Hope for a Brother Nation Struck by Earthquake... Hope Bridge Launches "Continuous Care" in Turkey

A learning program for children is being conducted at the 'Korean Village Cultural Center' in Iskenderun, Turkey. Hope Bridge

Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association (Chairman Song Pilho) announced on May 13 that in 2023, it visited the Iskenderun area of Hatay Province, Turkey, which was struck by a massive earthquake, to carry out a "continuous care project" for displaced victims and engage in on-site activities such as distributing hygiene kits.

Secretary General Shin Hoon, Standing Auditor Jin Segun, and other staff members participated in the visit. Together with officials from the Iskenderun Disaster Management Authority (AFAD), they visited the "Korean Village Cultural Center," which Hope Bridge established immediately after the earthquake, to inspect its operations.

Hope Bridge delivered hygiene kits worth 45 million KRW to 500 households in the Iskenderun area. To help earthquake victims recover their daily lives, Hope Bridge plans to expand its "continuous care project" in close cooperation with the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), focusing on education, psychological recovery, and livelihood stabilization.

Shin Hoon, Secretary General of Hope Bridge, is delivering hygiene kits to displaced residents living in temporary housing facilities in Turkey. Hope Bridge

The Korean Village Cultural Center is a 330-square-meter (approximately 100 pyeong) multi-purpose community space that Hope Bridge established in 2023 by investing about 400 million KRW (310,000 USD) to help children and adolescents affected by the earthquake overcome trauma and receive emotional support.

The Korean Village Cultural Center features traditional Korean wooden latticework and tiled roof designs, conveying the warmth of Korean culture to local residents. The center includes a Korean language classroom, an audiovisual room for music videos and movie screenings, a playroom and kindergarten for children, and a kitchen and dining area. In addition, it is equipped with practical supplies for education and daily life, such as desks and chairs for learning, heating and cooling units, beam projectors, and laptops.

Since establishing the center, Hope Bridge has selected Korea Food for the Hungry International as the project implementing agency through a public contest worth approximately 320 million KRW. It has been running various educational and cultural programs, including support for the recovery of more than 540 displaced households, operation of child-friendly spaces, and psychological and emotional support.

Displaced residents in the Iskenderun area are receiving hygiene kits from Hope Bridge. Hope Bridge

An official from the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) stated, "The Korean Village Cultural Center is used as a playground and cafe, becoming a daily space that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can comfortably visit. Residents who suffered from depression due to the earthquake have found emotional recovery and renewed communication and vitality among the community through the programs offered here."

Shin Hoon, Secretary General of Hope Bridge, commented locally, "This is not just a facility, but a space of hope where we can embrace each other's wounds and envision the future together. We will do our utmost to ensure that displaced residents can stand up again through continuous care and cooperation."

Since the early days of the earthquake, Hope Bridge has invested about 2.5 billion KRW (1.88 million USD) to support 200 temporary housing units, home appliances such as heating devices, furniture, and emergency relief supplies.