We are a purely volunteer-run program dedicated to helping the refugee community in Fatih, Istanbul. We are dependent on donations to keep our doors open. 

In Surat Al-Inshirah, Allah 'az wa jal says: 

""Fa inna ma'al 'usri yusra""

(Indeed with every difficulty there is ease)

And we have faith this little difficulty will get eased soon. 

How you can help

Your little donation will go a long way. We need funds for rent and daily running costs.

Running costs:

• Rent: $500/month

• Utility bills (electricity, gas, water and internet): $250/month

• We need $750/month to keep the center up and running

• Additional costs:

• Nutritional Meal Program (breakfast and lunch for 25 people Monday through Friday): $30/day, $150/week, $600/month 

About Us

Located in the heart of the community in which we serve, our center runs learning, social and recreational programs for refugees in the Balat-Fatih neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey.

Yusra Community Center provides a fun and safe learning space for children, who otherwise have no access to learning. We are a place of guidance for families, providing or assisting with medical needs, legal matters, skills training, language and literacy facilities, and information services.

Our main focus areas

Children’s Program: Children averaging 4 to 6 years old walk through our doors to a friendly space. We offer numerous psycho-social programs, including art therapy and music workshops. Students are fed a meal and are provided a safe space to play. Our program focuses on school readiness; equipping children to smoothly integrate into public schools.

Family Wellbeing: At Yusra, we work with families as a whole. We help families understand their rights as refugees; assisting them in registering for Turkish identity cards, receiving medical care and registering children in public schools. We have hosted health and parenting workshops, language clubs, and pycho-social workshops for displaced women. We also have mental health intervention programs for families. 

Women’s Livelihood Project: At the livelihood project women are taught to sew. We have sewing machines that our female trainees use to create bags from recycled fabrics and eco-friendly products which are then sold in bazaars and markets. The women earn 85 percent of the proceeds from the sales of these bags.

Partner Organizations: As a grassroots operation, we are the hands and feet of several organizations seeking to assist refugees. Our team partakes in conferences and seminars, advocating for displaced people around the world.

For more information on our activities visit our website:

yusracommunitycenter.org