The donations collected during the benefit concert organized by the association Occident meets Orient in collaboration with the Berlin-Brandenburg district in April 2023 were intended to help as many groups of people as possible.
One of the supported institutions was the educational center Meta in the city of Antakya (Hatay Province), which offers preparatory courses and tutoring for the transition to high schools and universities. The previous building was completely destroyed by the earthquake. In August of this year, the institution resumed operations from scratch at a new location. The Berlin-Brandenburg district covered the costs for an entire school year for eight children using the funds raised by Occident meets Orient.
This assistance had a comprehensive impact – materially, morally, and psychologically. Not only the children themselves were supported, but also their families, teachers, and the management team of the educational institution – in line with the metaphor of a stone thrown into water that creates ever-widening ripples.
In mid-October 2023, the chairman of the association Occident meets Orient personally traveled to the earthquake-affected area. He met the supported children, spoke with some of their parents, teachers, and the school’s administrators. Despite the suffering they have endured, the encounter was deeply moving and encouraging – none of them have lost hope for a better future. The faith and will to live were reflected in the children’s eyes.
Unfortunately, there are still many more children in need of help. We are very grateful for any additional support and welcome your contact at the phone number +49 176 57230721 for further information.