We are building children’s playgrounds and women’s sports areas in Hatay

MaviKalem has been providing support to women, children and disaster survivors since the day it was founded. On 6 February, following the earthquakes that devastated the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions of Turkey, we started working in Hatay and Adana. Our support work started with the distribution of necessities in the Hatay earthquake zone and continues with the installation of playgrounds and women’s sports areas in the region.

First setups completed in Samandağ

We established the sports areas and playgrounds created for women to get away from housework and for children to have fun for the first time in Samandağ district in September. We have created an outdoor sports equipment section where women can do sports. Right next to it, we have included a children’s play group where children can play. We will continue to create children’s playgrounds and women’s sports areas by adding Antakya, Defne, Kırıkhan and Arsuz districts.

“We’ve been wanting to build a park here for years. I’m glad you’re here.”

MaviKalem Board Member – Emergency Operation and Communication Focal Person Meryem Tomak, who has been participating in the support activities in Hatay since February, stated the following:

“After the earthquake, there was no space left for women and children to relax. In our interviews with women, they talk about things such as not being able to spare time for themselves from housework and having to cook for the neighbourhood instead of the family. We observe this very clearly. One woman said, ‘Can’t you build a park here? The children are very bored’. Then we decided to build these parks. When I saw the park installation in Samandağ, I really had tears in my eyes. How happy the children were… When we went to look for a place for the installation in Defne, a neighbourhood resident said, ‘We have been wanting to build a park here for years. I’m glad you came here’.”

You can find more information about our work and observations in the Hatay earthquake zone here.