The Syrian guests who have learned Turkish at the Turkish language courses organized by Yunus Emre Institute and the Turkish Red Crescent Society's Ankara Community Center have received their certificates.

A certificate award ceremony was held for the Syrian trainees who have learned Turkish at the Turkish language courses conducted by Yunus Emre Institute at the Turkish Red Crescent Society's Ankara Community Center.  At the ceremony held at Yunus Emre Institute on November 20, 2017, 32 trainees who successfully completed the training were issued A1 and A2 level certificates.

Delivering a speech at the certificate award program, Yunus Emre Institute Culture, Art and Projects Director Babür Turna explained the activities Yunus Emre Institute conducted for our Syrian friends and guests. Turna talked about the software courses, robotic training workshops and material supports as well as the Turkish language courses given at the Turkish Red Crescent Society's Ankara Community Center and congratulated the trainees for their efforts to learn Turkish and for their achievements. Noting that the Institute would continue to undertake projects targeting the Syrian guests in our country, Turna also expressed his thanks to the Turkish Red Crescent Society for its efficient cooperation.

In her speech, Merve Renan Türkkulu, the Director of the Turkish Red Crescent Society's Ankara Community Center, expressed their satisfaction for the cooperation between the Turkish Red Crescent Society and Yunus Emre Institute, adding that more than 400 Syrians had attended the Turkish language courses so far. Stressing the importance of overcoming the language barrier to social integration, Türkkulu stated that the support given to Syrians through Turkish language courses is very crucial and she thanked Yunus Emre Institute for cooperation.

Kawthar Fansa, a trainee, also delivered a speech on behalf of trainees, and indicated that she had attended the Turkish language courses for more than one year and found them extremely beneficial. She expressed her gratitude for the Turkish Red Crescent Society, Yunus Emre Institute and her teachers.

Following the speeches, the trainees were presented their certificated by Turkish Red Crescent Society's Ankara Community Center Director Merve Renan Türkkulu, Yunus Emre Institute Culture, Art and Projects Director Babür Turna, Yunus Emre Institute Library, Documentation and Archives Director Ali Rıza Karabağ, Yunus Emre Institute Exam Center Director Bünyamin Demir, Turkish Red Crescent Society's Ankara Community Center Project Assistant Merthan Gözener and Lecturer Tuba Özban. The ceremony ended after the photo shooting and refreshment serving.

Yunus Emre Institute's activities toward Syrians underway

Yunus Emre Institute conducts various activities designed to facilitate the social integration of Syrian refugees and organizes software and hardware courses, coding workshops, and other activities that may expand employment opportunities for Syrians.

The Turkish language courses given by experienced and expert instructors of the Institute for adults and children and supported with diverse activities and interactive methods are provided at the Turkish Red Crescent's Ankara Community Center. The Institute has prepared an instruction set titled "Çocuklar İçin Türkçe" (ÇİT) (Turkish for Kids), targeting the children aged 6-9 who learn Turkish as a foreign language, especially from Syrian refugee families. In addition to preparing materials for teaching Turkish through games, activities and songs, Yunus Emre Institute also holds the "Turkish Proficiency Exam" (TYS), which young Syrians may take to certify their Turkish language proficiency. This exam is provided free of charge for those who have refugee cards and with 50-percent discount for those who do not have refugee cards. Yunus Emre Institute also organizes three-month software and hardware courses for Syrian and Iraqi refugees who live in Ankara in order to facilitate their social integration and gain economic independence. 90 refugees who have basic computer and Turkish knowledge receive training at the IT classroom specifically prepared for this project at Yunus Emre Institute. This project will contribute to the employment of successful participants in software projects. At the robotic training workshops, the young Syrians who can speak Turkish can attend diverse technology, design, and art activities designed to improve their personal development and facilitate communication with their peers.