On the morning of February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake rocked Kahramanmaraş, forever changing the lives of those in its path. Mehmet E., only 12 years old at the time, was one of them. He was trapped under the debris of their home alongside his mother and father. Rescued after just thirty minutes, Mehmet faced a life-altering ordeal as he was taken to the hospital, where doctors made the heartbreaking decision to amputate his right foot.

His mother, who survived her own harrowing experience of being trapped for hours, received the news of Mehmet’s injuries and the devastating loss of her husband a few days later. Yet, in the depths of despair, Mehmet’s resilience began to shine. Despite the emotional and physical scars from that fateful day, he was determined not to be defined by his circumstances. The challenges ahead were daunting: surgeries, rehabilitation, and the complexities of adapting to life with a prosthetic limb.

With the support of family and dedicated medical professionals in Istanbul, Mehmet began his arduous journey of recovery. Through months of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, surgeries, and therapy sessions, he discovered a new passion that would become his lifeline—swimming. What began as a therapeutic activity blossomed into something far greater when Coach Dr. Duran Arslan recognized his talent and potential as a swimmer.
As Mehmet embraced his newfound love for the water, he transformed his pain into power. Competing in national and international swimming events throughout 2024, he garnered numerous accolades, proving that his spirit was unbreakable. His dedication and perseverance caught the attention of sports officials, leading him to transition into paratriathlon, where he would hone his skills in swimming, running, and cycling.
In addition to support from his family and coaches, receiving a scholarship from the CYDD was pivotal in Mehmet’s journey. This generous scholarship eased his financial burdens, allowing him to focus on his education while undergoing treatment. With this support, he continued his schooling, remaining committed to his studies even as he navigated the challenges of recovery and training. The scholarship ensured that he would maintain his education, providing him not only with academic opportunities but also with the chance to dream bigger and aim higher.
Today, Mehmet stands as a testament to resilience. Not only has he become a medal-winning swimmer, but he is also a remarkable example of how one can rise from the ashes of a tragedy. With the unwavering support of his family, friends, and coaches, he now prepares for future competitions, including the European Paralympic Committee 2025 Para Youth Games in Istanbul.

“First of all, hello, thank you very much for your support and education. I really care about my lessons with the stress and anxiety of moving to 12th grade this year. I know that I will have to work hard to achieve my goals and that every effort will be worth it. As a 12th grade student, the question I have to ask myself is “what do I want to be?” And I have found an answer to this question in line with my research and desires for a while. I want to study molecular biology and genetics at a good university (Izmir or Ankara).
I believe that having a goal motivates people more, but at the same time, not being able to achieve that goal brings a great disappointment. I believe that I can achieve my goal and I imagine myself doing this profession in the future. I would like to thank you for your financial and moral support while I achieve these goals.
We lost many loved ones in the earthquake and I know that I am not the only one who experienced this pain. I share this pain with my mother, my sister and even everyone living in the earthquake area. Despite all this pain, the lesson I learned from the earthquake is that we should evaluate every moment of life as if there was no afterlife, and that we should not leave anything for later. Our house was destroyed in the earthquake and then we moved cities and returned to Hatay. But it was very different from my old life, which made me very sad at first, but I got used to it now. I started to like the place I
live and made new friends. I am feeling and psychologically fine for a while. I hope Hatay recovers
much more quickly. Thanks,”

Ayça C.

“I am Fatma. I love listening to music and reading books. I am not very talkative. I love cooking. I am studying food and beverage in high school. But, I want to study law at university.
Unfortunately, our house was destroyed in the February 6 earthquakes. I had lost my father before. My mother also tries to support us by working daily jobs. Now my mother had surgery. After our house was destroyed, we set up tents in the garden of our acquaintances and we still live there. Sometimes, wild boars come because the place we set up tents is on the top of the mountain, but we got used to it. The houses here are rented for 15-20 thousand liras. The state gives us 5000 liras of rent assistance. If we move to containers, this money is cut. We cannot make ends meet then. I meet my school needs with the scholarship I receive from ÇYDD.
Thank you for supporting my dreams.”

Fatma S.