Tomurcuk Association (Tomurcuk Derneği) is receiving grant support from the 2nd phase of our Regional Recovery Support Program, launched under the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund. With this support, the association is fostering the well-being of children in the Serinyol neighbourhood of Antakya, Hatay, by creating safe spaces for peer interaction and hosting empowering awareness workshops. Additionally, they are engaging women through workshops on gender equality and women’s and children’s rights, and offering one-on-one sessions tailored to address specific needs.
Please read the following interview to learn more about their work.
You are working to support children’s well-being in Hatay. How would you assess the overall situation in Türkiye regarding this issue?
In Türkiye, there are organisations conducting valuable work in this field. However, the high levels of anxiety in our society highlight the need for more organisations and initiatives in this area. Addressing children’s needs effectively requires observing the local context accurately and designing long-term, rights-based programs. This is a challenging and labour-intensive process. As crises like disasters and their aftermath have shown us, children in Türkiye face numerous rights violations. Yet, the existing efforts often fall short of addressing these needs comprehensively.
At Tomurcuk Association, our goal is to go beyond short-term, momentary solutions. We focus on equipping children with stress management skills so they can sustain their own well-being in the long run. All our activities and interactions are interconnected, serving this overarching aim. For instance, the safe space we provide through our library and other activities has become more than just a place for occasional events. Children and parents now see it as a hub where they spend most of their time before school starts, complete their homework, read books, or simply socialise with friends.
With our grant support, you are currently running a project to support children’s well-being. Can you tell us about the project’s goals and activities?
The best evidence of our impact comes from the feedback we receive from children and parents. For example, in our journalism and writing workshops, we have observed significant improvements in children’s ability to express themselves, especially through writing and poetry. A parent told us about a child who previously struggled to spend time alone but now writes independently, engages in conversations, and creates their own games.
Through our yoga workshops, children are learning to connect with themselves and nature. Some even share how they greet the sun every morning. A short song we created about finding peace within ourselves and all around has become a favourite among the children, who often repeat it along with its movements.
Individual sessions with women and children complement our workshops, reinforcing the holistic approach we aim to implement. We’ve noticed significant changes in the participants between their first day and where they are now.
In the long term, we believe the continuity of these activities, alongside the safe spaces we are building, will strengthen children’s and women’s bonds with themselves and with each other. This will contribute to lifelong skills in managing stress.
Your project considers not only children’s well-being but also includes support for parents and education on children’s rights and journalism. How do collaborations contribute to this comprehensive approach?
Achieving holistic well-being requires continuity between the workshops and the home environment. That’s why we also include the children’s primary caregivers, often their mothers, in our target group. Through our regular meetings, we focus on providing content to help them, particularly in managing stress. For these efforts, we collaborate with organisations like the Women’s Solidarity Foundation.
For our work with children, we collaborate with the Sulukule Volunteers Association, a long-standing organisation in Istanbul focusing on rights-based activities for children. They assist us in program design, implementation, and resource development. They have supported us from the beginning in preparing content on children’s rights, implementing activities, and providing supervision.
The challenges in this field show us that realistic collaborations and sharing experiences are vital for achieving a holistic approach.
What are your future plans and priorities? How has our grant support influenced these goals?
The effects of the earthquakes will linger for many years. We will continue working to support children’s well-being during this time. In the long term, we aim to expand the Tomurcuk Association’s reach and provide lasting support to children and families. Establishing a permanent library and creating a trusted and well-known presence in the region is one of our primary goals. Additionally, we want to build a strong environment of solidarity among our staff and volunteers.
This project, realised with the support of the Support Foundation for Civil Society and Turkey Mozaik Foundation, has been a cornerstone in building our vision. We will continue to lay solid foundations to achieve our goals.
Why do you think it’s important for donors to support your work? Do you have a message for the supporters of the Fund?
We still have a long journey ahead to achieve our goals. To reach more children and parents and continue supporting well-being, particularly as the long-term effects of the earthquakes persist, we need solidarity and contributions from more donors and supporters.
