Nelofar lives in Istanbul with her husband and 5 children. Fearing persecution in their home country Afghanistan, she was forced to flee to Turkey together with her family.
Navigating life in Turkey was difficult at the start. One of her sons suffers from a rare medical condition, which requires specialised health care that was not available in Yalova, the city where they initially settled.
For Nelofar’s child to access the treatment he needed, the family had to regularly visit a hospital in Istanbul. The distance and paperwork required for travelling from one province to the other made their lives increasingly difficult.
Thanks to EU humanitarian funding, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its partner Mavi Kalem helped Nelofar tackle the challenges she encountered one by one.
Her family had their registration transferred to Istanbul for easier access to medical treatment. Now, they regularly attend Mavi Kalem’s centre for psychosocial support and language classes.
Story by Can Eminoğlu, UNHCR
Photographs: © Emrah Gürel/UNHCR
Nelofar recalls life in Afghanistan, before she was forced to flee: “I was working as an English teacher, and was a well-respected member of my community. I miss the times where I could provide for my family.” 
Nelofar first visited Mavi Kalem’s centre in Istanbul to get education support for her kids. Since then, the help she has received has changed her life for the better 
“At the centre, I have found a safe space where I can engage with other women who are in a similar situation,” says Nelofar. She participated in psychosocial support sessions and Turkish language classes. 
Many refugees in Turkey have been particularly hard hit by COVID-19. “The pandemic has worsened my family’s situation,” says Nelofar. “Mavi Kalem supported my family and me during this difficult time with food packages and hygiene kits.” 
“When I think about the future, I stay hopeful,” says Nelofar. “My biggest wish is to have financial security, so I won’t need to worry about my children. I would really like them to stay in school, so they can receive the education they deserve.”