Seen, Heard, and Built Together
Zerrin, a 9-year-old from Adıyaman, was asked a simple question: what would she like to add to the playground in her neighborhood? She did not ask
IMPACT AREAS
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
THE CHALLENGE
Türkiye is confronting a multi-faceted environmental crisis—marked by biodiversity loss, water stress, and wildfires—that threatens communities and ecosystems alike. Despite modest progress in expanding forest cover (rising from 26.7 % of land area in 1999 to 29 % in 2020), the country continues to experience significant tree cover loss: between 2021 and 2024, natural forests lost an estimated 142,000 hectares—about 53 % of that loss concentrated in just nine regions, with Muğla alone losing 72,000 hectares. Türkiye’s vulnerability to climate-driven disasters is profound: in 2024 there were some 3,800 wildfires, burning 27,000 hectares of land. Meanwhile, per-capita freshwater supply stands near 1,300 m³ per year, placing the country squarely in the water-stressed category. These trends not only erode natural resilience, they also widen the gap between sustainable development and reality, demanding urgent, innovative, and equitable solutions across the nation.
WHAT WE DO
PARTNERS
READY TO TAKE ACTION?
This project reaches 1,600 children with hands-on biodiversity education focused on the Marmara Sea. By inspiring young guardians, it creates a ripple effect that reaches over 10,000 children and families.
Environment & Sustainability$0 USD / $60,000 USD
STORIES
Where Children Found Space to Play Again
In Hatay, a space created for children in the aftermath of the earthquakes became the setting for something unexpected: a film made by children about their own rights.
Still Beneath the Surface
In the mid-1980s, a farmer in Şanlıurfa was working his field when he came across several stones, heavy, carved, and unfamiliar. He took them to a museum,
Turning Emergency Response into Lasting Capacity
Some of the most complex challenges facing communities cannot be addressed by philanthropy, academia, or local organizations working alone.
A Place to Find Her Voice
After the February 2023 earthquakes, children in Hatay lost far more than buildings and familiar surroundings. Daily routines disappeared, communities were
Home Away from Home.
We’re Here Hatay was founded immediately after the twin earthquakes by locals supporting their neighbors, friends, and families, and they’ve stayed