February recap: BTF visits Hatay

Dear First name / friend of Bridge to Türkiye,

 

Our recent mission in February led us to Hatay, a province deeply scarred by the earthquakes of last year. We were able to witness firsthand how your generous donations have fueled a journey of healing and hope, and we're eager to share the progress with you.

 

📍 İskenderun: We began at YUVA's timber shelter for the Turkish Down Syndrome Association, a sanctuary where children with disabilities receive the vital care and rehabilitation they need to thrive. Next, we visited İskenderun Technical University Vocational School campus, a site left in ruins after the February 6 earthquakes. Partnering with the  Eymir Culture Foundation, we're working to restore this key educational institution, essential for developing Türkiye's technical workforce.

 

📍 Antakya: Our visit to the Cerebral Palsy Türkiye facilities in Antakya brought to light the incredible physiotherapy work being done for children affected by the quakes, including young amputees.

 

📍 Serinyol: At the Serinyol Music House, a collaborative effort with YUVA, El Ele Association, and Karsu Foundation, we witnessed the transformative power of music as it touched the lives of over 830 students.

 

📍 Samandağ: With the Çocuklar Gülsün Diye association, we celebrated the opening of our third kindergarten, which will serve 100 students every year.

 

📍 Defne: At the Nesin Foundation’s mobile workshop, the ongoing psychosocial support provided a beacon of stability for the children still dealing with the earthquake's aftermath.

 

📍 Adana: Our journey concluded at the Child Wellness Center in Adana, a beacon of hope for child amputees. Born out of an early collaboration between Turkish-American doctors and BTF, this center is now flourishing under Çukurova University's care and leadership.

 

To this day, your support has been instrumental in all of these initiatives. For more insights into the difference we're making together, we invite you to explore our Türkiye Earthquakes Fund Donor Impact Report. Your generosity continues to pave the way for hope and resilience in Hatay and beyond.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Bridge to Türkiye Fund

Introducing “METU in Hatay”: 

A campaign dedicated to revitalizing Türkiye's future

Join us in an essential mission to reconstruct İskenderun Technical University’s Vocational School Campus (ISTE-MYO), destroyed by the February 6th earthquakes last year. BTF has partnered with the Eymir Culture Foundation (ECF) to spearhead a campaign that not only aims to rebuild the campus, but also to safeguard the future of Türkiye’s economy by empowering a new generation with the skills needed for tomorrow.

 

Before its destruction in the earthquakes, ISTE-MYO was a cornerstone institution in mitigating the workforce misalignment in Türkiye. With its annual output of nearly 1,000 graduates, the school was instrumental in supplying Türkiye's industries with much-needed skilled technical labor. The loss of İSTE-MYO's campus signifies more than just the physical destruction – it amplifies the country’s labor market crisis by eliminating a key educational facility dedicated to resolving the shortage of skilled technical workers, further challenging Türkiye's industrial sectors.

 

BTF is matching every dollar in donations up to $250,000, doubling the impact of your contribution towards a cause that seeks to heal the wounds of the earthquakes through building economic resilience in the long term. 

 

Feyza's Kitchen: Screening schedule is out

Seats are running out fast!

Click below to grab yours now:

📌 Chicago, IL: March 8, hosted by the BTF Chicago Giving Circle

📌 Boston, MA: March 8, hosted by the BTF Boston Giving Circle

📌 Pittsburgh, PA: March 9, hosted by the BTF Pittsburgh Giving Circle

📌 La Paz, Bolivia: March 11, hosted by the BTF Bolivia Giving Circle

📌 Washington, DC: March 22, co-hosted by the American Turkish Association of Washington DC (ATA-DC)

📌 Portland, OR: March 24, co-hosted by the Oregon Turkish American Association (ORTA)

📌 Sydney, Australia: April 7, hosted by the BTF Australia Giving Circle

📌 Chapel Hill, NC: April 13, co-hosted by the Aziz & Gwen Sancar Foundation

A message from our Chicago Giving Circle