The Asylum Seekers and Refugees Solidarity Association (ARSA) participated in the project closing and graduation meeting held in Istanbul between July 28–30, 2025, organized by Support to Life (STL) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The three-day event brought together civil society organizations from across Türkiye to evaluate the outcomes of the project, strengthen inter-organizational cooperation, and celebrate the achievements of participating organizations.

Throughout the program, workshops were held on social inclusion, inter-organizational empathy, trauma-informed care, and project development. Participants shared their experiences and contributed to collective learning through interactive sessions and group presentations. MEAL & Capacity Building Officer, Meltem Demirel, attended on behalf of ARSA.

On the final day, ARSA’s work was presented as an exemplary practice during the “Inspiring Practices” session. Dr. Zakira Hekmat, ARSA’s founder and board member, addressed the participants with the following words:
“Years ago, we began working with you, and together we’ve come a long way; we have learned so much from each other. As refugee-led organizations, we do not only carry the voices of our communities—we carry their resilience, their trauma, and their hopes. Being visible and effective in decision-making processes is the key to producing inclusive solutions.”

Her speech raised awareness on critical topics such as localization, equality, and refugee representation.
Following the session, both the STL team and UNHCR Ankara representatives extended their congratulations to ARSA, commending the team for their impactful and consistent work in the field.

The meeting concluded with a certificate ceremony and group photo, reaffirming ARSA’s commitment to empowering refugee communities through a rights-based, participatory, and solidarity-driven approach.