The people who taught me what service means
What We Saw
On February 6, 2023, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Türkiye near the Syrian border, followed by a series of powerful aftershocks. Millions of people were affected by the earthquake and its aftermath. In Türkiye alone, approximately 3.3 million people were displaced, while in Syria hundreds of thousands of families lost their homes and access to essential services. Communities already facing years of conflict, displacement, and economic hardship were confronted with yet another challenge.
Ismahan, whose family had lived on the streets for two months after the earthquake, found meaning in transforming discarded materials into small gardens.
Us trying out the Syrian Hajab, dressed by our very own Raida and Shahd Alswidan!
Documented in 2025, two years after the earthquake.
A kitchen floor tile, once part of someone’s home
Day 1 — We called Shahd, an orphan who had lost her entire family in the earthquake, in front of her mother’s grave. Two months had already passed, yet she still lacked the courage to visit her. Many graves had no proper headstone; instead, a wooden board marked with a number indicated that a body was buried beneath.
Our first dinner in Turkey, made by the Alswidan family, a family that have been displaced twice by the war and the earthquake.
Shahd (left) and Raida (right) have became sisters to me. Shahd's passion in photography and talkative nature, Raida's ability to learn three languages on her own and her maturity stayed with me.
Learning Syrian deserts with Shahd, whom being the same age as me, have to carry all of these burdens (she's a natural!)
Last day-the Alswidan Family have became a family that I have in Turkey. I promise them, that one day, I will visit them in Syria (their homeland that they cannot return)
What We Carried
Bracelet Workshops!
Across five grades, we spread the stories that we heard and gathered 300+ of bracelets made by students, with notes of encouragement tied to each
They have been made successfully to the refugees!
warm messages coming from students, teachers, and parents wishing the refugees well
Christmas Bazaar!
Based on what we learn from Shahd, we attempted at Syrian deserts, promoting Syrian culture. Additionally, continuing our bracelet workshops, we successfully raised enough money to buy Shahd a camera of her own (her first professional device)
The story didn't just end here. Using the photos Shahd took, we hosted Through Their Eyes, an exhibition featuring her works and another refugees' literary work
Jordan and the three founders spread their stories to the entire middle school
Lunch Panel where students who signed up have the opportunity to engage live with refugees as we zoomed in
Jordan's Campus Visit!
Jordan hattar is the founder of Help4Refugees NGO and had devoted his time to help the refugees ever since the earthquake happened. Throughout the two days, we scheduled in class visits, connecting his experience and stories to real classroom topics.