The photos they took became their voices...
The "Children's Voice: Life After the Earthquake" International Symposium and Exhibition, organized in partnership with Üsküdar University and Save The Children Türkiye, was held. A research project was carried out to understand the experiences and perspectives of children between the ages of 5-10 who were affected by the February 6 earthquake and live in tent and container cities. The exhibition consisting of photographs taken by children was opened to visitors.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "Children affected by the earthquake react differently according to their age groups. Especially children between the ages of 0-6 are directly affected by the attitudes of their parents or caregivers." Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that "This project will make a great contribution to society. To touch a child is to touch humanity." Prof. Nurper Ülküer stated that "More than 6 million children were affected by the impact of the February 6, 2023, earthquake. Considering that such disasters can occur frequently, we must create environments that will minimize the negativities."
Head of Communications and Media Department of Save The Children Didem Alkan İlhan stated that "We gave cameras to the children and enabled them to tell about their experiences." Prof. Lucy Bassett from the University of Virginia expressed that "Children who were severely affected by the earthquake had the opportunity to talk about their own pain and experiences." UNICEF Head of Communications Sema Hosta said that "When we give children a camera, a device, we see what they can express."
The International Symposium and Exhibition "Children's Voice: Life After the Earthquake", organized in partnership with Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication Department of New Media and Communication, Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Child Development, Human Center-Centered Communication Application and Research Center (ILER) and Save The Children Türkiye, was held at the Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall in the South Campus.
The symposium was attended by Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Head of the Department of Child Development of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Nurper Ülküer, Head of the Department of Journalism of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Süleyman İrvan, Head of the Department of New Media and Communication of the Faculty of Communication Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay, Head of the Department of New Media and Communication (English) of the Faculty of Communication Assoc. Prof. Bahar Muratoğlu Pehlivan, Didem Alkan İlhan, Head of Save The Children Communication and Media Department, ProfLucy Bassett from the University of Virginia, UNICEF Head of Communications Sema Hosta, team members of the project, academics and students.
Prof. Tarhan: "Children affected by the earthquake react differently according to their age groups"
President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, who participated in the symposium with a video message, said that they aim to increase children's resilience against negative experiences with this project.
Prof. Tarhan said that "This project, which evaluates life after the earthquake through the eyes of children, is very important for us to establish healthy communication with children. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project and touched the children in the field. Children affected by the earthquake react differently according to their age groups. Especially children between the ages of 0-6 are directly affected by the attitudes of their parents or caregivers. Children in this age group experience less traumatic effects as long as they are not alone and with the reassuring attitudes of caregivers. School-age and adolescent children, on the other hand, have the opportunity to learn and grow from traumas. In this process, they can experience a development process called post-traumatic growth, in which they become stronger by making sense of what they are experiencing. In this project, we aim to develop a healthy stance by increasing children's resilience against negative experiences."
Prof. Nazife Güngör: "Touching the life of a child is touching humanity"
In her speech at the symposium, Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that it is of great importance to make the voices of children heard and made the follow remarks:
"When I think of children, it is a very sensitive subject for me. This project will make a great contribution to society. To touch a child is to touch humanity. As Üsküdar University, we consider it our duty to contribute to the society as well as our education and science services. Universities are not only educational and scientific institutions, but also institutions with great responsibilities towards society. Academics are also the intellectual leaders of society. For this reason, contributing to society through social responsibility projects is one of the primary missions of universities. We are committed to moving forward in line with this mission. While the happiness of children makes us happy, it also affects their pain to the same extent. Because the world starts with children. Happier, healthier children mean a more peaceful and peaceful world. Such touches are sacred and serve an important purpose. I congratulate all the experts who contributed to the project and all the institutions we cooperate with. Children are our future, and every effort we give them is part of our effort to make the dream of a better world come true."
Prof. Nurper Ülküer: "With this project, we aim to be the voice of children"
Speaking at the symposium, Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Child Development Department Head Prof. Nurper Ülküer emphasized that with this project, children should be made heard and live in better conditions.
Noting that in this symposium, they aim to look at life after the earthquake through the eyes of children and to make their voices heard, Prof. Nurper Ülküer continued her remarks as follows:
"Crises such as natural disasters and wars disrupt people's lives and affect children the most. Such negative experiences affect children more deeply. Therefore, we need to manage the process well by taking permanent and positive measures. More than 6 million children were affected by the impact of the February 6, 2023 earthquake. Considering that such disasters can occur frequently, we must create environments that will minimize the negativities. The disaster process is handled in three stages, The first stage is survival and meeting basic needs. The second stage is the return to normal. The third stage is to 'do better', that is, not just to return to the past, but to establish more robust and safe structures. Now we have to move on to this final stage and ensure that children live in better conditions. This project is a start to listen to children and build a stronger society by hearing their voices. With this project, we aim to be the voice of children."
Didem Alkan İlhan: "They were the heroes of this process, we only supported them"
In her speech at the symposium, Didem Alkan İlhan, Head of the Communication and Media Department of Save The Children, said that "We are together to understand life after the earthquake through the eyes of children. This symposium is very valuable in terms of seeing the perspectives of children. We gave cameras to the children and made them tell about their experiences. As a result, children's sense of responsibility, self-confidence increased, and their photography skills improved. This project enabled the participation of children affected by the earthquake in social life and created a sustainable communication beyond meeting instant needs. At the same time, this project allowed children to see that they could improve their living conditions. They were the heroes of this process, and we only supported them."
Prof. Lucy Bassett: "They had the opportunity to talk about their own pains and experiences"
Prof. Lucy Bassett, who attended the symposium from the University of Virginia, expressed that "I am happy to have come here from America. There are three main reasons why we are running this project. First, we have brought together a very valuable team. It was a great experience to work with all the project team members who guided us, all the participants who brought us together with the children and allowed us to collect data from them. My project team here and the team from Üsküdar University were very creative and smart. We used the 'Children's Voice' method as a new approach in the project and this was possible thanks to them. Second, I'm very excited that we're using a new methodology in this project. This method has a strong potential to allow us to hear the voices of children. Thirdly, this method allowed children to be actively and effectively involved in the study. Children who were seriously affected by the earthquake had the opportunity to talk about their own pain and experiences."
Sema Hosta: "Each of them has a trauma and a story"
Sema Hosta, Head of UNICEF Communications Department, stated that the symposium was a work that took critical steps at a very important time and expressed that "Everyone here knows how important children's voices are. When we give children a camera, a device, we see what they can express. When we talk about casualties after earthquakes, we mostly talk about numbers. We say '50,000 people died,' but in fact, each of them had an identity. Mothers, fathers, neighbors and children..."
Explaining that there are children among these losses and that the effects on these children still continue, Hosta stated that "We were able to open our child-friendly centers on the 8th day after the earthquake. We came from Ankara and established the centers. One child said, ‘I feel the fear of the earthquake under my hands and feet.’ This is not something to forget. Another child had asked his mother to lay his bed on the floor on the night of the earthquake. In this way, he was able to survive, but he was under the rubble for 28 hours. It will not be easy to heal the wounds of the earthquake. Each of them has its trauma and story. Our work will not end, we will not forget our children. We have to give these children more voice and support."
Panel session was held
After the opening speeches, the panel session started. The session was chaired by Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Üsküdar University. University of Virginia Faculty Member Prof. Lucy Bassett made a presentation about the definition of the project. Ayşe Nur Gençalp, Communications Specialist of Save The Children Türkiye, gave information about the implementation of the project.
A research project was carried out to understand the experiences and perspectives of children between the ages of 5-10 who were affected by the February 6 earthquake and live in tent and container cities. In this project, the 'Photovoice' technique was used for children to express their experiences. The children revealed what kind of life they wanted through the photos they took.
Photos were analyzed and interpreted
Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication New Media and Communication Department Head Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay and Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication New Media and Communication (English) Department Head Assoc. Prof. Bahar Muratoğlu Pehlivan interpreted and analyzed the photographs taken by the children.
They attracted the most sky, flowers and animals...
It was seen that themes such as 'Sky', 'Flowers', 'Bicycle', 'Art', 'Family Ties, Friends and Animals', 'Having a Say on the Conditions', 'Longing for Home and Familiar Places', 'Trees and Green Spaces' came to the fore in the children's photographs.
In the 'sky'-themed photographs, it was interpreted that concepts such as escape, hope and freedom came to the fore. In this context, it was said that activities such as sky watching activities and kite festivals for children can improve the welfare of children. It was stated that there was an effort to achieve inner peace in the 'flower' themed photos. In this context, it was emphasized that activities such as tree planting activities and garden workshops for children can be good for children's psychology.
It was proposed to establish art workshops for children
In the 'bicycle' themed photos, children were seen drawing attention to movement and freedom. In this context, it was discussed that bicycle paths could be built for children. Creativity and self-expression were seen in the 'art' themed photographs. In this context, it was said that the establishment of art workshops for children and the reproduction of environments decorated with works of art could help children feel better.
In the photos themed 'Family Ties, Friends and Animals', feelings of love and togetherness came to the fore. In this context, it was emphasized that children's bonds with each other can be strengthened through games and collective activities. Based on the photographs with the theme of 'Having a Say on the Conditions', it was suggested that children's opinions should be taken into account when designing container cities and containers.
In the photographs themed 'Longing for Home and Familiar Places', it was seen that the feeling of loss was at the forefront. In this context, it was emphasized that therapies and group activities can be beneficial. In the photos with the theme of 'Trees and Green Spaces', it was seen that the connection with nature and the feeling of relaxation were at the forefront. In this context, it was discussed that tree and flower planting activities could be beneficial.
The findings were also evaluated in terms of child development
At the end of the panel, Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Child Development Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı and Research Assistant Seher Sav also evaluated the findings in terms of child development.
After the questions of the participants were answered, the symposium ended with a group photo. Later, the photography exhibition "Life After the Earthquake through the Eyes of Children" in the lobby area was visited. The exhibition, which consists of photographs taken by earthquake victim children, attracted great attention. The exhibition, which includes 25 photographs, can be visited for a week.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)