Çağlar, who lives in Arsuz, Hatay, is an earthquake survivor who has never had a job before. Having been employed within the scope of the WFP (United Nations World Food Programme) Early Recovery by Socioeconomic Empowerment and Sustainability (SES) Project at Arsuz Soup Kitchen, where she was cooking as a volunteer, Çağlar is quite happy to be working in a job with social security coverage. With the income she earns, she is singlehandedly providing for her household and endeavoring to improve the living conditions of her family. The WFP Early Recovery by SES Project is a source of hope that keeps her going through these difficult days.

The biggest dream of Aysel Çağlar, a primary school graduate, is to ensure that her 12-year-old daughter receives an education and acquires a profession. She wants to cover her daughter’s education expenses with the income she will earn from her job, and thereby put her daughter’s education life, which has been interrupted due to and negatively affected by the earthquake, back on track.

As a mother, one of the most challenging situations for Çağlar is that one of her sons has a heart condition. She says that this job is a chance for her to continue her son’s treatment: “A child is the most important thing for a parent… This Soup Kitchen will enable me to have my child treated for his critical health issue…”

A child is the most important thing for a parent…

Aysel Çağlar

Çağlar, who is a chef at Arsuz Soup Kitchen providing meals to nearly 400 earthquake survivors, is pleased to be able to help people who are earthquake survivors like her.

Çağlar notes that it is important that Arsuz Soup Kitchen keeps providing meals even though they are experiencing a shortage of ingredients in Arsuz, where houses have been demolished and there is a shortage of food and water: “They need the meals we provide; at least their bellies are full amidst of all these deaths and hardships.”