Disaster Response Turkey Project #58540

Heal the Wounds in Turkiye

by Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization

Project Report | Jan 22, 2025
Education is a Priority for Every Child

By ASAM | Project Leader

Asif, who migrated from Syria to Türkiye, is a child who has tightly embraced his education despite the challenges he faced at a young age. Asif started primary school after arriving in Türkiye. However, due to a liver surgery he underwent during infancy, he continues to face health issues and requires regular check-ups as advised by doctors. Despite these difficulties, his family has been doing everything they can to support his education.

Before the earthquake, Asif worked at a dessert shop after school for some time. His family was informed about the legal dimensions and sanctions of child labor in Türkiye, and Asif was redirected to focus on school. As a result, child labor was halted, and Asif began attending school regularly.

After the earthquake, the family faced new economic difficulties, which put Asif's education at risk once again. Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM) provided the family with further information about Türkiye’s compulsory education system. They were guided to communicate with the school administration, ensuring that Asif’s education continued without interruption.

Asif successfully completed primary school and regularly attends the 5th grade, making significant progress in his education. His mother proudly shared, “Asif loves school and his lessons. He gets ready with excitement every morning and is happy to go to school.” She described him as a successful child.

Asif’s biggest dream is to become a doctor and contribute to his family and society.

This hopeful story reminds us again of the importance of ensuring and supporting children’s access to education.

(Note: The real name of the beneficiary has been changed.)

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Sep 25, 2024
Nazan's Struggle for Life After the Earthquake

By ASAM | Project Leader

Nazan, who lives in Hatay, is one of the thousands of people affected by the earthquake disaster in Türkiye. She was living with her two siblings at the time of the earthquake. Nazan, who was already struggling with cancer, lost her brother, who worked in the municipality, in the earthquake. The tragedy they experienced shook the two sisters deeply; they both had difficulty in covering their health expenses and tried to hold on to life again.

Nazan expresses the difficulties they are going through in the following words: “I even forgot my physical pain as I was mourning my brother. It has been a very difficult two years. My sister had a very hard time coping with my illness and the loss of our younger brother.”

Nazan and her sister met with the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization(ASAM) to cope with their traumas. The counseling they received on post-earthquake trauma and stress disorder made a big change in their lives. Nazan said, “It felt really good to talk to someone and get help. Also, the food aid provided by ASAM was very important for us. Our diet and economy had been turned upside down; I can't tell you how much this help meant to us.”

Stating that her cancer is in remission and that she continues her treatments, Nazan emphasizes that the process she is going through is directly related to stress: “Stress is the friend of this disease. Yes, I cannot say that my life is very good, but I want to continue to fight for my sister and myself. I want to thank ASAM psychologists once again for boosting my motivation. Overcoming difficulties is sometimes not easy on its own. Thank you very much to everyone who made it easier. I am getting better.”

Nazan's experience reminded us again what difficulties earthquake victims' families experience, both physically and emotionally, and how important solidarity is in this process.

(Note: The real name of the beneficiary has been changed.)

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May 28, 2024
A Family's Difficult Journey

By ASAM | Project Leader

While Muhammad and Aisha were living their lives in Aleppo, the civil war that broke out in 2011 turned their entire lives upside down. As the violence of the war increased, they decided to migrate to Türkiye in 2013, taking their two children with them. This decision led them on a dangerous journey.

When the family arrived in Türkiye, they learned that Aisha's family lived in a district of Gaziantep and they settled in with them. At first, they were guests at Aisha's family's house. After a while, they decided to stand on their own feet and rented a small house in the district. Establishing their new life was not easy at all; difficulties and uncertainties were intertwined.

Muhammad immediately started looking for a job to support his family. He first started working on a farm, but could not earn enough money in this job. He later returned to the construction industry, but due to health problems he had to change jobs frequently and worked irregularly.

New Challenges Coming with the February 6 Earthquake

The earthquake that shook Turkey on February 6, 2023, turned Muhammad and Aisha's lives upside down again. Their house was severely damaged in the earthquake and the family was once again in a difficult situation. They entered into a struggle to rebuild a life. During this process, it was revealed that one of their children, their hearing-impaired daughter, needed special education. While the family did not know what to do about this, they had the opportunity to meet Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM).

The family, who met ASAM, received support in their children's education processes. Children who could not go to school for a while after the earthquake returned to school with the help of ASAM. They both continued their school education and received private education. This process became a new ray of hope for the family. Muhammed and Aisha stated that they were very happy to follow their children's education regularly and observe their development.

Looking to the Future with Hope

Despite all the difficulties they experienced and the countless obstacles they encountered, Muhammad and Aisha did not lose hope for the future. While they struggled with both their own health problems and their children's educational needs, they managed to survive with the support they received from society. The family is trying to rebuild a life thanks to their efforts and aid. They continue to do their best to put their lives in order in Türkiye and for their children to have a better future.

The difficult journey of Muhammad and Aisha is a reflection of the stories of thousands of families. Their struggle against the destruction caused by war and earthquake shows how strong human solidarity and hope are.

(Note: The real name of the beneficiaries have been changed.)

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