For Zahide Çam, healing after the devastating Türkiye earthquake came in the most unlikely of places — a hair salon.
After the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in February 2023, Zahide and her husband found themselves living in their car, the only possession that remained. For 15 days, they had no access to food, water, clothing or even a place to use the bathroom. They then spent five months in a tent before your compassion provided a container home, complete with two rooms, a bathroom with a flushing toilet and a kitchen. Her five adult children and 13 grandchildren live nearby in the same container community.
While life has certainly improved since moving into the semi-permanent structure, Zahide says it’s still very difficult. Her husband is retired, and prices have skyrocketed so it’s often hard to find money for food. Two years after the disaster, support has nearly disappeared.
Providing psychosocial support through women-only safe spaces
Because of your compassion, Zahide found community in a center that provides women and children displaced by the earthquake with psychosocial support, safe spaces, hygiene services, vocational training and educational activities. It also includes a salon, which is an initiative made to help women restore a sense of dignity and normalcy in circumstances that have robbed them of both.
For Zahide, a significant difference of this space compared to other similar spaces is that the salon only services women, which helps her feel safe, relaxed and have some time to just spend with friends in a private environment.
After having her hair and eyebrows done, Zahide says “You feel more like yourself. You feel more affectionate. You feel more well-groomed.” For someone who has lost everything, this sense of dignity is critical to psychosocial wellbeing.
With your love, hairdresser Seder Cağdıroğlu has found financial stability, happiness and a sense of purpose.
Zahide’s hairdresser, Sedef Cağdıroğlu, has also found incredible healing in the salon, and seen firsthand the mental health benefits on clients such as Zahide.
“They see us as psychologists,” Zahide says. “They come and tell us about their troubles. They tell us everything they've been through, good or bad. I can see that we have helped them. They say thank you very much, they are happy, and they leave with smiling faces.”
Helping others brings happiness and healing
Sedef has worked here since July 2023, coloring and cutting hair and doing waxing and eyebrow services. Before the earthquake, she had another job, but her manager sadly passed away in the disaster and she was left unemployed, like several other members of her family.
When she heard about a full-time opportunity with a good salary, “it felt like a miracle.” Although her father and brother now both also have jobs to help support the family, the prices of everyday goods have skyrocketed.
“Thank God the salary I get is enough,” she says. “It is enough for us.”
But supporting her family is only one part of it.
“Helping people, making them happy is the most favorite part for us,” she says. “Helping people in need makes me really happy. This is something to be proud of.”
Sedef’s own mental health has also benefited from her work.
“My life has changed,” she says. “Because I lost my workplace before the earthquake … It feels very good to work here. [My] mental health has improved a lot. It is better compared to the first days. We are doing very well right now. I would like to thank those who provided us the opportunity, my sincere thanks to them.”
