We’re always grateful to have volunteers join us!
Find out more about volunteering at our centres in Pakistan or Turkey below
Pakistan
Our Educational Centre in Pakistan offers orphaned and vulnerable children access to a safe space, high-quality education and warm meals each day. We’re very proud of how successful the centre has become, how it has enabled these children to learn and given them an opportunity for a different future.
We have a complete team of teachers offering the children varied lessons, however, we are always looking for volunteers to come along to teach English or any other subjects, sports or skills/training you are knowledgeable and passionate about.
The children love meeting new teachers and learning new ideas and perspectives.
If you’re interested in getting involved and volunteering (in person) at our long-running educational centre in Pakistan, or want to find out more information about our other work, please email us: Sophie.Exton@ummahcarefoundation.org
Türkiye
As a result of the Syrian war and displacement crisis, over the last decade millions of innocent people were forced to flee their homes, with hundreds of thousands taking refuge in Sanliurfa, Turkey. The data is alarming; 22% of Syrian children have a physical disability: of that 22%, 88% have a dual or multiple diagnosis.
After learning this data, visiting the area, and knowing that these children’s complex needs were not being met, we knew there was an urgent need to provide resources for these families. We quickly decided that had to fundraise and find a way to help. In August 2022, we founded this UCF centre, which initially only offered physiotherapy.
Our team have worked diligently over the last two years to develop our centre and the programmes we deliver. We’re proud to now offer children: daily physiotherapy, as well as a range of educational lessons, creative activities and fun outings for the wonderful Syrian children who live nearby. However, all children are welcome at our centre, no matter where they’re from.
We have also launched our Women’s Empowerment project, a new initiative that’s very close to our heart. The centre has now become a place that provides hope and opportunity through education and support to local families.
We focus on three main areas of community care
Every week we hold a class or workshop for local women in the area to join. We’re always looking to add to this programme, please get in touch if you have ideas or would like to join us and lead a session.
If you would like to volunteer (in person) at our Educational and Physiotherapy centre in Turkey, you can sign up through this link on Go Overseas.
We have also launched our Women’s Empowerment project, a new initiative that’s very close to our heart.
Many Syrian women have faced severe trauma throughout the last decade; from losing wider family members, husbands or their children in the conflict, looking after children with complex needs and disabilities, facing discrimination as they’ve relocated, or sadly like many women around the world, facing domestic abuse. On top of these struggles, many displaced women are unable to access the resources and support they deserve, to find a way out of these difficult and distressing situations, to finally feel safe and secure.
The aim of our weekly women’s workshops is to create a space that they trust and can come to for help; while enjoying a range of activities, advice and talks that comfort, empower and nurture them.
So far, our workshops have included fun weekly Zumba classes, tea & coffee afternoons, where women come to chat, share any personal issues and get support from the group, medical awareness (we recently had a breast cancer check-up talk, along with screenings and appointments), cooking classes and more.
With additional funding, partnerships with organisations and wonderful volunteers, we want to give hope to female refugees; through creative sessions, support and plans for those who are vulnerable and feel stuck in challenging circumstances.
We currently offer daily Arabic and English lessons. We also hold regular sports and games in the local park, art classes and fun outings for the children (when we have more volunteers to help us!)
However, we are very flexible and happy to create other classes that our volunteers are interested in or have experience in. So please do let us know if you’d like to hold another class (for example) science/geography/cooking classes, a sports activity or anything you’d like!
It’s important to us to ensure our volunteers get to contribute as much as they’d like to – and the children love learning new things and being creative!
If you are trained (or currently training) in physiotherapy, you can volunteer and help us deliver more physiotherapy session to children with complex needs and disabilities.
Please note
You do not have to be a professionally qualified teacher to volunteer at either of our centres. Please do not worry, the children will be so happy to spend time with you, and we will guide and support you in planning classes!
If you are unable to visit and volunteer in person, you can still help by volunteering online! Here are some of the ways you can volunteer virtually:
- Provide online tutoring (Arabic, English and Turkish) to children and adults in the local community
- Help us with technical or multimedia (content for fundraisers, our website and more)
- Provide counselling and wellbeing services to the community (only if you are a trained professional)
When conflicts and natural disasters strike, Ummah Care Foundation is always quick to to respond. We always send our team to help as soon as possible on the ground. Sometimes we require extra help from long-term or local volunteers – when these occasions arise, we will post requests via our social media channels and newsletter. If you’re interested in emergency relief volunteering, please follow us to stay up to date.
Your well-being is essential to us. We understand that some of the stories shared by some of the people and refugees you meet, might be deeply moving and, at times, distressing. Working with children with physical disabilities can also be emotionally challenging.
If you volunteer with us, you will have a designated UCF team member on the ground with you. We will always remind you to:
- Take breaks whenever needed
- Reach out and talk to us if you need
- Look after yourself—your work is valued, and we’re here to support you