Rebuilding a home in Antakya (Earthquake)

Hello there,

We are Özlem and Alex, and we're reaching out to you with open hearts and a humble request. In February of this year, an earthquake struck Antakya, Turkey, devastating the area and leaving Özlem's parents without a home. The house they held dear had suffered significant damage, particularly to its pillars (as revealed after investigation), rendering it unlivable despite not having collapsed.

In the aftermath, uncertainty prevailed, and after months of living in a tent, a government inspection marked the house for demolition. By the end of April, the government had carried out the demolition and removal of the house. Özlem, an architect, has poured her skills into designing a new one-story house for her parents to live in.

Given the current economic challenges, affording a new house is impossible for her parents. They are in desperate need of financial support to turn this vision into reality. This is where your kindness and generosity can truly make a world of difference.

We have embarked on a mission to raise 30,000 Swiss Francs to assist Özlem's parents in constructing their new home. We've chosen Swiss Francs as the currency for our fundraiser, as Turkey is not supported by GoFundMe. This decision also shields your contributions from the Turkish lira’s downward trend and mitigates losses against the rising material costs in the region.

We've already secured approximately 10,000 CHF through external donations. However, we're expanding our efforts by launching this GoFundMe campaign, and each contribution brings us a step closer to our goal. Even the smallest donation, starting from 1 CHF, is a meaningful stride toward rebuilding not only a house but also restoring hope and stability for Özlem's parents.

Your support holds immense value for us. We recognize that times are challenging for many, and if you're unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign within your circles would be incredibly valuable too.

We assure you that we will keep you posted on the construction's progress right here on this page. You can witness your generosity taking shape and transforming into a new chapter of life.

Thank you for being a beacon of light during these trying times.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Özlem Kayahan and Alexander Risbey

For donations from Turkey, you may also send directly to Özlem's IBAN, we will register the donation as an offline donation.

IBAN: TR74 0001 0004 5675 1358 1750 01

Name: Özlem Kayahan

Here is the completed design of the new house.