GIRLS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE TO ORGANISE FUNDRAISER FOR THOSE HIT BY DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE

The recent earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023 was a tragedy that affected countless individuals and families.

By Sienna Özdemir (Year 11)

The loss of life, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of survivors were on a scale rarely seen before. So many people were in need of urgent care and support in the affected Turkish provinces, including Adana, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, and Sanliurfa.

As a group, we organised a food stall selling manoush in various flavours such as zaatar, cheese, zaatar and cheese, meat, and vegetarian to raise as much money as we could to help those in need. The funds we raised for the earthquake relief were a way to make a positive impact on the many lives that were affected by this disaster.

One of the most compelling reasons for us to put together this food stall was the fact that the people needed urgent assistance as the earthquake caused a number of issues, leaving people without access to bare necessities, such as food, water, shelter, and medical care. The funds provided critical resources to people in need. In addition to the immediate aid, organising the food stall for earthquake relief in Türkiye will also provide long-term recovery in rebuilding efforts in the region. Recovering from a natural disaster like this is a difficult process that requires sustained support and resources.

The fundraiser was a way to raise awareness and a sense of connection within the community. Bringing people together to support this cause shows solidarity with those affected by the earthquake. This can be a very powerful force for resilience and healing in the aftermath of a disaster. It allowed everyone in the school community to get involved and take meaningful action in the face of tragedy by supporting the cause and buying from the stall.

By raising over $15,000, we provided support to those affected by this terrible disaster, whilst also creating awareness for the relief effort.

As someone with family in Türkiye, this was a tragedy that was very close to my heart and was particularly meaningful and personal to me. Thanks to the help of friends, family, and the school community, this fundraiser was able to become a reality. Thank you to the people involved in the fundraiser:

Sienna Özdemir, Olivia Hassan, Lana Oueik, Myah Mourched, Zahara Chanine, Sybilla Bajugi