Özge Sönmez Vardar, Education Champion

Training teachers to create better learning environments for Syrian refugees enrolled in Turkish public schools

The Issue

The issue

There are over 400,000 refugee children out of school in Turkey. Poverty and language barriers prevent Syrian refugee children from enrolling in Turkish public schools or force them to drop out.

Özge’s approach

Digital Learning

Özge has 15 years of experience fighting for environmental awareness, poverty alleviation and education for vulnerable populations. In 2010, she founded YUVA Association with a group of friends to create sustainable solutions to environmental, educational and social issues in Turkey and neighbouring countries. YUVA works with disadvantaged populations — especially refugees — to provide them with the tools they need to support their families and thrive in their new communities. As the programme director at YUVA, Özge develops programmes to tackle the educational and social needs of Syrian refugee communities and host communities. Through community centres in Hatay and Istanbul, YUVA offers refugee girls classes and social activities to help prepare them to reenrol in school.

With her Malala Fund grant, Özge trains educators to manage culturally diverse classrooms, teach Turkish as a second language and support Syrian refugee girls as they adjust to Turkish public schools.

Özge’s impact

In June 2019, YUVA launched a partnership with Hacettepe University — one of the leading higher education institutions in Turkey — to develop teacher manuals on inclusive learning and teaching Turkish as a second language. YUVA will use the manuals in a pilot programme with 40 teachers in Ankara. The initial programme will help 400 refugee students integrate into Turkish public schools. Following this pilot, YUVA will present and disseminate the manuals to relevant public bodies, including the Ministry of National Education, so they can implement the programme across the country.