IBBY Children in Crisis: Turkey
Temporary libraries and bibliotherapy in benefit of children affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
In February 2023, a series of violent earthquakes shook the south-east of Turkey and the neighbouring regions of Syria, affecting 15 million people (including more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees) in 11 Turkish provinces. Since then Turkey has witnessed a major domestic migration with nearly 2 million finding refuge to almost every region of the country. It took no longer than 4 days after the disaster for Çocuk ve Gençlik Yayınları Derneği–IBBY Turkey to start planning an initiative to support children in the affected areas.
The project includes the establishment of a children's libraries settled in prefabricated premises across the province of Gaziantep, the province most affected by the earhquakes and nearby the Syrian boarder. These prefabricated libraries are key as they serve as temporary learning spaces until the education programme is resumed and children are able to return to school.
In addition, IBBY Turkey is leading the necessary training of local volunteers to manage the libraries, while a reading curriculum, including expressive art therapy, bibliotherapy and storytelling, is being prepared for the use of teachers and the librarians. This programme will be implemented not only in Gaziantep but also in all Turkish provinces that have received massive flows of displaced children. Children's writers and illustrators also travel to these regions to work with children through reading and bibliotherapy activities.
Over 5,000 books, have been acquired and catalogued using the library coding system. The library collection already includes a small number audio-books, books in Braille for visually impaired children, as well as books in Arabic for refugees. Toys, board games and stationary kits were also provided. IBBY Turkey collaborated with the local NGO Günes Adalar, which established children's centres in container cities in Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, and Hatay. Read-alouds and authors visits are organized regularly. Many pictures of the facilities can be seen on the Güneş Adalar Instagram account.
A children's book festival was organized in December 2023 in the city of Hatay in collaboration with the Goethe Institute.
In cooperation with Adana Seyhan District Municipality, IBBY Turkey gave training on bibliotherapy, narrative therapy, expressionist art therapy and game therapy to 25 teachers working with earthquake victims who migrated to Adana from various provinces.
IBBY Turkey is finalizing the construction of a a container library in Kahramanmaraş upon the request of the local authorities. The ÇGYD (IBBY Türkiye) Library is due to open on 23 April. it will boast 3000 books for a population of around 250 children in the container city around.
The IBBY Children in Crisis Fund has embraced this important project that benefits 1,500 children in the affected region and appeal to your generous contribution to support this much needed initiative.
