LEGACY PROGRAM

Paper Airplanes noticed an increased need for refugees to learn Turkish. Turkey hosts nearly three million Syrian refugees who didn’t speak Turkish before crossing the border. Knowing the local language and being fluent in it can greatly help refugees navigate the Turkish legal system, engage with businesses, participate in the local communities, and complete educational goals. To fill this need, Paper Airplanes decided to open the Turkish program in 2016.

Paper Airplanes noticed that students had big dreams they didn’t know how to achieve, and we wanted to support them in making those dreams a reality. That resulted in the creation of the Student Advising program. Student Advising mentors worked with the students to help them achieve their educational and employment goals. They helped them find scholarships, write personal statements, and prepare their applications.

Students in the Student Advising program lived all around the world, including in Burundi, France, Hungary, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Students in the Student Advising program lived all over the world, including Burundi, France, Hungary, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Unlike the other programs, the Youth Exchange program was not discontinued but merged with the English program, which saw increased demand from teenagers. For safety reasons, Paper Airplanes decided to create a version in which youths could learn English from peers of a similar age. The Youth Exchange program paired high school-aged English students with high school-aged tutors. It was an excellent way for the students to learn English and explore different cultures. It was also an excellent opportunity for tutors to learn about other cultures and global events.