THE BASE

Base is where you will live, eat and play during your time on program. It is communal living at its finest. Some call it rustic; others call it home!

We welcome new arrivals Mondays through Thursdays before 7:00 p.m.

We are camping due to availability and safety in an earthquake zone.  You will need to bring all of your bedding,  Including a sleeping mat/travel air mattress. As the weather is getting warmer so a light sleeping bag is recommended.

Our base has overnight security guards, and it is located in a safe neighborhood. Currently, We provide shared tents for sleeping up to 4 people. We can accommodate a number of personal tents. Please enquire with our VRC prior to your arrival to see if there is space. You should bring a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag.

Here is a video of our team getting ready for site in the morning:

Our bathrooms are western-style dry toilets. Our showers are bucket showers, but don't worry - they're a great way to cool off after a day of hard work!

If you need to do laundry, we have handwashing facilities available on site. However, if you'd prefer not to do it yourself, there's a laundry service nearby that charges just 200 TL (8USD), we also have lovely community members close by that take our washing a couple times a week.

We have a couple of strip plugs for everyone on base to use. We recommend bringing a solar charging device or power bank for your cell phones and electronics. 

The is good cell coverage through major providers in most areas. Volunteers should come prepared with a SIM card and anything needed to stay connected, We recommend picking this up in Istanbul airport prior to arriving in Kahramanmaras. Prices are not much different than the airport plans.

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 20 GB of data and unlimited Whatsapp calls and texts. You will need to take your passport with you to purchase a SIM.

During the five-six work days each week, volunteers will be provided with three meals a day. Breakfast usually includes oats, bread, jam, and tea. Lunch is typically provided on site, but on occasion, volunteers will need to pack their own lunch using sandwiches or leftovers. We have hot dinner provided for us by people in the local community on work days. 

 Vegetarian diets can be accommodated but vegans and those with specific dietary requirements will need to supplement what we can provide with items they bring or source and purchase themselves. 

On non-work days, volunteers are responsible for their own meals. While we do accommodate vegetarians on base, it can be difficult for them to find suitable options at restaurants in the area. We do have propane stoves and a functioning kitchen with a fridge, so on days off everyone should expect to cook if they want a filling and diverse meal.