BASF Stiftung
Our engagement in Türkiye and Syria
On 6 February 2023, two powerful earthquakes struck south‑eastern Türkiye and north‑western Syria. The epicentre was in Kahramanmaraş province, and numerous aftershocks followed, complicating rescue efforts.
The devastating toll amounts to nearly 60,000 fatalities – 53,537 officially in Türkiye and 5,951 to 8,476 in Syria, depending on the source – and over 121,000 injured. Homes, schools and clinics were damaged or destroyed; basic services collapsed in many places. More than 23.8 million people were directly affected – many lost their homes and their livelihoods. Children and families were particularly hard hit: in Syria, at least 3.7 million children were affected; in Türkiye, around 2.5 million.
In addition to many local initiatives by colleagues in Türkiye, BASF SE donated EUR 500,000 in emergency aid to the German Red Cross and launched an employee giving campaign for mid‑term support. This raised more than EUR 844,000, which BASF SE doubled to EUR 2.1 million. Together with BASF representatives and local colleagues, BASF Stiftung deployed the funds for a package of support focused on two primary goals:
- securing continuity of learning for as many children as possible
- restoring the livelihoods of affected families
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UNICEF (Türkiye): Learning continuity for children
Zeltschule (Syria): Education and basic supplies
More details on the outcomes of our funded projects
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With support from BASF Stiftung, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in close cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of National Education, built a prefabricated school in the container settlement in Hatay – with eight classrooms, WASH infrastructure and heated rooms. This brought back structure, safety and everyday normality; a total of 1,541 pupils will receive reliable schooling in a protected environment over a four‑year period.
Meeting basic needs – school as a safe place in crisis
The newly built school immediately created a setting where children could learn, play and simply be children again: a warm space, clean water, proper sanitation and set daily routines. While the programme deliberately focused on education, it addressed elementary needs – safety, hygiene and stability – and helped families organise daily life and access further assistance.
Building resilience & self‑efficacy – education that carries further
Beyond acute relief, the programme aimed for systemic impact: in addition to the school financed by BASF Stiftung, further schools were established under the wider UNICEF programme, a nationwide learning catch‑up programme was launched and 60 new workbooks for core subjects were developed. 195 trainers were qualified and cascaded their knowledge to around 6,000 teachers, benefiting some 80,000 pupils nationwide.
Supporting mental health – a community that sustains
Regular lessons, breaks, homework and friendships: a reliable daily structure helped children process what they had experienced and rebuild trust. Teachers were supported to address learning gaps and psychosocial needs; classrooms became places of “friendship, joy and mutual support”. Parents also felt relief, knowing their children were safely cared for – helping prevent negative coping strategies such as child labour.
Why this matters
The project compellingly shows how education in humanitarian crises works: it creates normality, builds skills and opens future perspectives – directly for children in Hatay and indirectly for tens of thousands across the country through scalable materials and trained teachers. In this way, those affected become co‑creators of recovery.
With support from BASF Stiftung, Support to Life (Hayata Destek) focused on rapid stabilisation and the sustainable rebuilding of local capacity to act. A coordination centre in Malatya, targeted emergency relief and training for civil society actors helped close gaps and strengthen community resilience.
Meeting basic needs – rapid, targeted support
Disadvantaged schoolchildren received school materials; local initiatives for acute assistance were supported. Through structures for needs assessment and referral, especially vulnerable groups were reached – a first step enabling families to regain calm and start planning.
Building resilience & self‑efficacy – empowering local actors
In Malatya, a coordination centre with a training programme for NGOs and grassroots groups was established. A micro‑fund supported four initiatives (including those for women, youth, legal counselling and childcare). Over 140 staff and volunteers were trained in key competencies; a local coordination group continues beyond the project period – civil society operates with stronger networks and on an equal footing with international organisations.
Supporting mental health – psychosocial stability in everyday life
Targeted psychosocial services strengthened professionals and target groups in dealing with trauma. Women reported a stronger sense of community and self‑worth; children benefitted from supervised leisure and support offers. Well‑being improved measurably.
Why this matters
The combination of immediate relief and systemic strengthening makes the project a catalyst for local agency: people and organisations on the ground are not only recipients of aid – they can shape it themselves. This is a key lever for sustainable recovery.
After the acute phase, together with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), our initiative deliberately focused on restoring livelihoods: in Kahramanmaraş, where 84 small‑scale dairy and livestock farmers were supported to restart operations quickly – through immediate relief packages, productive equipment and hands‑on training. This created income, food security and perspective at a particularly sensitive point in the local value chain.
Meeting basic needs – acting fast to avoid distress sales
With an “Urgent Response Package” (including animal feed and provisional shelters), the project helped prevent participants from selling their last animals as a negative coping strategy. Milk production resumed – directly supporting nutrition and income. At the same time, the needs assessment showed that 78% of households still required additional social support; the project stabilised key foundations but naturally could not fully meet all basic needs.
Building resilience & self‑efficacy – knowledge, equipment, business plans
At the core of the programme lies resilience. Alongside productive assets (e.g., milking machines, feeding equipment, livestock), all 84 participants received training in animal health, hygiene and business management; individual business plans supported structured restart. Vulnerable groups (including people with disabilities and many women) were actively included. According to the report, participants regained operations and income and contributed to the recovery of the local dairy sector – a strong experience of self‑efficacy.
Supporting mental health – confidence as a follow‑on effect
Although there was no dedicated psychosocial module, the economic restart brought relief: participants voiced gratitude, hope and plans for the future; returning to work restored a sense of control and normality in everyday life. These indirect effects reinforced household stabilisation.
Why this matters
The approach links acute stabilisation with entrepreneurial kick‑start: those who can once again secure their livelihood under their own steam move out of survival mode – a sustainable lever for dignity, independence and local recovery.
Immediately after the earthquakes, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reached thousands of families with emergency relief, while simultaneously launching programmes for education, integration and psychosocial support – a bridge from acute aid to perspective, supported by BASF Stiftung together with UNO‑Flüchtlingshilfe, UNHCR’s national partner.
Meeting basic needs – protection and provision in an extreme situation
Several thousand families received short‑term cash assistance to cover food, clothing and temporary shelter. In addition, tents, blankets and other relief items were delivered to affected regions – homeless people regained access to protection, water, hygiene and food.
Building resilience & self‑efficacy – education and access to the labour market
By the end of 2023, over 14,000 young people had been successfully placed in training or employment – a crucial step towards a self‑determined life. Notably, around 14% began university studies – roughly twice the global average (≈ 7%).
Supporting mental health – safe spaces for children
Over 36,000 children received psychosocial support: supervised play, creative activities and counselling provided protected spaces to process experiences; particularly vulnerable children were identified and referred for further help.
Why this matters
Linking emergency aid with pathways to the future (education, work) prevents young people from remaining stuck in hopelessness. This fosters resilience – for individuals, families and the wider social fabric – that makes recovery sustainable.
With the Erdmännchen‑School (“Meerkat School”, north Syria, 2023) and the Dackel‑School (“Dachshund School”, Idlib, 2024), our support for Zeltschule e.V. created a safe learning routine for around 1,000 children, while also providing families with vital basic supplies. What stands out: teaching is delivered by Syrian teachers from within the camps, and the community is actively involved in organising and running the schools.
Meeting basic needs – education becomes possible when the family is provided for
The programme provided food, drinking water, medicines and other essential items to participating families. As a result, children did not have to work and could attend school reliably. One example from the reports: two older sisters of a pupil previously took on odd jobs for a bowl of rice – since the family has been receiving regular food parcels, both have been able to attend school.
Building resilience & self‑efficacy – help for self‑help, role models within the camp
The schools are co‑run by refugees: teachers and camp residents take on teaching, organisation and leadership – help for self‑help rather than purely emergency aid. Children – especially girls – develop goals and ambitions: from aspiring to become a doctor to teaching in future. Parents engage in school committees; the community experiences itself as an active shaper of everyday life.
Supporting mental health – safe spaces, routines, psychosocial strengthening
The schools provide structure, rituals and community – including hot meals – and become a psychological anchor in daily crisis life. Teachers are sensitised to working with traumatised children; workshops and facilitated conversations with trauma‑informed elements offer additional support. Observable effects: children become calmer and more open, begin to play again and voice future aspirations; parents also report relief.
Why this matters
Combining education with basic provision prevents child labour, gives families predictability and strengthens a generation with prospects. A school project thus becomes sustainable change – driven by the people on the ground.
Where do people stand today?
Nearly three years on from the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, millions of people are still grappling with the consequences of the disaster. Despite important progress, the road back to a safe and stable life remains long.
In Türkiye, reconstruction is visibly advancing
Schools are opening, infrastructure has been repaired and many families are no longer living in tents. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands are still waiting in container settlements for permanent housing. Economic hardship, unemployment and psychological strain continue to shape the daily lives of many. According to local authorities, a full return to normality will take years.
In Syria, the situation is considerably more precarious
The earthquakes hit a country already marked by years of conflict and humanitarian shortfalls. Many people continue to live in tents, ruins or overcrowded shelters, while water, electricity and medical care remain unreliable. Rising prices and reduced rations further exacerbate the crisis. Some improvements – such as better humanitarian access and initial infrastructure repairs – give hope, but remain fragile.
What both countries share is the remarkable resilience of affected communities. Neighbourhoods are reorganising, volunteers are tireless, and local as well as international organisations are helping to create perspectives for families and children.
