Al Hadara School in Istanbul, Turkey educates 500 Syrian refugees in grades 1-12. Many of these students have missed years of schooling because of the civil war in Syria. Some have lost parents in the conflict. The Al Hadara school offers these students a sense of stability and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
The school is housed in an old apartment building in a heavily populated district of Istanbul. The younger children have a recess once a day, during which time they can play on the rooftop of the building. The rooftop is largely uncovered, so the children are cold in the winter and exposed to the elements. The floor is tiled, and over the past school year there were 3 instances in which children fell and hit their head while playing.
We are raising money to support the renovation of the rooftop area to:
- Construct a roof to protect the children from the elements
- Lay an anti-slip surface on the floor to provide a safe play area
- Remove a wall to expand the play area
- Paint the space to create a welcoming environment, and
- Create of a small area where drinks and snacks can be served at recess
The project will be overseen by a local volunteer organization and we will obtain regular updates on the progress of the renovation. The work will be conducted by local Syrian craftsmen at cost. All contributors will receive a thank you from a child who will use the playground at the school along with a photograph of the completed project.