Basic Rights Workshop for Women After Disaster and Ras Es Seni (Antakya New Year) Celebration with SOYAÇ

Textile Workshop at Mimar Sinan Temporary Housing Center Hosts Another Meaningful Event for Women and Children in Post-Disaster Recovery

Established in collaboration between the Center for the Application and Research of Street-Working and Homeless Children (SOYAÇ) and the Aid Convoy Association in the aftermath of the earthquake, the Textile Workshop at Mimar Sinan Temporary Housing Center in Antakya continues to serve as a platform for empowering women and children through a gender-sensitive approach to disaster experiences. This time, the workshop welcomes 15 women and their children under the age of 18, taking a significant step toward both individual and collective empowerment.

As part of the "From Layered Burdens to Collective Empowerment: Online Awareness Workshop for Women in Post-Disaster Recovery" project, the "Advocacy Workshop: Fundamental Rights for Women After Disasters" is being conducted with the support of Maltepe University Scientific Research Projects (MÜAR). The workshop provides an important opportunity for women to develop coping strategies, enhance their capacity to advocate for their rights, and help reduce the likelihood of at-risk children and adolescents being drawn into crime or street life in the aftermath of disasters. This week's session, which will focus specifically on fundamental rights after disasters, coincides with the beginning of the new year.

The event is led by SOYAÇ Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökçesu Akşit Dudaklı, with contributions from volunteer SOYAÇ students Berfin Kurt Algan (Maltepe University Social Work graduate) and Berivan Gökdemir (Maltepe University Social Work student).

Ras Es-Seni Celebration: Reviving Cultural Heritage and Strengthening Community Bonds

At the same time, another significant milestone is being reached at Mimar Sinan Temporary Housing Center in Antakya. The Ras Es-Seni celebration, a long-standing New Year tradition in the region, will be organized collectively for 2025.

This event, led by SOYAÇ with the participation of volunteer SOYAÇ students and staff, symbolizes a new beginning in the journey of both individual and collective awareness and empowerment. Beyond preserving cultural heritage, the celebration aims to foster post-earthquake solidarity and rebuild social connections. Different ethnic communities will enrich the gathering with their rituals and traditional dishes, making this event a space that reinforces coexistence and cultural diversity in the region.

Organized by:

Center for the Application and Research of Street-Working and Homeless Children (SOYAÇ)

📅 Date: January 7, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00
📍 Location: Mimar Sinan Temporary Housing Center, Antakya