Painting lives with blue
In the heart of southern Türkiye, a 45-year-old Gizem lives with her five children and her ailing husband, bearing a pain too deep. The devastating 2023 earthquake in Türkiye not only destroyed her home but also shattered her life, claiming the lives of several siblings and leaving her family in deep grief and despair.
"It all happened in a second. Days, months, and years of hard work to build a life vanished in an instant. In one moment, we became people in the streets, without homes, without lives”, Gizem recalls.
Before the disaster, Gizem led a modest but content life, working tirelessly to provide for her family. "I didn’t have a luxurious life, but it was good enough for me and my family to be happy. I worked various jobs until I found a role with the Red Crescent, cooking and distributing meals in the community”, she says.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Gizem and her family sought refuge in the container city, a temporary accommodation centre. The cramped 20-meter space they now call home is a stark contrast to their previous life. However, amidst the challenges, a glimmer of hope appeared when World Vision Syria Response’s team reached out to her community with a project aimed at helping earthquake survivors rebuild their lives through psychological support.
"When World Vision told us about the project and what they were doing, we were so excited, not just me but my whole family. After losing ten close family members, we couldn’t stop thinking about the devastation and how our lives had changed completely. These activities you’re doing are incredible. They keep us engaged and help us cope with the trauma", Gizem shares.
*Gizem enjoys tailoring with small beads, creating beautiful shapes she has always dreamed of. World Vision Syria Response. – Samer Asaid
The project fosters psychological and social healing through creative activities like painting, crafts, and more. It reaches children, parents, and elderly residents of the container city, offering them a safe space to process their grief, build connections, and regain a sense of resilience.
"We are moving all week from one container settlement to another," Rana, Maide, and Yonca World Vision facilitators said. . "Our goal is to reach the most affected populations, understand their pain, and help them heal together. Through painting, crafting, Cinema sessions and other psychological activities, we aim to bring life back into their spirits."
The World Vision mobilization team working in the container city of Islahiye, supporting the community. World Vision Syria Response. – Samer Asaid
For Gizem’s mother, who was deeply affected by the loss of many of her children, these activities have been transformative. "She was so depressed but the painting course gave her something to focus on. I’ll never forget her pride when she pointed to her painting displayed in the exhibition, shares Gizem. ‘Even though I can’t read or write, I had my painting in the exhibition. If I’d been discovered earlier, I could have been a great painter, reflects Gizem’s mother.
Despite the hardships, Gizem remains a pillar of strength for her family. "Sometimes, I feel like I’m standing alone in this harsh life," she admits. "But when I think of my five children, I know I must keep standing strong for them and this project helped me achieve that. I always tell them to value education and humanity above all. Be educated, be human, and make others feel your humanity."
World Vision Syria Response. – Samer Asaid
The psychological support project, implemented by World Vision Syria Response, continues to provide a lifeline for Gizem and over 3000 other families. By creating opportunities for healing and connection, it is helping survivors of the earthquake rebuild their spirits and heal together.
In this container city, resilience shines brightly, proving that even in the face of unimaginable loss, healing is possible with the support of a caring community.
*Names are changed to protect identity.