As the day begins, a sweet rush fills the home. The voices of children getting ready for school, the clinking of dishes in the kitchen, the small footsteps hurrying from one room to the next… Leyla sometimes just stops and listens to these sounds, like a melody she hums along to when her favorite song is playing…
Among those sounds is also the voice of 13-year-old Mina*, who dreams of becoming an engineer and designing houses that cannot be destroyed by earthquakes. Her dream blends with the other cheerful voices in the house. Each of these sounds is part of a life held tightly together with hope. Leyla has five children; three boys and two girls. Her husband, who is a construction worker, provides for the family.
Leyla and her family’s story began in 2015 when they came from Syria to Hatay. Though they had very few belongings with them, they carried a strong hope of building a life for their children. They learned through experience the challenges of living in a new country, of trying to stay strong without knowing the language, and of facing financial hardships step by step.
“At first, not being able to express ourselves was a heavy burden”, says Leyla. “But things changed once the children started going to school. They learned, and we learned from them. With every word they brought home from school, we also learned a new language at home, which eventually became a part of our lives.”
Just when things had started falling into place, their lives were once again shaken by the February 6 earthquakes. For a while, the family stayed in a tent with their own means. Afterwards, they settled into a container city. It was not an easy time for them. But for Leyla, what mattered most was staying by her children’s side and helping them re-engage in daily life.
After their time in a container city, the family began searching for a rental home. Right at this point, this transition became possible thanks to the cash assistance provided through the project implemented by Save the Children Türkiye and the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM).
Leyla describes that period with the following words: “When we heard that we started looking for a house. The financial support we received at that time was a relief we could never forget. We were able to pay off our debts, which had been a heavy burden for us. Then we moved into a house. Most of our belongings had been damaged in the earthquake, so with this support we were also able to buy the essential items for our home. Our children’s education is very important. Being part of this project not only strengthened our present situation, but also our goals for the future. Now our children have school clothes, and they are happy when they go to school. They can now focus on their education more easily. My greatest dream is for them to have a good profession.”
Today, the greatest joy for Leyla is getting her children ready for school every morning. Despite her exhaustion, she finds strength in watching them leave the house dressed and carrying their bags.
One of the liveliest voices at home belongs to 13-year-old Mina. Mina goes to middle school and wants to be a civil engineer when she grows up. This dream has become even more meaningful for her after the earthquake. “I want to build houses that cannot be destroyed by earthquakes,” she says.
But her dream is not only about having a profession; it is about building a safer future without forgetting what has happened in the past. She says she is pursuing this dream not only for herself but for everyone. Mina knows that this can be achieved through education. She often mentions how important it is for her to continue attending school and have access to learning materials. She says that the assistance she receives makes not only her present possible, but also the future she hopes to build.
Today, this home in Hatay is not just a place where life continues, but one where a new way of life is slowly being built. What Leyla wants for her children is actually very simple, yet also very important: For them to be safe, continue their education, and shape their own paths.
Hope often goes beyond big words and is found in the children’s voices that fill the home in the mornings. And sometimes, a single dream emerging among those voices is enough to make tomorrow much brighter than today.