THE BASICS
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Please be aware that you will be entering a disaster zone. The area we’re staying in has been majorly impacted by the earthquake, and resources will be limited for some time. The situation on the ground is constantly evolving. We thank you for your patience as we establish our program in Türkiye.
Location: Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye.
Cost: Free. We provide accommodation for the duration of your stay and meals on workdays. Keep in mind, you will be responsible for the cost of your background check, travel both to and from the program, meals on your day(s) off and any costs associated with taking a three-day mental health break each month where you are required to stay away from program.
Work Days: usually, programs follow a 6-day work - 1 day off schedule for all volunteers with a single day off for everyone at the same time. In Türkıye volunteers take every other weekend as a full weekend. When it is not a full weekend, Volunteers have Sundays off. Please find more information in our Schedule section.
Arrival Days: At this time, we welcome volunteers to our base from Mondays through Thursdays before 7:00 pm.
Accommodation: We will be camping due to availability and safety in an earthquake zone. You will need to bring all of your bedding; weather is getting warmer so a light sleeping bag should suffice.
WiFi: At this time, connectivity is likely to be limited. Volunteers should come prepared with a SIM card and anything needed to stay connected. Tourist SIM cards can be purchased in Istanbul or Adana but shops in Maras remain closed. Vodafone Turkiye has the best deal with a 90-day SIM for approx $50 which gives 20gb of data and unlimited Whatsapp calls and texts. You will need to take your passport with you to purchase a SIM.
Access: Shops, restaurants, and ATMs have all been impacted by the earthquake, and resources are limited. Please bring all the essentials that you need with you. We recommended bringing cash, as many stores do not have card machines.