Against All Odds: A Refugee Family's Journey Through Disability

Izmir, Türkiye – Nine years ago, siblings Hassan (10), Fatima (19), Hamid (20), and Ayesha (24), all born with congenital disabilities, fled the violence in Afghanistan with their parents. The family entered Türkiye through Van, went to Ankara to acquire legal documentation, and settled in Nevşehir for a new life. In the initial years, they encountered numerous obstacles, including difficulty in accessing essential services such as disability support and healthcare, which are crucial for a child’s health, development, and well-being. In 2020, access became even more difficult with the pandemic, and the family was left to their own devices in coping with their children's health problems, protection and wellbeing-related needs.

"My youngest son, Hassan, needed urgent surgery because his trachea was not functioning properly. Accessing services as refugees was already challenging, but the pandemic made it even more difficult. He was only five years old when he had the surgery in Nevşehir. Afterward, they recommended that we move to a larger city to access healthcare services more easily. That is how we ended up in İzmir," explains their journey Mohmood, the 52-year-old father.

For the past four years, the family has been living in İzmir, trying to rebuild their lives, including with the help of the UNICEF-supported Al Farah Child and Family Support Centre, generously funded by KfW.

"We had heard about ‘the Association for Solidarity With Asylum Seekers and Migrants’ (UNICEF’s partner managing the Al Farah Center and otherwise known as ASAM) from others when we first arrived in Türkiye, but it was during this critical time that we got in touch. Amid the pandemic and the challenges following my son Hassan's surgery, I called the centre in İzmir. Hassan needed a device to help him breathe after his surgery. They immediately came to our aid, provided the necessary device, and saved my child's life, " adds father Mahmood with teary eyes. 

"I love my children very much, but our situation is challenging, especially as refugees. Balancing housework, attending to my children's physical and emotional needs, and taking care of my own well-being is not easy. The psychological counseling sessions I received at the centre were very helpful. We met other Afghan families on our way to and from the center and became friends. Now, we even visit each other's homes sometimes," says Hadia, the mother.

Just like the Ahmadi Family, through the UNICEF-supported Al Farah Child and Family Support Centre, over 873,246 individuals have accessed protection and integrated child and family services between 2016 – 2023.

KfW's financial support played a crucial role in adapting and expanding the Al Farah Child and Family Support Centre’s services model to reach and include particularly vulnerable refugee children and their families in Türkiye, including of Afghani origin. This involved adapting content and services, expanding the geographical scope, scaling up mobile outreach services in previously underserved areas, and forming strategic partnerships with local statutory services to ensure linkages with efforts to strengthen the overall child protection system in Türkiye.

“During the house visits by the outreach team, the eldest child of the family expressed her need for psychosocial support. Following this visit, her concerns were promptly reported to the relevant units, ensuring she receives the necessary support services. These targeted outreach efforts are integral to our mission, allowing us to directly reach those most in need and tailor our programs to meet their specific requirements," explains Dilara Çakır the UNICEF-supported ASAM Al Farah center manager in Izmir.

As the Ahmadi Family stands together, there is a sense of resilience and hope that radiates from each of them. Despite the challenges that they have faced as refugees with specific needs, through the UNICEF-supported services generously funded by donors like KfW, they are now encouraged and supported to pursue their unique passions and dreams.