The past few months have changed so much about daily life, leaving us all to navigate the world in a “new normal.” Nearly one million people around the globe have lost their lives due to COVID-19. Shops, stores, and places of business shut down. Thousands of people learned to work-from-home, and education shifted online.

For the safety of the Karam House team and the Syrian community in Turkey, we made the decision to close the Karam Houses in Istanbul and Reyhanli—but our work continued. Innovative Education mentors delivered cutting-edge studios and workshops to the students through the internet, the Karam Scholars team supported college students in the shift to remote learning, and the immediate response from our Karam Families team ensured that children weren’t at risk of going back into child labor. 

Now, nearly five months later, we believe we are ready to open the Karam House doors again. Our top priority remains to be the health and wellbeing of our team and the community we serve. With those goals in mind and following the health guidelines of the Turkish ministry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, our return to Karam House safety plan is as follows:

On Thursday, September 3, Karam House Reyhanli and Karam House Istanbul will start Phase One of the reopening process. In this phase, the Karam House team will be working in the space based on a shift schedule, with each member coming in two times per week. Members who are high-risk, live with high-risk family members, and who do not have access to COVID-free childcare nor safe transportation will not be asked to return at this time.

All rooms and spaces will now have fixed maximum capacities to ensure safe social distancing at all times. High-touch items will be disinfected every four hours, and the space will be regularly ventilated every two hours. Temperatures of the Karam House team will be checked upon arrival every morning, and masks will be worn at all times inside the building. The team will also be provided safety kits which include a reusable water bottle, personal eating utensils, and a mug to ensure optimal safety and sanitation. 

Reusable water bottles with Karam House team members’ names engraved using the Karam House laser cutter.

We have set strict guidelines in the event that a team member gets sick or comes into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. In taking all necessary precautions, and with thorough planning, we hope that this initial reopening phase allows the Karam House team to slowly transition back into the space in a safe manner. We will be monitoring the progress of this return and adjusting the proposed plan as needed. This will also help us determine when it is appropriate to advance to Phase Two of the return. We will keep you informed on all the updates.

Thank you for your continued support.