We keep striving to stand side by side…
LEAP is an independent, non-political civil society organization standing alongside women and young people in Türkiye. We carry out our work at the intersection of humanitarian aid, development, and peace — guided by the belief that no one should be left behind.
OUR MISSION
We listen to women and young people, and we add our strength to theirs
We work alongside women and young people so that they can be protected, become more resilient, and take ownership of their own lives. We believe that humanitarian aid and long-term development can — and should — sit at the same table; and we put this into practice through the triple nexus approach (humanitarian aid – development – peace).
OUR VISION
We work for a world where no one is left behind
We work toward a world where women and young people living in vulnerable circumstances can discover their own potential, stand on their own feet, and find their rightful place in society as equals. That’s where the name “LEAP” comes from: it stands for a leap forward, a new beginning.
LEAP’s Story
LEAP’s foundations are rooted in the work of RET International in Türkiye. Our team, which has been working alongside refugee and host communities in Türkiye since 2014, was officially established as an association in Ankara in 2017 under the name RETYKD. Later, as part of our localization journey, we took on the name LEAP.
Today, we work with an entirely local team and an independent board. Along our shared journey within the RET International family, we have reached more than 320,000 people directly and over 3 million people indirectly. Behind each of these numbers is a person — and behind every person, a story.
OUR VALUES
The principles that hold us together,
and that walk with us through every decision we make, day by day.
01
Loyalty
We approach our purpose with unwavering loyalty and dedication, refusing personal interest and any opportunistic way of working.
02
Efficiency
We turn our ideas into action efficiently, using proven methods to make our programs meaningful and truly useful.
03
Accountability
We embrace a transparent and accountable approach toward our participants, public institutions, donors, and partners.
04
Partnership
Not alone, but together. We do our best to share every decision, and to build every bridge side by side.
WHAT WE DO?
We work across four areas that nurture and strengthen one another: protection, education, economic empowerment, and youth.
PROTECTION
A safe space comes first
Child protection, women’s protection, the prevention of early and forced marriages, the prevention of child labor, and the fight against gender-based violence. Our field teams stand side by side with communities, offering psychosocial support, legal counseling, case management, and referral services.
EDUCATION
Language can be a bridge, not a barrier
We support access to formal and non-formal education for children and young people aged 5–25. The Turkish and English Language Learning Program we deliver together with Public Education Centers has, to date, opened the way for thousands of people to have their very first conversation with their neighborhood.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
When a woman earns, a household transforms
In our workshops, we provide vocational and technical training in areas such as natural soap making, handcrafted dolls, woodblock printing, and food drying. Through cooperatives and entrepreneurship, we turn this expertise into something sustainable. Leap Natural, the social enterprise we built together, is now recognized on both national and international scales.
YOUTH
For young people, with young people…
We start by choosing and training young facilitators, and then invite them to take on active roles in awareness work, life skills, and civic participation projects. Through art and music workshops, recreational activities, and career programs, we create — together — the space young people need to dream.
THE PEOPLE WE WORK ALONGSIDE
At the heart of everything we do,
there is always a person
- Women and young women — especially refugee women and disadvantaged women from local communities
- Children and young people aged 5–25
- Children (especially in the area of protection)
- Syrian refugees under Temporary Protection
- Afghan, Iraqi, and Iranian refugees under International Protection
- Members of host communities living in vulnerable circumstances
CITIESES WHERE WE WORK IN THE FIELD
Ten cities, one shared story
We carry out fieldwork in ten provinces stretching from the east to the west of Türkiye. In each province, our work takes shape around that place’s own needs and dynamics.
Would You Like to Work Together?
If you have a project idea, a partnership proposal, or something you’re curious about, we’d love to hear from you.
Growing Stronger, Together
