Commemoration Ceremony of “Pilot Project on Psychosocial Support in Earthquake-Affected Regions in Türkiye” between JICA and Ministry of Youth and Sports

On May 28^th 2024, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye (MOYS) held a ceremony to commemorate the achievement of “Pilot Project on Psychosocial Support in Earthquake-Affected Regions in Türkiye”.

Through the pilot project, trainings for capacity development of staffs of youth centers on psychosocial first aid (PFA) for youth and children, as well as pilot trials on disaster education integrated with psychosocial support were conducted. 4 mini-buses were also delivered to MOYS, which will be used to enhance the access to disadvantaged groups who have difficulties reaching to youth centers, with an aim to leave no one behind.

The commemoration ceremony was held with the presence of H.E. Dr. Enes Eminoğlu, Vice Minister of Youth and Sports; H.E. KATSUMATA Takahiko, Ambassador of Japan to Türkiye; and Mr. WATANABE Daisuke, Chief Representative of JICA Türkiye Office.

Devastating earthquakes in February 2023 caused not only physical damages, but tremendous psychosocial impacts to the people, including youth and children. For MOYS which is responsible for youth development, and manages youth centers, it has become imminent for all staffs especially in disaster affect region, to be equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills on how to provide better support for the youth and children who are psychologically affected by the earthquake.

By utilizing Japanese knowledge and experiences of the disasters, JICA and MOYS commenced the pilot project in 2023 with an aim to consider and demonstrate a new program within MOYS to appropriately provide youth activities including psychosocial support for disaster affected youth. Youth centers in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya were selected as pilot centers.

Furthermore, in order to develop psychosocial support capacity of youth leaders and service providers who work at youth centers, trainings for trainers (TOT) on psychosocial first aid (PFA) and psychosocial first aid for children (PFA-C) were conducted for psychologists of MOYS and their several regional directrates. Pilot trial of peer to peer PFA activity among children, namely “I Support My Friends”, was also conducted.

Through the pilot activities, the youth themselves used their knowledge of disasters and psychosocial support learnt at the disaster education program to engage with children in the affected areas and to share how to prepare for future disasters with their communities. Understanding how disasters happen and preparing for them will encourage the youth to face their own disaster experiences in a positive manner. It shows that youth’s proactive activities to their communities can also boost the resilience and recovery of society.

Based on the result of the pilot project, JICA and MOYS are currently in discussion to start the new technical coopration project for the psychosocial support and resilience of youth and children.

As a country which has 100th year diplomatic relations with Türkiye and share the same difficulties as an earthquake-prone country, we hope to continue cooperating with Türkiye to support youth and children affected by the earthquake.