
“Safe Space” Workshops
Being in a region close to the earthquake zone from the first moment of the earthquake, and feeling the fear of earthquakes with my family deeply motivated me to do useful works as much as I could. I tried to be in contact with many earthquake survivors coming from the surrounding provinces individually, in order to accompany the earthquake survivors who were placed in temporary shelters. Although it is our first priority to communicate with them one-on-one, to try to understand their psychology and to provide the materials they need; especially for children who have experienced the earthquake and having to leave their homes, schools or even cities where they feel safe; the fact that they experience losses in many areas where they come into contact with the safe world brings with them great traumatic effects. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the spirit worlds of earthquake survivors and to approach them with this awareness.



Acting with this awareness, I conducted a "Safe Space Workshop" with children who were torn from their homes due to the earthquake, under the consultancy of an expert pedagogue. In this Safe Space Workshop, 1 firstly asked the children to close their eyes and visualize the safe space they lived, felt and dreamed of.
I said that this safe area might be a playground, maybe a forest, maybe an imaginary-unreal place. I stated that they could add any person or object they felt most safe and happy with when they were together and as a result of all my guidance I asked them to open their eyes and draw a picture of this safe area that came to life in their dreams. It was a detail that I noticed while trying to finish the painting I wanted from them with great excitement and that made me feel very emotional; the safe place that every child's dreams of was actually their own home.

