"We are looking for hope”: A report on the needs of the youth of Adıyaman after the earthquake

This new study, produced by Dayanışma İnsanları Derneği to shed light on the difficulties and needs of young people in Adıyaman, one of the cities hardest hit by the 6 February earthquakes, explores the ways in which survivors have coped over the past 16 months with the emotional and physical aftermath of what has been described as the 'disaster of the century', and is crucial to the post-disaster recovery and rebuilding process. The report highlights the difficult struggle of young people, whose needs are often overshadowed by other demographics, despite having the resources they need. By providing a platform where young people can share their experiences and bring their needs directly to the relevant authorities, the report aims to transform young people from passive dependents to active stakeholders in disaster management. The field study, which was conducted in May 2024, emphasises the urgent need to integrate young ideas into strategies before, during and after a disaster. The report was written with three main objectives: to create a space for young people to share their experiences after a disaster, to enable them to communicate their needs without acting as intermediaries, and to make young people's plans for participatory disaster management visible. By focusing on Adıyaman, the study not only sheds light on the city's unique challenges, but also provides a framework for youth-inclusive disaster management that can be applied to other regions that are or may be affected by a disaster.