Development of Social Services for Refugees and Host Communities Project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project partner is Japanese NGO Reach Alternatives (REALS). Coordinated by the General Directorate of International Organizations and Foreign Relations, implementing unit for this project is Mersin Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports. Signed on October 12, 2021 and launched in Mersin in 2022, this project is jointly carried out in partnership with REALs, Ministry of Youth and Sports and local NGOs, with JICA’s support and will continue for three years.

This technical cooperation project, implemented in Mersin which hosts individuals under temporary protection, aims to promote social cohesion and provide psychosocial support through Youth Centers. The project is expected to strengthen the Youth Centers’ connections with other service providers and improve their capacity to identify individuals in need. Additionally, it aims to foster social cohesion by offering opportunities to improve communication between individuals under temporary protection and host community in order to deepen mutual understanding.