Leaflets tackling misinformation surrounding Covid-19 vaccines have been distributed in 10 different languages by Dalston’s Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre.
The leaflets have been given out throughout London to combat low vaccine takeup amongst ethnic minority groups, which has been caused, in part, by misinformation.
The centre has also administered vaccines and delivered hot lunches to Kurdish, Turkish, Cypriot, and Black Caribbean communities throughout the pandemic.
Yashar Ismailoglu, community leader and general secretary at the centre, said: “Where there is no service from the central government, we fill the gaps: politically, socially, and culturally.”
Other services offered by the Community Centre include translation services, assistance with documents, education classes and employability classes.
The centre has its very own mediation court which settles disputes within the Turkish and Kurdish community. On Mondays and Wednesdays, free Kurdish cuisine is provided from 12pm to 4pm.
According to the 2011 census, there are 22,000 Kurds living in London. But Ismailoglu believes this number has risen due to the Syrian Civil War and the accession to power of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Many of us cannot return home for fear of repression, so at the centre we like to create a friendly brotherhood and sisterhood environment,” said Ismailoglu.
