Feeling Heard and Being Seen
September 5, 2023

Greetings from a blazingly hot Izmir. July was a very productive month for us. During this month, we have had two Transformational Community Development (TCD) events. Our first event was in the tent city in Malatya. We had a team of healthcare professionals from South Carolina who served women, children, youth, and caregivers. The mayor of a district in Izmir also accompanied us. Earthquake victims, especially women and caregivers, informed us that this trauma counseling was much needed, and they were very pleased to welcome this team. Earthquake victims also told us this ministry helped them get over their trauma, or at least gave them the tools to cope with it. They felt like they were heard, they were seen, and they mattered. The team also spent time playing with children. They had a story time, and they made crafts and performed a drama. The games they played gave them an opportunity to interact with each other and share their experiences. The team taught the children how to perform breathing and body exercises to cope with stress.
Our second event was an International Volunteer Educators Conference. We had a team of educators from Hershey, PA, visit us. They implemented a training program consisting of four modules. We had time for learning, playing games, and Q&A. We also visited Pergamum and Ephesus. It was a great learning experience for the Turkish teachers. They built a special bond with their counterparts.
Thank you!
Written by: Basak Celik
GHNI National Field Leader
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