The “Growing Up with Play” Project, implemented with the partnership of the Muzaffer Akpınar Foundation (MAV) and the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM), reminds children of the joy of smiling, sharing, and being together through play, while providing them with information at the same time. This area is not just a playground; it’s a meeting point where trust, solidarity, and hope are reborn.
“I let the balloons fly, I love chasing after them”
One of the children who loves the play area is 4-year-old Hasan. He keeps running around while talking to us, his excitement never fading even when he’s out of breath.“I let the balloons fly, I love chasing after them,” he says enthusiastically. With these words, he describes freedom, happiness, and the pure essence of being a child. As he runs around, he warms not only his own heart but ours as well.
Merve, Bahar and Hasan’s mother, explains that Hasan used to be a withdrawn child who struggled to follow rules before the project. But now, he comes up with games, he’s learning to share, and he acts more politely and calmly when speaking. He starts off drama activities at home on his own; he is no longer just a child who plays games, but one who can express his feelings and communicate.
“I can make anything with Legos”
Bahar, Hasan’s older sister is 6 years old.am
She loves creating her own imaginary world using Legos. As she carefully puts the colorful pieces together, she proudly says, “I can make anything with Legos”.
She explains that she can build anything she dreams of with Legos and that she always looks forward to playtime with great excitement. They get ready every morning with the same eagerness.
According to their mother’s observations, Bahar is now more careful with her drawings and makes use of colors more freely. Her relationship with her brother also grows stronger as her fine motor skills develop. They believe that the colorful world Bahar created with Legos has also been reflected in their home; play has become the shared joy of not only the children, but the entire family.
“I was deeply touched to see staff treat children with love and compassion”
“The earthquake devastated us all, and we couldn’t shake off its effects for a long time”, says Merve Hanım. “What pierced my heart the most was the children’s silence. Discovering this play area has truly been a blessing for us. I was deeply touched to see staff treat children with love and compassion. The presence of a psychologist every time we come here, along with the warm communication of staff, gives me a sense of trust. Seeing them patiently answer our questions, listen to us and guide us, makes us feel we are no longer alone.”
Indeed, this area has become a place not only for children, but also for parents to be able to breathe and find hope again. Every time we meet, the trust, love, and solidarity between us grow a little stronger, and play becomes a means for life to regain its colors.
Among all these beautiful feelings shared by dozens of children like Hasan and Bahar, we are well aware that;
The simple joys that thrive through play start with a child’s smile, reach everyone’s heart, and touch their lives.
Project Information Note
The “Growing Up with Play” project was launched by the Muzaffer Akpınar Foundation (MAV) and the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM) to enable children in Hatay, following the February 2023 earthquakes, to continue growing and developing with play, trust, and hope.
The project, which started in September 2025 at Hatay ISO Container City, will continue for six months.
The Child Friendly Spaces established under the project aim to support the holistic development of children aged 4–12, enable them to gain basic skills across multiple developmental areas, and help them return to their routines through psychosocial support activities.
