Construction of a multilingual nursery in the earthquake region of Hatay

Horror and grief characterise the feelings of most people since the devastating earthquake of 06.02.2023 in eleven regions of Turkey. Our deepest sympathy goes to the relatives and survivors of the countless earthquake victims. Now more than ever, we must take responsibility for our transnational common future. Despite the shattering events, we cannot and must not give the impression that we are walking into a dark, uncertain future. 
 
Antakya has always been considered a melting pot of many religions and cultures - a living space that people with their needs for diverse identity, security and community have made their home and have lived together peacefully for thousands of years. 
 
The Antakya region has a considerable and sincere interest in the continued success of integration and the transculturality that has been lived and practised for decades. Due to the earthquake disaster, people have not only lost their homes and jobs, any living space has been destroyed. Children and young people, who are the jewels of our future, consequently no longer have places to develop personally, to be a child, to pursue their needs and discover their talents.  
 
Therefore, we intend to use our existing know-how in child and youth education to support the Hatay region in the infrastructural reconstruction with the construction of a multilingual day care centre in Samandağ. Reconstruction is an opportunity for sustainable development and raising quality standards. With our industry knowledge from Germany, we would like to contribute in Hatay. This is done through wonderful cooperative work with the urban communities in Hatay. 

So far, we have been able to distribute over 400 heated tents as well as hygiene items through donations.  High quality educational play and learning materials for children have been purchased and play tents for children have been erected as extended living and experiential spaces. At the same time, volunteers, most of them with educational qualifications, prepare pupils for the university entrance exams. We would like to continue this! 

What is planned? 

- Construction of a multilingual day-care centre according to European standards with Turkish, German and English as language options.

- Trainee programme/qualification measure for educational specialists and teachers (models of multilingual education, trauma-sensitive elementary education, democracy education, transculturality, child and violence protection concepts, practical exercises and training units) 

- Transfer of the multilingual day care centre into the ownership of the municipality 

- Twinning between our locations in Germany and the Hatay region 

- Initiation of exchange programmes for educational specialists and teachers