"I painted this for you! It’s my favorite because it represents my gratitude and what the Taiwan Centre means to me. Thank you for always being there for me!" Larissa said, smiling as she held up her artwork.
Years ago, Larissa arrived at the Taiwan Centre, lost and uncertain. Here, she found a safe haven and, through painting, rediscovered hope. Today, she returns with a piece filled with gratitude and love—a tribute to home, a story of growth, and a heart full of courage.
Her painting is more than just an image—it’s a reflection of her journey and the love that helped her grow.
✨ Every donation adds light to a child’s future. ✨
Larissa is no longer just a recipient—she’s now someone who gives back. This is our goal: to help every child stand strong, return home with hope, and become a light for others.
Thank you for making this possible.
Your love paints their future.
No one should go hungry. Yet, war has taken away countless refugees’ right to food, making hunger a daily struggle. But love and compassion can help overcome it. Especially in this sacred month, no one should suffer from an empty stomach.
Starting March 1, Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. Adult Muslims (except the elderly, pregnant women, and the ill) fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and water to experience the struggles of the poor, practice self-discipline, and engage in charity. In Islam, giving to those in need is a religious duty, and during Ramadan, this generosity is even more profound. After a full day of fasting, families gather for Iftar, often inviting the less fortunate to join them. Even in war-torn Syria, despite food shortages, many refugees continue fasting with gratitude, sharing what little they have.
At Taiwan Centre, though we are not Muslim, we have stood by refugees for years, guided by the belief that "if others suffer from hunger, we feel their hunger too." Many of our friends, regardless of faith, have joined us in caring for those who have lost everything. Because of your kindness, refugees not only find food but also regain hope.
Wishing all our Muslim friends a blessed Ramadan and a smooth fasting journey. 🌙
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Save Every Drop of Rainwater for a Sustainable Future! 🌱
Residents of Hatay, Türkiye, and northern Syria have suffered severe weather, with heavy rain in the winter and droughts in the summer. In Taiwan Centre, we’re taking action! By adding a second V-shaped gutter beneath existing drainage, we collect and store rainwater for watering plants and cleaning, making the best use of each raindrop.
A simple yet effective solution, this system turns rain into a lifeline during dry seasons! 💦
🌍 Sustainability is an action, not just a slogan!
In the resource-scarce environment, we are working hard with innovative designs and a sustainable mindset to help residents build more resilient lifestyles and provide water solutions to those in need! 💙
In Reyhanli, whether in winter or summer, sudden power outages often occur during peak electricity demand, forcing children to interrupt their classes 📚 and adults to pause their work 💼, as life seems to plunge into brief darkness .
Thanks to the selfless love and continuous support of the Taiwanese people 💕, Taiwan Centre has installed advanced solar panels 🌞 and established a comprehensive energy storage and supply system 🔋. These measures ensure the continuity of education, work, and daily life, showcasing the power of Taiwan’s united spirit 💪.
We believe that every act of kindness dispels the darkness ✨. From the support of the people of Taiwan to the dedication of our volunteers, every drop of effort ignites hope, making Reyhanli's future brighter and more resilient 🙏.
Thank you, Taiwan, and thank you to everyone who supports us! With your support, we have the strength to face every challenge 💖.
A thousand years ago, silk traveled the winds of the Silk Road, bringing prosperity and culture to lands far and wide. Today, war and earthquakes have scarred this land, reducing homes to rubble and history to dust. Yet amid the ruins, we refuse to let tradition and hope vanish. We plant mulberry trees once more, carefully tending to each silkworm, spinning broken threads back into life, weaving the stories that must not be forgotten. This is more than just a scarf— it carries the resilience of a people and the courage of rebirth.
📍 Every scarf is a new thread of hope for displaced families and refugees.
🌧️【 #台灣中心 關心 Hatay 暴雨災情 the Heavy Rainfall in Hatay】🌧️
近日，土耳其 Hatay 省正遭受暴雨侵襲，帶來嚴重積水與災害威脅。 #台灣中心 持續關注當地狀況，並與社區保持緊密聯繫，希望所有居民都能安全度過這場風暴。
Hatay Province in Turkey is currently experiencing heavy rainfall, causing severe flooding and posing a serious threat to the local community. is closely monitoring the situation and staying in close contact with the community, hoping that all residents will stay safe during this storm.
💙 讓我們一起為 Hatay 祈福，也請大家多加留意安全！
💙 Let’s keep Hatay in our thoughts and prayers, and please stay safe!
感謝《天下雜誌》對台灣雷伊漢勒世界公民中心的關注與報導！這篇報導讓更多人看見台灣在全球人道關懷與設計創新上的努力，也展現了我們對難民議題的堅持與實踐。從創立以來，台灣中心致力於提供安全、溫暖且充滿希望的空間，幫助流離失所的家庭重拾生活的信心。榮獲 Dezeen Awards年度最佳建築獎，不僅是對我們的肯定，更象徵設計與人道結合的力量。我們將繼續深耕使命，為每一位需要幫助的人發聲，讓希望延續到世界的每個角落。
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Grateful for CommonWealth Magazine's coverage and feature on the Taiwan - Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens! This report highlights Taiwan's contributions to global humanitarian care and design innovation, showcasing our commitment to addressing refugee challenges. Since its establishment, the Taiwan Centre has been dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming, and hopeful environment to help displaced families rebuild their lives with confidence. Winning the Dezeen Awards for Architecture Project of the Year is not only a testament to our efforts but also a powerful symbol of the fusion of design and humanitarian care. We will continue to pursue our mission, amplifying the voices of those in need and spreading hope across the globe.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when 台灣雷伊漢勒世界公民中心 posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
台灣–雷伊漢勒世界公民中心，在台灣政府慷慨捐助和與雷伊漢勒市政府的合作下，本中心是第一個旨在成為敘利亞．土耳其，乃至於與世界公民之間接軌的第一個世界公民中心，以期加深不同種族文化間的融合，並增進人類生命之平等。
With the generous donation from Taiwan and collaborations with the Municipality of Reyhanlı, the Taiwan–Reyhanlı Centre for World Citizens (The Taiwan Centre), as the first of this kind, was built for improving the socio-cultural integration and inclusion between Syrians and Turkish locals.
自2011年敘利亞內戰爆發以來，已有超過560萬人逃離敘利亞尋求他國的庇護，這些國家包括了黎巴嫩、土耳其、約旦及其他地區(聯合國難民署，2018)。在這期間，光是土耳其便已經收容超過360萬名敘利亞人。這些人當中，至少有90%的人並沒有生活在難民營中，而是居住在城市或是城市周遭的地區，此外，其中又有三分之二是婦女和孩童。目前估計有40%(38萬)的敘利亞孩童無法接受教育，也無法獲得基本的醫療照護。
Over 5.6 million people have fled Syria since the outbreak of war in 2011, seeking safety in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and beyond (UNHCR, 2018). Turkey alone has accommodated a staggering number of more than 3.6 million Syrians over this period of time. At least 90% of these people are living outside of refugee camps in urban or peri-urban areas, of which more than two-thirds are women and children. An estimated 40% (about 380,000) of Syrian children currently have no access to education and basic health care services.
雷伊漢勒(Reyhanlı)是個坐落於土耳其東南部哈泰省(Hatay)與敘利亞接壤的小鎮，它也是土耳其通往敘利亞阿勒坡的要道。因此在敘利亞衝突越發升高之際，雷伊漢勒成為了敘利亞人尋求庇護的主要入口。也因為這樣，在過去的八年中，雷伊漢勒的人口數幾乎成長了一倍，並吸引了成千上萬不敢妄想短期內家園會恢復平靜的敘利亞人到此。Reyhanlı is a small town bordering with Syria in the southeastern Turkish province of Hatay. As the main gateway from Turkey to Aleppo in Syria, the town has become the main entry point for Syrian asylum seekers during the escalating conflicts. Consequently, in the last 8 years, the population of Reyhanlı has nearly doubled, progressively absorbing hundreds of thousands of Syrians who do not envisage a restoration of peace in their homeland in the short term.
雖然雷伊漢勒有著寧靜的城市環境，但它並非完全遠離戰火的侵擾。在2013年5月，雷伊漢勒市在同一天內遭受了兩次炸彈攻擊，這場攻擊中造成52人喪生，146人受傷。自2011年以來，雷伊漢勒市經常是火箭彈攻擊的目標，這也造成了更多的死傷，最近一次的攻擊發生於2019年9月。
Although featuring a quiet urban environment, Reyhanlı is not entirely free from the risk of war aggression. In May 2013, Reyhanlı experienced two bombing attacks in the same day, killing 52 people and wounding 146 people. Since 2011, it has also been a frequent target of rocket attacks that had caused further casualties, with the most recent ones being in September 2019.
除了恐怖攻擊之外，因為急遽的人口增加，導致雷伊漢勒市還面對了許多社會問題，這當中包括了貧窮、失業、水電短缺、基礎建設不足以及缺乏住宅、健康、教育以及娛樂等公共設施。這些社會問題正是造成敘利亞人和當地土耳其人之間關係緊張的主因。
In addition to terrorist attacks, Reyhanlı has experienced social problems due to the sudden surge in population. These problems pertain to poverty, unemployment, shortage of water and electricity, absence of infrastructure, and insufficient essential public facilities for housing, health, education and recreation. These problems are the sources of increasing tensions between Syrians and Turkish locals in Reyhanlı.
台灣中心是由台灣政府透過外交部資助了40萬美金，畢爾肯大學 (Bilkent University) Studio Cho的裘振宇博士及其團隊負責規畫和設計，這座中心旨在促進敘利亞人和土耳其人之間的社會文化、經濟和政治的融合與包容。
Funded by the government of Taiwan with a 400,000 USD endowment through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Chen-Yu Chiu (Cho) and his team at Studio Cho at Bilkent University initiated and designed the Centre with the aim of stimulating socio-cultural, economic and political integration and inclusion between Syrians and Turkish locals.
The research of the Centre’s architectural program and site investigation started in 2016. The building construction began in April 2020 and was completed by September 2020. During the 4-year period, Cho worked as a volunteer and was the first private donor of the Centre. Cho took on the role as Founding Director of the Centre, working in close collaborations with the Turkish government, NGOs and the grassroots. He established an organizing team to select the beneficiaries in a fair and transparent manner, in line with the vision and program of the Centre. The Centre’s basic programs comprise:
-Multi-purpose assembly halls;
-Places for hosting NGOs and their activities;
-Studios, galleries and shops for local artists;
-Emergency/transitional shelters for people in need;
-Design factory for incubating new industries and jobs;
-Shops for distinctive local business sectors or exclusive local products;
-Governmental offices and facilities;
-Communal spaces for children, women and disable people;
-Public facilities, including toilets, shower rooms, ablution rooms and masjids.
Low cost, mass-production, efficiency and high quality:
The building costs and time were significantly reduced by applying mass-produced building elements – prefabricated concrete blocks and folded metal sheets. These materials also ensured the quality of architecture.
Walls for shelters, not for border; Walls for humanity, not for military:
The prefabricated concrete blocks were originally intended as the border walls between Syria and Turkey. For the Centre, they were repurposed as the main structural elements and partitions.
Living under Islamic vaults:
The folded metal sheets were applied for building a shell roof structure the represents the form of architectural heritage in the Middle-Asia. For example, the size of the shell is similar to the vaulted room in the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, and the shape can be referred to the ancient vault in Hattusa (1200 BC).
Transitional shelter embodied with collaborative construction:
The beneficiaries themselves will fill in the space of each unit under the shell roofs, with the supports and management of the organizing team. By building the indoor units together, it provides a chance to build a truly integrated and inclusive community.
A modern Islamic monument for humanity:
With the repetitive and analogous building elements and representational built forms and spaces, the Centre echoes the historical arasta, bazaar, caravanserai, madrasa, cami and bedesten. These buildings make the mobility in the olden days possible, which is in line with the Centre’s purpose of serving the ‘guests’ from Syria by the ‘hosts’ in Turkey.
A landscape with ruin for new civilization:
The centre is embodied with two linear parks separately aligning with the south and north façade. These two parks featured with large broken stones taken from the border and native plants to represent the ruin as the result of the war in which the Centre is the establishment of the new civilization.
Central courtyards and gardens for community:
There are three semi-enclosed courtyards and three gardens located in the middle of the Centre for varied events and activities of diverse groups and users. One courtyard in the near future will be converted into an outdoor concert hall; one will be the outdoor cinema; and the other one will be transformed into an art gallery.
Broken and collapsed concrete walls for recreation and education:
Previously broken and abandoned concrete blocks in the town are recycled and applied as the elements for children’s playground onsite – no barriers can stop the mobility of our children!!
