The educational experiences of Syrian women in countries of asylum. (English)

The Syrian crisis has resulted in a large refugee movement of Syrians to countries of asylum, with the majority having sought safety in Turkey where approximately 1.7 million Syrian women are now estimated to be living. This study used Freire’s framing of oppressors and facilitators in education to look at how the war has impacted on the education of Syrian women living in exile in Turkey. Interviews were conducted with 24 Syrian refugee women, with initial findings presented for focus group discussion to 6 of the original interviewees. Findings indicated that language and finance were the main barriers to Syrian refugee women fulfilling their educational potential, with their changed circumstances, including widowhood, often requiring them become breadwinners or contributors, preventing them to exploit new educational opportunities offered by their country of asylum. Given the role of non-government organisations (NGOs), in the provision of services to refugee communities, including educational opportunities, this study’s findings point to the importance of involving programme beneficiaries (Syrian refugee women) in the design of educational provision, to ensure that they respond to both the needs and the complex realities of the lives Syrian refugee women to ensure that the take-up and benefits of such education opportunities are fully maximised.