s sewing class, women from Syria and Afghanistan sit side-by-side, helping each other while exchanging stories. 

Belqis, from Afghanistan, is another recent student of the sewing classes, quickly learning how to use a sewing machine and do different types of stitches. “I do not work anywhere, so I make clothes for my children to ease the burden on my family.” 

Migrants from other countries, like Iran and Iraq, are also regular visitors, while IOM and the municipality organize activities with local communities – offering the chance to interact, learn about one another, and build social cohesion. 

As the sewing class continues, another group of women from various backgrounds gather for an arts and crafts activity. The workshop aims to improve their mental wellbeing and boost their self-confidence, while teaching technical skills and promoting social interaction. 

Mental health is a critical component of overall wellbeing, especially for those who experienced difficult migration journeys. 

“I recall a mother-daughter pair who came to the centre with some tension. They joined a music class and were able to express their emotions through it,” recounts Sirin Kiraci, Educational and Social Activities Facilitator. “By the end, they gave each other a hug and left on better terms.” 

Meanwhile, education and sociocultural activities go hand-in-hand in fostering cohesion, explains Kerem Bicmen, Centre Coordinator. “We host a range of ad hoc and regular activities such as group discussions, field visits, music, and arts classes.” 

IOM also work with the municipality to take these activities to communities where migrants, refugees and local communities converge. “It’s important for migrants and refugees to feel welcome in their new homes, and for locals to understand and empathize with their new neighbours,” adds Bicmen. 

As another day at the Centre winds down, a few members of the team reflect on five years since it opened its doors. 

“We have the opportunity to interact with community members and see the difference we’re making in their lives,” says Bicmen, reaffirming the team’s commitment and motivation to support even more individuals in need of guidance. 

Nuha wraps up her sewing lessons, showing off a handbag she made. 

“I hope to use these new skills to search for a job and have an additional source of income,” she remarks. 

Like Nuha and Belqis, thousands of others have entered the centre doors with worry and unease but left with a renewed sense of hope – a testament that such spaces can offer the right tools to help migrants thrive in their new communities. 

The centre was established by IOM in partnership with the Adana Metropolitan Municipality, through the financial support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Currently, Centre activities are supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).