We reached the steppes beyond the border, where the last yurts stand.
Following the collapse of Communism in 1992, the citizens of the Central Asian states came to Turkey to reclaim their cultural values and receive education. They studied in our country, and the professors here requested volunteers to provide both material and spiritual support.
Accepting this situation as a national and humanitarian duty, the volunteers observed the community's needs in health and education during their educational activities in the regions. With the material and spiritual support they received from our country, they worked to provide solutions to those needs.
During this period, they brought tens of thousands of students to our country to overcome local technical deficiencies and supported them until they completed their education and returned.
Since 1992, this process, which has continued through volunteer movements, has become systematic with the establishment of ARIF (Aid & Relief for International Foundations) during the pandemic.
As ARIF Association, we deliver aid to students in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, China, and Uzbekistan who face challenges accessing education, and we support those who wish to study in Turkey throughout their educational journey.
We assist with humanitarian needs, particularly water wells, and strive to ensure that conditional donations from benefactors reach their intended destinations.
As of 2022, we have been there for over 1,000 students from Central Asia who came to our country for education, assisting them from the moment they arrived at the airport to arranging their accommodations, navigating visa and residency processes, and participating in cultural activities. We are 'Building Bridges of the Heart.