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Solidarity with Turkey and Syria

At Esade Alumni, we have been deeply affected by the humanitarian tragedy in Turkey and Syria and wish to express our sincerest sympathy and solidarity with the people affected by the devastating earthquakes.
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We send our condolences to all the people who have lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with the community of alumni and students with ties to the affected region.


We encourage all of you to show your solidarity with the Syrian and Turkish people in these difficult times by supporting organisations that are currently working in the affected areas.

Esade Alumni has contacted alumni in the region to offer any help that other members of our community in the area can provide. If there is one thing that sets us apart as a community, it is our readiness to work together even in times of adversity.

Thank you for making this community meaningful and for being the first to help when the opportunity presents itself.

Testimonials from our alumni in the area

Eren Sen (Programa Intercambios CEMS 18)

“On 6th February, Turkey was hit with two major earthquakes, affecting a region of 10 cities where 13 million people live. Killing 50,000, injuring 150,000 and trashing 20,000 buildings, it is the most devastating natural disaster the region has faced in the last 100 years. 

Since the moment this disaster occurred, I have witnessed how people turned to each other to seek help, how volunteers quickly organised to kickstart search and rescue work, how foundations of all sizes started donation campaigns to address immediate needs, and how thousands of developers across the country got together to code an application to track those in need to make sure the help is received. 

Solidarity, unlike charity, is horizontal, sincere and impactful. I invite you to be in solidarity with Turkish people to help relieve pain and re-build this once beautiful region.”

 

Yonca Kurtay Fiocco (MSc ´10)

“HOUSE OF CARDS

Can anybody hear me? 

Can anybody save me? 

I keep thinking to myself... How many cries for help faded into the apocalypse caused by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, unanswered, unheard? 

How many lives could have been saved if geography didn’t define one’s destiny?

How many children would have lived on to experience the joy of a birthday party decorated with red balloons if the right to life, the right to security, the right to be a child were honoured as they should? 

I hope for us as international communities to internalise solidarity beyond borders. Right now, months from now and years from now. 

So that maybe, one day, no child will have to be born into a house of cards”. 

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Red balloons tied to debris to honor the lives of children victims  

 

Ezgi Cakmak (EMMS 19)

“Our century’s biggest natural disaster, the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş Turkey, on 6th February is a devastating tragedy. More than 40,000 people lost their lives and 23 million people were affected in Turkey and Northern Syria. I never remember feeling this much pain in my life, physically and mentally, including birth labour pain and losing a family member, to give you an idea. The pain is unmatchable. Since the earthquake, it feels like carrying a very heavy backpack every day.

When I heard the news at 2.42 am local time, in the middle of the night, after checking on my family, the very first people I called for support were Monica Lazar from the United States, Trisha Casco from the Philippines and Long Guo from Luxembourg. What do they have in common, being so far away from the earthquake’s epicentre, but so close to my heart and mind? They were my roommates during our master and friends for life – proud Esade alumni with a genuine commitment to the Do Good and Do Better ethos. 

Dublin Chapter Lead Aditya and Esade International Alumni Relations Manager Ariadna called me personally and checked in several times about how I was coping with all these feelings. Our global relations and career director Iñaki created heart-touching communication with the extended Esade community to create awareness and the necessary support to the region. Esade builds its identity on a set of values that reflect human quality and academic and professional excellence. Esade’s inspirational ethos Do Good, Do Better is not marketing material, but a genuine statement!

I thank everyone for their support and commitment to humanitarian efforts now, and more importantly also in the long run. 

I am sharing a Turkish folk song that asks “Where are you?” on behalf of millions who lost loved ones under the rubble... A talented Turkish artist, Karsu (who also lost his family during the earthquake), sings it. You absolutely do not need to know Turkish to feel the feelings... 

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me with your questions or ideas to support people affected by our century’s biggest natural disaster. Children, students, young people, people with disabilities, animals, elders, and all underrepresented and vulnerable communities need your creativity, intellectual power, support and empathy to rebuild their future. We are able to Do Good, we are able to Do Better.”

 

 

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