House of Healing
A home away from home for Syrian patients receiving critical medical care in Turkey
Photo: Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan sits with patients and learns about a little girl with severe burns on her face at the House of Healing in Gaziantep, Turkey.
House of Healing was a home away from home in Gaziantep, Turkey, for Syrians with critical medical conditions who were temporarily permitted to travel for treatment.
After supporting patients for years, SETF was able to close the program following Syria’s liberation in December 2024, a hopeful sign that such care no longer required leaving the country.
What the House of Healing Provided
- Safe housing for patients and accompanying family members
- Transportation to and from hospital visits, procedures, and surgeries
- Food and essential personal care items
- Support navigating treatment needs and connecting with local organizations
- Educational activities for children staying at the center
In 2023, SETF expanded the program to include regular lessons for children at the House of Healing, many of whom had missed years of school. The space also became a place of joy and comfort, with visitors and volunteers, including humanitarian magician Jamie Jibberish, helping create moments of happiness for children during long and difficult treatment journeys.
Mouaz Moustafa and Ambassador Stephen Rapp listen to patients share their stories.
Children participate in classroom activities at the House of Healing
Watch HoH
The SETF team visits the House of Healing in 2022
Video credit: Bahar Organization.
added for children
A Program That Served with Compassion
The House of Healing welcomed around 75 patients at a time, with new families arriving as others completed treatment and returned home.
Over the years, it became more than a place for medical support. It became a space of comfort, connection, and moments of joy for patients and their families.
A Hopeful Closing Chapter
Following the liberation of Syria in December 2024, the need for Syrians to travel outside the country for critical medical care significantly decreased.
The closure of the House of Healing marks a hopeful turning point. SETF is proud to have supported Syrian patients for so many years, and grateful that this level of care is no longer out of reach.