Turkey is located between Europe and Asia and is known for its rich history and tourist attractions. To name a few, Turkey is known for the Hagia Sophia, New Mosque, Blue Mosque, and the Bosporus bridge, which provides a connection between Asia and Europe, among many other well-known landmarks. While Turkey is actively working on improving conditions for its people, it is also known for its large refugee population.

There are roughly four million refugees in Turkey, with over 3.7 million of them having fled from Syria. Islamic Relief has been present in Turkey since the 2000s in support of vulnerable communities and works on providing aid to Turks in need, as well as to refugees.

Volunteers will be assisting in a summer camp affiliated with the ongoing orphans’ program, to facilitate learning through a variety of activities such as:

• Team building games
• Educational activities
• Sports tournaments

Volunteers will be able to visit local Islamic Relief projects in the area and interact with beneficiaries to hear their stories. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to take part in organized sightseeing activities, including visits to Panorama 1453 Museum, Princess Islands, and other monuments in Istanbul.

All finalized applicants are required to raise a minimum of CAD 3,500 by July 15th, 2022. All the funds raised will be going towards Islamic Relief projects in Turkey.  IRC will provide each volunteer with a fundraising session that includes tips on how to fundraise, how to engage your network, etc. Also, IRC will set up an online LaunchGood fundraising page for each volunteer to raise funds for their project.  

The Inspire program aims to give volunteers a unique and eye-opening experience, where they are able to immerse themselves in a completely different context than they are normally accustomed to. This program encompasses the “give and take” principle; it is an opportunity to both give back to vulnerable communities overseas whilst learning and growing skills in an enriching environment. After completing the program, letters of reference will be given out to participants upon request. Participants will also be encouraged to continue volunteering with IRC following the trip to continue their humanitarian efforts. 

IRC will cover your stay in Turkey, including your accommodation, transportation, food and scheduled sightseeing activities. Please note that flights are NOT included in this, thus the volunteer is responsible for purchasing their flights to and from Turkey as well as mandatory health insurance. 

Once accepted into the program, all the volunteers are required to attend pre-departure training sessions that are held for 2-3 hours Bi-weekly. These sessions will focus on the details required for the Field Study including fundraising, country profile, IR history, security in the field, activity planning, etc. These are mandatory!