Earthquake Preparations
Dear Parents,
On the evening of February 5th, as we went to rest with the hope of reuniting with our students in a new semester, we could never have known that we would wake up the next morning, February 6th, to such a painful reality. Sadly, we experienced an unprecedented disaster. Together, hand in hand, we are striving to overcome this, and we will continue to give all our strength to this effort.
During this period, while some of us were deeply saddened, anxious, and perhaps even fearful because our spouses, relatives, or friends were in the affected provinces, others among us—though not having loved ones there—still felt grief to the point of being ashamed of feeling "fine." Whether we knew them or not, we are all heartbroken for every citizen, every brother and sister of ours, who has been affected by this calamity. May we all find comfort together.
From the very first moment, our nation, our school, our teachers, our students, our parents, and even our alumni took on many roles to help heal the wounds. As members of the Acıbadem family, we would like to share with you how we have been part of this process:
Immediately after the news of the earthquake, we sought ways to provide both financial and moral support to the region. Within just 12 hours, alongside launching a financial aid campaign with the Diyanet Foundation, we also organized collective prayers, readings of chapters, and recitations of the Qur’an. Through these efforts, our school contributed a significant amount of financial aid, in addition to 70 complete recitations of the Qur’an and thousands of other prayers and chapters. That very evening, we sent three of our colleagues to the earthquake zone, and on the third day, I was personally able to join them to assess the situation on behalf of our school.
During our time there, we witnessed firsthand the extraordinary efforts of individuals and organizations alike, all striving to deliver aid to those in need. We also saw our government mobilize every possible resource. With the support of our parents and students, we tried to contribute to these relief efforts. We arranged flour shipments to bakeries in the region to ensure daily distribution of fresh bread, and we worked to deliver aid to those in need in remote villages. At the same time, our teachers initiated psychosocial support activities for children affected by the disaster, to bring smiles to their faces and help their emotional well-being—efforts that continue to this day.
The behavior of the people we met deeply moved us. They accepted aid with such humility, hesitation, and even tears. Many would say, “We already have these supplies, please take them to our neighbors instead.” Their lips carried words of prayer, patience, and faith. Often, they gave us strength and resilience through their example. We felt proud to witness such nobility among our people, the same spirit of steel that once shone in Çanakkale and on other great fronts.
As the poet once wrote:
"Once we were a nation—what a nation we were:
We came forth to teach the world what nationhood truly means.
When all of humanity was in darkness,
We burst forth as light from the heart of the night.”
I witnessed that very spirit in the streets of Maraş and Hatay.
While there, we also realized the children’s need for toys and thus launched the “My Toy is Yours” campaign. Our aim was both to bring some joy to children in the disaster area and to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among our own students. Thanks to this initiative, 250 boxes of toys were delivered to the region. During the preparation process, students, alumni, parents, teachers, and staff worked hand in hand. This spirit of unity is a source of great pride and joy for our school community.
Dear parents, beyond the aid provided to the region, many of you were personally affected by this tragedy. Our school principals, assistant principals, and teachers tried to check on your well-being and be by your side. We also prepared informative resources to support the psychosocial needs of our students during this time. While schools were temporarily closed for mourning, we maintained contact with our students, focusing not on academics but on supporting their psychological well-being.
As individuals living in an earthquake-prone country, we cannot afford to distance ourselves from this reality. At Acıbadem Schools, we have always strived to be prepared for any situation, and we remain committed to this mission. With the guidance we have received for many years, we continuously update and rehearse our emergency action plans. Through the dedicated work of our Disaster Support Commission, we will continue to keep our preparedness and sensitivity at the highest level. Please also find below a set of frequently asked questions prepared by this commission for you.
With faith in the words, “Indeed, with hardship comes ease” (Qur’an, Al-Inshirah 94:5), we look forward, with unity and solidarity, to the days when our nation will once again find relief and peace.
With love and respect,