The Voices of Children: Life after the Earthquake

Voices of Children: Life After the Earthquake
International Symposium and Photography Exhibition
November 12, 2024, 10:30 AM, Üsküdar University, South Campus

The catastrophic impact of the earthquakes on February 6 2023, measuring 7.7 and 7.6 in magnitude and centered in Kahramanmaraş continues to be profoundly felt. Given that children constitute one of the most vulnerable groups affected by this disaster, the Child-Centered Photovoice Project was implemented to empower displaced children aged 5-10 to document their lived experiences and perspectives. This project, conducted in two container camps in the Hatay earthquake region, employs the Photovoice research methodology to explore children's post-earthquake experiences through their own visual and narrative representations.

This symposium aims to present the analysis of the collected data and to develop a strategic roadmap for improved services and support for children as well as future research.

Program:

10:30-11:00	Opening Remarks
	• Prof. Nurper Ülküer, Head of the Department of Child Development, Üsküdar University
	• Didem Akan Ilhan, the Head of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication and Media, Save the Children Türkiye •Prof. Lucy Bassett, University of Virginia Humanitarian Collaborative
	• Sema Hosta, Chief of Communications, UNICEF
	• Prof. Nazife Güngör, Rector of Üsküdar University • Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Üsküdar University (via video message)
11:00-12:00	Panel Discussion
	Moderator: Prof. Aktuğ Ertekin
	• Project Overview; Prof. Lucy Bassett, University of Virginia Humanitarian Collaborative • Project Implementation: Ayşe Nur Gençalp, Communications Specialist, Save the Children Türkiye
	• Interpretation and Analysis of the Photographs: Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay, Faculty of Communication, Üsküdar University; Assoc. Prof. Bahar Muratoğlu Pehlivan, Faculty of Communication, Üsküdar University

	• Evaluation of Results in Terms of Child Development: Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı, Department of Child Development, Üsküdar University; Research Assistant Seher Sav, Department of Child Development, Üsküdar University

12:00-12:30	Q&A Session
12:30-13:00	Opening of the Photo Exhibition: "Through the Eyes of Children: Life After the Earthquake" A selection of photographs taken by children affected by the earthquake will be displayed for one week as part of the project.