In 2017, Amina and Yusuf came to Türkiye from Syria in hope of building a safer future for their children. The family, who began living in Hatay, resided in a temporary accommodation area for a certain period following the devastating earthquake. Life had to be rebuilt in this household of nine due to difficulties related to the children’s health and access to education. The family believed that through education, daily life would be restored, and hopes, plans, and faith in the future would be strengthened.
While three of the family’s four school-aged children had to stay home due to their medical conditions, 8-year-old Omar, who remained out of school, could not start his education as his address registration had not been completed.
A Big Change Through Small Steps
Through the “Support for Earthquake-Affected Children and Families in Hatay” Project, implemented by Save the Children Türkiye and ASAM, the family was reached and provided with financial assistance. Necessary household items were also supplied through ASAM’s other ongoing projects. After many days of uncertainty, this support opened the door to a new chapter in the family’s life.
Omar was finally enrolled in school. He now had a school bag, clothes, and essential education supplies needed to continue his education. While project teams supported the medical process of the other children who could not attend school, they also assisted the mother and children during treatments, hospital appointments, and communication. The children now look forward to the day they will return to school following their treatment.
Each small step taken also began to change the atmosphere within the household. Hopes that had long been postponed became part of daily life once again. Now, the days at home are spent making plans together, sharing dreams, and looking towards the future with greater confidence.
24 January, International Day of Education, reminds us once again that when education touches the life of a child, it is not just an individual achievement; it is also a powerful force that transforms a family’s daily life and their perspective towards the future. Education changes the rhythm of not only children’s lives, but also of the entire household. While days can start being re-planned, the family begins to build their hopes for the future with more solid steps, and behind this joy everyone feels but rarely expresses lies a truth whispered softly: A child going to school is a family coming back to life.