Field research on refugee women from Mavi Kalem

We conducted a field study to understand refugee women’s level of access to services and their thoughts on returning to Syria.

Between January and March 2025, we carried out a field study to understand the current needs and perspectives of refugee and asylum-seeking women regarding access to services and return to Syria.
This research was conducted through in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 30 women, the majority of whom are refugees, residing in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul.

As part of the “Needs Assessment on Access to Services for Refugee Women Living in Esenyurt”, we asked and listened to 30 women — including members of our volunteer network — about their access to basic needs, healthcare, education, and justice services, as well as their economic conditions and thoughts on returning to Syria.

Some of the key findings that emerged from the analysis of these interviews are as follows:
• Household income is insufficient.
• Basic needs are not being met. Rent and utility bills take up a large portion of household income, forcing families to cut back on food and clothing.
• The main barriers to accessing the healthcare system are the inability to get appointments, registration issues, and financial difficulties.
• Two-thirds of the women reported poor mental health. The need for psychological support for both women and their families remains high.
• Two-thirds of the children of interviewed women are currently attending school. Among boys, a common reason for dropping out is the need to contribute to the household income.

For more detailed findings and analysis, you can access our report:
Needs Assessment on Access to Services for Refugee Women Living in Esenyurt

*This research was conducted as part of the “Women’s Counseling Center and Mentorship Project” under the “Community-Based Social Services for Refugees and Host Communities (CLIP 2)” Project, implemented with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).*