Young Syrians pursue their dreams in Istanbul

Istanbul

RECEPTIONIST, waiter, hairdresser, pastry seller: These are the jobs of the ambitious young Syrians who abandoned their dreams in Damascus to start from scratch in Istanbul.

In Fatih, a densely-packed neighbourhood that serves as a hub for Arabs in Turkey's biggest city, the traces of home are everywhere. The delicate scent of Aleppo's famous soap floats out of storefronts, mingling with the enticing aromas of the pistachio and almond pastries sold throughout Syria.

Rafik carefully piles a kilo of sticky baklava into a cardboard box bearing the legend "Treats fr…