Yakup is a 9-year-old child who was born with a hearing impairment that remained undiagnosed for many years. His difficulties became visible only after he started primary school, when his teacher noticed that he could not hear instructions and struggled to follow lessons in class.
At home, communication was extremely limited. Yakup was unable to express his needs and emotions, which often led to frustration and behavioural challenges. His academic performance was also negatively affected, placing additional emotional strain on the family.
Yakup’s life began to change after his family was referred to SENED through project-supported protection and referral services. Following comprehensive assessments, Yakup was provided with an appropriate hearing aid and enrolled in speech therapy sessions at the SENED Center. In a short period of time, noticeable improvements were observed in his responsiveness, communication skills, and ability to attempt speech.
These positive changes were also reflected in his school life. Yakup’s participation in the classroom increased, his communication with his teacher improved, and his academic performance showed clear progress. Over time, his behaviour became calmer, his relationship with his family strengthened, and his psychological well-being improved. The support provided by the EU and BMZ through GIZ became a clear turning point in Yakup’s life, enabling him to move forward with greater confidence.
Alongside medical and therapeutic support, Sened identified that the family was facing serious administrative barriers related to their registered address. Due to displacement and frequent changes in housing conditions following the earthquake, the family’s address information had not been updated. This situation posed significant risks, including potential interruptions in school enrollment, access to public health services, referrals to rehabilitation services, and eligibility for disability-related social assistance.
Through case management and household follow-up, Sened provided structured administrative support to address this barrier. The family received individual counselling to understand address renewal requirements, guidance on necessary documents, and support in preparing official paperwork, including notary-certified rental records. The Sened team also accompanied Yakup’s caregiver to the Düztepe Information Centre of Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (PDMM) , liaising with officials to ensure the address verification process was completed accurately and in a timely manner.
As a result, the family successfully renewed their registered address, restoring access to essential public services. This ensured Yakup’s uninterrupted school attendance, continued access to speech therapy and follow-up health services, and eligibility for disability-related support mechanisms. Beyond these practical outcomes, the address verification process significantly reduced stress and uncertainty for the family, strengthened their sense of legal security, and improved their ability to plan for Yakup’s future.
Co-financed by the European Union Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), ADA Türkiye was established in 2021 to ensure long-term coordination and sustainable cooperation. To date, the initiative has reached over 120,000 people through protection services, provided earthquake-related assistance to approximately 31,000 individuals, and implemented over 3,000 activities to promote social cohesion between communities.
