"We Lost Everything in the Earthquake" "Great Comfort in Seeing the Children"...Thank-You Letters from T?rkiye

Earthquake Survivors in T?rkiye Express Gratitude to Hope Bridge

Children affected by the earthquake in Turkey are participating in educational and emotional support activities at the Korean Village Cultural Center established by Hope Bridge. Hope Bridge

"It is a great comfort that children can learn and communicate in a safe space."

Hasel Atilgan, who is raising two children in a container village, a temporary housing facility following the massive earthquake that struck T?rkiye in 2023, wrote this in a letter to Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association (President Lim Chaecheong). Another survivor, Esmanur Yildirim, wrote in her letter, "We lost everything in the earthquake, but the cultural center once again gave our family a sense of security, like a home, and was a great support as we tried to rebuild our lives."

Hope Bridge has established the Korean Village Cultural Center in the Iskenderun area of Hatay Province, T?rkiye, to support the recovery of earthquake victims. Recently, as a result of these activities, letters of gratitude from survivors have been delivered to the association. These thank-you letters express heartfelt appreciation for Hope Bridge's support and the operation of the cultural center, which have provided significant help in rebuilding lives disrupted by the earthquake.

The Korean Village Cultural Center is a multifunctional community space with a total floor area of 330 square meters, established by Hope Bridge with an investment of approximately 400 million won (310,000 dollars) after the earthquake. Currently, it plays a key role in providing educational and emotional support within the temporary settlement, which houses about 540 households and more than 2,500 residents.

Thank You Letter from Earthquake Victims in T?rkiye. Hope Bridge

Additionally, the cultural center, which incorporates traditional Korean latticework and tiled roof designs, features a variety of spaces, including a Korean language classroom, computer classroom, audiovisual room, children's playroom and kindergarten, as well as a kitchen and dining hall.

Since the center opened, Hope Bridge has selected Korea Food for the Hungry International as the implementing agency through an operational grant program worth about 302 million won, and has continuously expanded educational and cultural programs such as child-friendly spaces, psychological and emotional support, and community participation activities. This year, the center has also carried out resident-driven activities, including hygiene campaigns, environmental improvements, and parent participation events, further broadening the scope of community recovery. As of October 2025, the cumulative number of center users has reached approximately 11,000.

Shin Hoon, Secretary General of Hope Bridge, stated, "What is most meaningful is that our ongoing care on the ground after the earthquake in our brother nation T?rkiye has provided even a small amount of support for the daily recovery of survivors. As a reliable partner standing by disaster victims, Hope Bridge will continue to provide responsible support so that residents can safely continue their lives."