Heal the Wounds in Turkiye

2023 earthquakes had left Esma and her family facing a long period of uncertainty. After being forced to leave their heavily damaged home, the family eventually began living in a container settlement. While trying to adapt to their new life, one of the things that drew Esma Hanm’s attention most was the silence of her children.

“After the earthquake, I didn’t think my son would be able to laugh like he used to again for a long time,” says Esma, describing how Ömer began to change again after the difficult days spent in the container city. She says that the time Ömer spent in the Child Friendly Spaces established within the container city as part of one of the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM) project played an important role in his life. Through games, drawings, and the new friendships he formed, Ömer started expressing himself more comfortably.

The time spent in the child-friendly spaces gradually began to change this silence. At first, Ömer watched the activities from a distance, but over time he slowly became involved in the games, conversations, and friendships. Eventually, he transformed into not only a child who spoke more, but also one who felt more visible and included. The pictures he drew with colored pencils, the friendships he built, and the emotions he began to share helped restore hope within the family as well.

Today, Ömer is a child who plays with his friends, shares his feelings, and expresses himself more confidently. One of his favorite moments during the day is when he picks up his colored pencils and starts drawing.

As he talks about the colorful houses, wide skies, and bright suns he draws, he smiles. When asked how drawing makes him feel, he summarizes it in one sentence:

“When I draw, I create the world the way it feels in my heart.”

Ömer’s mother, Esma, explained that throughout the process with ASAM, she observed significant positive changes both in her son and in herself. She shared that Ömer, who had once been more withdrawn, was now communicating more comfortably with his friends, learning to share, and feeling happier. She also emphasized how meaningful the process had been for her personally.

“I used to feel very alone,” she said. “Now I know that I am not alone.”

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