In the wake of the devastating February 6, 2023, earthquakes, six high school students from Geneva; Ela Avcioglu, Deniz Altaş, Anna Theilgaard-Badger, Kaan Karaca, George Konialidis, and Leon Kurdoglu; launched “Future for Türkiye”, a powerful social impact initiative to rebuild education in Malatya’s Arguvan district.

With the strategic support of C.C.I.S.T., these young changemakers united their efforts to design, fundraise, and build Arguvan’s first modern, Net Zero, and LEED-certified Study Center; a 500m² hub for learning, resilience, and hope.

Milestone

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 26, 2025. The center will feature:

• 5 classrooms
• A library & tech lab
• Collaborative learning spaces
• Outdoor activity areas

Built in partnership with Arguvan Municipality and Arguvan & Villages Education & Culture Foundation, it will serve as a model for sustainable, post-disaster education infrastructure.

Student Voices

“The earthquake’s greatest impact was on children’s futures. We wanted to bring hope back, through education.”
“We hope this inspires other young people abroad to act. You don’t need to be in Türkiye to make a difference.”

Why This Matters

This project is more than a building, it’s a symbol of solidarity between Switzerland and Türkiye, powered by youth, supported by C.C.I.S.T., and built for generations to come.

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Photo credit: Kay De Groot