Community center in Turkey sees the light of day thanks to support from Mécénat Servier
Following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Mécénat Servier granted the Needs Map organization an endowment of €500,000 for the construction of a 434 m2 community center in Kahramanmaraş.
Supported by the Servier subsidiary in Turkey, construction of the community center is now complete. The facility will accommodate 500 families affected by the February 2023 disaster. It is also a pleasant living space where families can meet up and bond over social activities such as cooking, reading or cultural events. Some of the center’s rooms will be used to continue the school program for children.
The ecosystem around the center was designed to recreate the atmosphere of a pre-disaster community neighborhood. Families can also use the nearby shelters, the sports center, and the health center just a few steps away.
This large-scale project is the primary undertaking of Needs Map, a social cooperative that connects people in need with individuals and organizations willing to provide support. The NGO has offered assistance in several earthquake-affected regions.
The community center we have built together will provide spaces and opportunities for the families in terms of well-being, psychology, socializing, and even professional opportunities as well. Once all the residents of our living space have been assigned by the government, we will begin our social and educational programs based on the needs of the demographics. The impact we make today will have a considerable effect on each and every one of us tomorrow.
Esra Arslan, Needs Map Board Member
Also, local Servier teams in Turkey have been actively involved since the start of the project, and visited the site in September.
In addition to the financial support provided by Mécénat Servier, the Servier Turkey teams will lend a helping hand to Needs Map by sharing their time and professional skills during specific missions identified by the NGO. This mutual collaboration will benefit both the non-profit organization and the local families.
Community centers are emerging as essential pillars to address trauma, prevent violence and discrimination, and strengthen solidarity. We are proud and pleased to be involved in a project dedicated to providing support to 500 families. Carrying out this project together has demonstrated the strength of our teams and we are ready to make further commitments in voluntary initiatives that contribute to society.
Guillaume Recorbet, General Manager of Servier Turkey
The realization of this large-scale project is a major achievement, enabling the local population to return to decent living conditions. In this way, Mécénat Servier reaffirms its mission to be “committed to solidarity” with the Group’s employees throughout the world.
