House of Turkiye - Earthquake Victims Remembrance Event (02.11.2023)

As the small but strong Turkish-American community of San Diego, we finally got together to mourn as a family and focus on coordinating our efforts yesterday, 02.11.2023, in front of our House of Turkey at Balboa Park.

As immigrants to the wonderful United States of America, we have the luxury and the responsibility of carrying the love of two nations in our hearts.?

In normal days this privilege gives us a richness of culture and bigger hearts to carry the double love. We feel like ambassadors of our motherlands and strive to bring the best of where we come from.?

But then, on days like this, when your motherland is living through a major calamity,?being so far away, and not able to help physically, we feel saddened and frustrated.?

We feel angry about what could have been done. We look for ways to ease the pain with what we can from a distance.?

AND deep down, we all feel what Eleanor Roosevelt so eloquently said is true:

“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”

Yes, this disaster could not have come at worse time for our Beautiful Turkiye.?

The economy was already in dire peril, and the growing political divide created the worst challenge of our 100 years of modern history.?

And now, on that cold February 6th morning, one of the worst global disasters of our century.

Yet, it is in these darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.?

“We can not ask the darkness to leave, the light must come from inside.”

Each and every one of us can make a difference. We all can touch a life to ease her pain. And put one brick on another.?

Yes, we can all donate ourselves to many great organizations like ours that have started campaigns https://houseofturkiye.org (Our small community and our dear neighbors in San Diego already raised over $150,000 in less than 4 days)

But beyond that, we can still do other things. Like:

** We can go to the companies we work for. Ask to donate directly or help us with our fundraising efforts.?

** We can go to the schools and universities we, or our kids attend and ask them what they can do to help. Give you support to organize events. Or, at minimum, give opportunities to present and talk about the relief efforts.

** If you are a member of any service organization like Rotary or Lions. Or professional organizations, ask your leaders to see what they can do with the resources and networks they have. Tell them you care, and so should they....

There are many things you can do, whatever age you are.?

No doubt, this is going to be a long and challenging recovery. But we will work together and persevere.?

“Together we will be the candle light” till the morning sun starts shining again on our beautiful Turkiye.?