The power of ‘Hope’
Staying hopeful and strong in the face of adversity and change
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It was on 6 February at 4:16 am last year in Hatay, Türkiye when the ground beneath Umut's bed began to shake violently. The lamps were swaying, the furniture was rattling, and the walls were cracking. Umut's family had experienced earthquakes before, but never one as strong as this. As the shaking continued, Umut's father quickly ushered him, his younger sister Buket, and his mother, into the basement common room of their three-story self-built home.
Umut's father, Hüseyin, had built the home with his own two hands back in the 1970s. It had endured many earthquakes over the years, but none as powerful as this one. As the family huddled together in the basement, Umut could feel his heart racing with fear. But he knew he had to remain calm for the sake of his family.
Umut's name means "hope" in Turkish, and he knew he had to live up to his name in this moment of crisis. He took a deep breath and reminded himself that his family was safe and together.
As the earthquake raged on, Umut used his knowledge of earthquake safety to guide his family through the situation. He remembered what he had learned from his father about finding sturdy furniture, the big wooden table in the basement, to take cover under. He also knew to stay away from windows and to be prepared for aftershocks.
Once the earthquake finally came to an end, the family emerged from the basement to find their home still standing. It was a miracle, considering the devastation they saw in their neighborhood.
Umut's quick thinking and calm demeanor had helped his family survive the deadly quake. He had truly lived up to his name of "hope" which had proven to a source of strength for his family. His parents, especially his father was proud of him.
Umut's actions during the earthquake had not only saved his family, but also inspired others to come together and help one another during this time of crisis. He had proven that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. And for Umut and his family, their home would always be a symbol of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
In the days that followed, Umut's family, along with the rest of the community, worked together to rebuild their homes and their lives. Despite the difficult circumstances, Umut never let go of his education. He attended classes in temporary learning tents and as soon as his school was rehabilitated, he went back to school.
Umut found solace in his studies and his dream of becoming an engineer and building strong homes, just like his father. He works hard, keeping his eye on the goal of making earthquake-proof buildings to prevent any future tragedies.
But Umut is not just focused on his studies, he also makes sure to spend time with his friends, enjoying meeting them for brunches and cooking with his father. Through these small moments, Umut finds joy and a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
As time passes, life is slowly returning to normal. Umut's family is still struggling to rebuild and recover, but they are grateful to have each other and their home still standing.
"We are still struggling to get things back on track, but 'Umut' - like his name, is our hope," Umut's father, says with a smile.
Despite all the hardships Umut looks towards the future with hope. Umut says he will continue to work hard to make a difference and continue to bring hope to others in need.
Umut's father, Hüseyin says AFAD took a sample from the wall to see what the overall damage was. Their home had again endured another earthquake.
Umut making ‘ayran’ a typical cold Turkish drink made from yogurt, in their home with his father.
Umut never quit his studies. He is proudly smiling at the camera from his classroom in his school that got fixed after the earthquake.
