Our Team
John Scott
Director of Refugee Projects
John has worked in the field of Education and Social Development for the past three decades. He co-founded Anything for A Smile charity in Turkey in 2006 and was the co-director of the Adana Deaf Center from 2011 to 2017.
He serves as primary liaison with various donors, government and public departments for the Safe Haven For Refugees.
Laurie Will
Secretary
Laurie Will is secretary for Safe Haven for Refugees. Over the last 50 years she has assisted with charity groups in various countries, with a vision to bring hope to those less fortunate. Laurie has a Bachelors Degree in Art Education and a Certificate in Drug Addiction Counseling.
In addition to her secretarial duties, she regularly makes trips to spend time with her eight children, ten grandchildren, volunteers at a local food bank, and in her free time is an avid internet researcher.
Laurie presently lives in Chicago IL with her husband, Joe. They take regular aid trips to Turkey.
Mahmood Abdaziz
Safe Haven Immediate Aid Campaign Coordinator, Food Security Program Director and Medical Homes Manager
Mahmood Abdaziz has a Bachelor degree in English Language and Literature from Anbar university in Iraq. He has a Master degree in English Language and Literature from India 2013. Mahmood has lived in Adana, Turkey since 2014. He taught English at several Syrian schools in Adana and has been a volunteer with Safe Haven for Refugees since early 2018.
Presently, he is overseeing our two Medical Homes and manages the Food Security Program
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Treasurer, Fundraiser
DONNA SCOTT
Mrs. Scott has over 30 years of experience in the education and project development sector. She is one of the founders of the Turkish Charity Anything For A Smile and served as president of the association from 2008 to 2016.
She has had 25 years of practical know-how and training in strategic human resource development, coaching, administration and management, independent research on teaching strategies, curriculum development, school polices and educational programs.
She presently resides in San Diego where she has been living for the past 6 years.
Neslihan Kuş
Anything for A Smile Association Project Manager
Neslihan graduated from Çukurova University, Department of International Relations in 2014. She began volunteering activities in 2009. In 2011, she started volunteering Anything for a Smile association. She took part as a participant or volunteer coordinator in Entertainment Therapies and various child-focused activities and is a successful author of a book for children addressing the rights of the child.
Neslihan worked for the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture for five years. Since 2021 she has been working full time as the Project Manager for Anything for A Smile association.
Talal Tamerkhan
Volunteer
Talal is from Damascus and is graduated from Çukurova University in the Civil Engineering Department. He has been living in Turkey since 2013. Talal speaks English, Turkish and Arabic. For years, he managed the Safe Haven Refugee Program.
In the past two years, Talal has worked for WHO funded projects for refugees, but continues to volunteer for and promote Safe Haven for Refugees.