Hatay, Turkey. Emergency pedagogy after the earthquake.
Warmth, rhythm, and stability—these are the qualities that young children need, especially after a traumatic experience, says Cansu Kaygısız Vardar, a Waldorf educator and emergency pedagogy project leader in Turkey. Vardar was deployed as an emergency pedagogue shortly after one of the strongest earthquakes in the last hundred years left a trail of destruction in southeastern Turkey. Her work focused on setting up child-friendly spaces where the youngest affected children could find safety and security amidst the chaos. These centers provided space for painting, playing, running, singing, and storytelling. In a text for the Friends of Waldorf Education, Vardar recounts her impressions from her work—above all the fact that, within a few months, the visible signs of stress and anxiety in the toddlers transformed into play, laughter, and a greater sense of ease. Three years after the earthquake, life in the affected area has still not fully returned to normal. Thus, the emergency intervention pedagogy continue to provide relief for children as well as their mothers.
More Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiners
Translation Paula Boslau
Image Anima Visual
