A small story of a true story that happened and continues to happen…
Following the February 6, 2023, earthquake, NGOs swiftly mobilized to address urgent needs within their respective areas of expertise, reflecting the gravity of the disaster. Those responding to the immediate needs of solidarity transitioned into more structured and organized projects in the subsequent phases.
As the Children First Association, we actively participated in these efforts to the best of our ability. In the immediate aftermath, we focused on delivering essential supplies for children and women, such as baby formula, diapers, and milk, to Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman, and Kahramanmaraş. Additionally, we provided cash support to women in urgent need within the region. These initial activities were made possible with the support of the Support Foundation for Civil Society and the Ciemen Foundation.
While continuing relief efforts in the earthquake zone, we began developing medium-term projects aimed at addressing our primary focus areas: children, culture, and the arts. During this process, we observed the work of other NGOs and engaged in discussions based on our field experiences, which shaped our approach for more sustainable interventions.
More sustainable projects
Two key observations stood out during our work in the earthquake zone. First, relief efforts were largely concentrated in major cities and their centers. While this focus was understandable due to the severe impact in urban areas, we identified an urgent need to address the “loneliness” of towns and villages, particularly those outside city centers.
Second, we noticed that culture and arts projects lacked sustainability. These initiatives, though valuable, were often short-lived and did not provide children with opportunities for ongoing learning or active participation in creative processes.
In response, we recognized the need for a permanent and sustainable project that would foster long-term engagement and production among children. Our goal became clear: to establish a center rooted in the local community’s resources and dynamics, where children could be at the heart of learning and creativity. This center would serve as a micro-model with lasting impact, even on a small scale. The first seeds of this vision were planted as we began field surveys and preliminary research.
“Too far, too close” and First seeds
Although the town of Kömür is very close to the center of Adıyaman, it is a small place that lives in a loneliness similar to a remote mountain village and did not receive its share of solidarity as much as it deserved during the earthquake. On the first day of the earthquake, we realized that we had established a good relationship with the people of Kömür and the local administration during the volunteer work we carried out here. In all the cultural work we carried out here, the frequency we achieved with the children left unforgettable impressions on us and surprised us with the richness of the productions. We were now convinced: If we could handle the bureaucratic processes, we could do good things in Kömür.
Solidarity expands and the seed sprouts
Of course, the first thing we did was to meet with the Kömür Municipality and tell them about our dreams. The first meetings we had with the local government increased our excitement even more because we were standing in the same place in terms of motivation. But of course, this was not a project that we could tackle alone. And anyway, the more solidarity was multiplied, the better the results would be. We prepared our project for the culture and arts center we would establish in Kömür, which had its feet on the ground and placed its goals on a realistic horizon without moving away from its dreams. It was a great chance for us to partner with the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) at the very first stage of the project. With mutual excitement and motivation, we started the establishment of the physical space, while at the same time we started negotiations to further expand solidarity. In this process, we met with many NGOs, institutions and individuals. As a result, Ma Music, Amed City Theater, Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry became partners in this dream.
However, these partnerships went beyond overcoming some technical and financial problems together. Ma Music’s partnership with the project meant that its work with children in Diyarbakır for years and its competence in this field would be reflected in Kömür. More importantly, the young people who had been involved in the production processes at Ma Music since their childhood would transfer their experiences to Kömür. We anticipated how fruitful it would be for people going through similar processes to contribute to each other, but even we were surprised to see the picture that emerged at the 1st Kömür Youth and Children’s Festival, which we will talk about shortly. A similar creative solidarity process took place with the Amed City Theater. Immersing ourselves in the horizon-expanding imagination of theater with the children in Kömür was a unique experience for both the facilitating team from Diyarbakır and the children in Kömür.
With all these patterns of mutual solidarity, while the physical space of the Kömür Cultural Center was being established, the first meetings of the workshops based on mutual interaction and production had also begun.
Especially during the construction of the building of the Kömür Culture and Art Center, we encountered many negativities, difficulties and obstacles. Sometimes we faced such great difficulties that we almost despaired that the seed we planted would be covered with concrete again before it sprouted. However, there is no need to mention these difficulties here because these were difficulties that can be seen in every work with a big goal, but if the goal is really believed in, it will be overcome in some way and will be remembered as a “sweet” memory after reaching the goal. But it must be mentioned here that all these difficulties were overcome with the belief and perseverance of the people of Kömür and the organizations we have just mentioned.
At the end of all these difficult processes, which we now remember as “sweet” memories, the seed had sprouted. On May 25th, the Kömür Culture and Art Center was inaugurated. However, what would have been a simple ribbon-cutting and opening of a building elsewhere turned into a festival worthy of May in Kömür. All partners of the project, all actors of solidarity and most importantly the children of Kömür were there. The speeches made at the opening ceremony, which took place in a festive atmosphere, had one thing in common: This sprout must grow even more!
First works, first excitement
The enthusiasm and festive atmosphere at the opening did not turn into complacency, on the contrary, the work continued in a more systematic manner. Because we had set a short-term goal in front of us, we were going to organize the 1st Adıyaman Kömür Children and Youth Festival. In other words, our dream was to water and grow the sprout that we witnessed every moment. Especially Ma Music, Amed City Theater and Zarok TV followed the production processes moment by moment until the festival day. Our biggest goal in this festival was to have all the festival content created and exhibited by the children of Kömür. The aforementioned institutions played more of a facilitating and guiding role. During this period, activities such as instrument and choir training, acting and theater workshops, cartoon and painting sessions, and whirling dervish performances continued without interruption. As the date of the festival approached, our excitement grew and the first fruits of our work began to appear.
While these works were going on, the Kömür Culture and Art Center was heard in many places. During the preparation process of the festival, we started to have guests. Many institutions, people and artists from Turkey and abroad started to come to Kömür both to meet and to produce together. While the children of Kömür were preparing their own products, these visits added excitement to their excitement. These days of solidarity and production until the day of the festival were engraved in our personal and institutional history as unique memories that we will never forget. With these beautiful memories, the big day has arrived!
And the first flower..
“1st Adıyaman Kömür Children and Youth Festival”, which is the first flower of Kömür Culture and Art Center, the first flower that witnessed every moment of the seed from the moment it was planted in the soil to its sprouting, took place on November 2-3, 2024 with more enthusiasm and excitement than its opening. At the festival, children from Kömür performed the theater play ‘Pîrê û Rovî’, sang songs and played their instruments under the name of the Children’s Voices Choir, exhibited the paintings they had made and stood on a whirling dervish. Their excitement just before they went on stage and their performance on stage was the biggest success of this project. It was in those moments that one was convinced that the project had achieved its goal. The most important feature of this festival was that young people and children from Kömür were at the center of the entire process of preparation, production and labor. This time, the people of Kömür were not just spectators of a cultural event, but also producers and followers. What the project did was to bring this labor together with other people and institutions in solidarity.
Of course, we were not alone in this festival. In addition to the partners of the project, many organizations and individuals were involved in the festival with their productions and solidarity. Polen Collective and Müzikist were some of these guests.
Now the real work begins: The Flower Garden!
Those who live in small places know: Good things come here and then go away. Because what comes from ‘outside’ will go back to ‘outside’. Kömür Culture and Art Center has set itself the goal of breaking this unfortunate cycle. The festival we organized showed us that we can grow a flower, and now we aim to turn it into a flower garden by ensuring the continuity of Kömür Culture and Art Center with its own production dynamics. This goal can be realized through solidarity and by including different forces/unions in this dream. We are aware that the next part of the work is more difficult than what we have done so far. However, we also believe that solidarity will overcome the difficulties as it has done before.
It is very important for Kömür and Adıyaman that the Kömür Culture and Art Center continues its productions by becoming a continuous education center. The excitement that produced a theater play, a concert and an exhibition in the short period we prepared for the festival will produce much more than these with more systematic processes to be carried out from now on. Every child whose life is touched here will remember this impact even many years from now, and this impact will definitely shape their lives. But apart from all these, the real impact of ensuring the continuity and productivity of such an initiative will be on its surroundings and projects with similar goals. As a micro example, every product and every result that will come out of the Kömür Culture and Art Center will be an example for every place in the periphery.
We believed in this dream from the very first day. The transformation in Kömür from the first day of this project to today has taken place before our eyes. For the continuity of this transformation and productivity, we invite everyone who believes in this dream to work together, to ensure that a single seed turns into a flower garden!
Scenes from our festival:
Videos from our festival: