Türkiye
Location
Gaziantep
Organization
MEDED Organization for Women and Children
Founder
Asil Elabdullah
Where is beauty here?
MEDED ran nine structured sessions across Türkiye and Syria, reaching more than 255 people.
A women's session, an AI-assisted future-city workshop, recycling, planting, and art activities that turned the beauty questions into things people could do with their hands.
Across war-damaged Palmyra and the Syrian community in Gaziantep, people defined beauty in human terms: simplicity, honesty, solidarity, safety, belonging. And they named one gap above all, no inclusive, accessible spaces where collective energy can become sustained action.
"I used to complain about living in this city and wanted to leave... but after these activities, everything we did gave me a sense of hope."
— Sidra, 24, university student, Palmyra"There were no accessible spaces where young people could work freely and safely, so we created our own."
— Majarra Community Initiative, Gaziantep
"Not luxury places, but beauty comes in simplicity, spontaneity, and a lot of love, gentleness, and honesty.”
— Community member, Palmyra
What want to build
A community center. Young Syrians in Türkiye shared that they didn’t have a place to call their own so built the Majarra Community Center. That they said was an experience of beauty.
Knowing that so many parts of Syria are destroyed, they want to do the same thing now there.
MEDED Organization for Women & Children
MEDED is a community-led organization founded in response to the social and emotional needs that emerged after war. The organization works with women, children, and youth to rebuild connection, provide psychosocial support, and strengthen community solidarity.
By creating spaces for care, creativity, and contribution, MEDED helps individuals move beyond isolation and rediscover a sense of belonging, purpose, and shared responsibility within their community.
“Beauty, joy, and care spread. When one space changes, it influences how people feel, how they connect, and what they believe is possible for their lives.”
-Asil Elabdullah