Imece Inisiyatifi: Collectivist, Resilient Solutions for Refugees in Turkey

Since 2014, Imece Inisiyatifi Derneği has helped displaced people and refugees in Turkey through education and empowerment programmes — building sustainable, fair change for families who need it most.

Since 2014, We've Helped Displaced Families Rebuild in Turkey

For over a decade, our team has worked directly with displaced communities in İzmir — supporting Syrian refugees, and more recently families from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and across the region, with the practical tools to rebuild independent, dignified lives.

The Numbers Behind the Work

Aid worker standing with refugee children in an informal settlement in Turkey.

650+ families supported with emergency aid since 2014 — Source: Imece internal records, 2026. 400 children enrolled through the Back to School programme. 200 women trained through the Solar Age project (2021 COP26 Gender Just Climate Solutions Award). 300+ solar power banks distributed through the Energy for Everyone (EFE) project — Turkey, Bosnia, Ukraine border.

Why We're Called Imece

"Imece" is a Turkish word for communities coming together to complete work no one could do alone — a tradition of shared labour and mutual aid. It's the idea Ali Güray Yalvaçlı built Imece Inisiyatifi Derneği around: give what you can, take what you need, care for each other.

Read the full story

Young girl drawing with a white crayon on paper while lying on a colorful mat.

“We wanted to create a community free of political and religious considerations. To give the opportunity for anyone, regardless of their background, to contribute with their skills and time to help those in need.

All human beings are equal and deserve to be treated as such. Our philosophy is that empathy makes us human and it is this idea that guides all our actions. Give what you can, take what you need and care for each other .”

Ali Güray Yalvaçli – Founder of Imece

AN URGENT APPEAL

As a small organisation, Imece relies entirely on donors and on-site volunteers in Turkey. When a crisis hits, the most vulnerable are always affected first — but together, we're stronger.

★ Where it goes

Here's how your donation makes a difference

As a small organization, we rely entirely on donors and on-site volunteers in Turkey — together we are stronger.

School supplies

Stationery, books, and basic learning materials for refugee children participating in the Back to School programme.

Food packages

Approximately 12kg of essential food supplies delivered directly to displaced families.

Support for a teacher

Funding a teacher working across our programmes, supporting children's education and psychosocial activities.

How Your Donation Is Spent

We publish our programme budgets, beneficiary numbers, and governance details so you can see exactly where your support goes. View our Projects Page.

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Empathy makes us human

"We wanted to create a community free of political and religious considerations. To give the opportunity for anyone, regardless of their background, to contribute with their skills and time to help those in need. All human beings are equal and deserve to be treated as such. Our philosophy is that empathy makes us human, and it is this idea that guides all our actions. Give what you can, take what you need, and care for each other."

Ali Güray Yalvaçlı – Founder of Imece Inisiyatifi Derneği