In Hatay, a space created for children in the aftermath of the earthquakes became the setting for something unexpected: a film made by children about their own rights.
Through Rights in Frame, Sulukule Volunteers Association brought together 45 children between the ages of 10 and 18 for 18 weeks of rights-based workshops designed to support their psychosocial recovery. Using play, movement, art, and conversation, the children explored their emotions, strengthened communication and self-confidence, learned about their rights, and built relationships with one another.
Building trust was an important part of the process. Children and families in earthquake-affected communities continued to navigate uncertainty, displacement, and the emotional consequences of the disaster. The workshops created a consistent environment where children could gather, ask questions, share their thoughts, build friendships, and gradually feel more comfortable expressing themselves.
For 15 of the children, that process eventually moved behind the camera.
Together, they developed a short film around the story of a sheep. At first glance, it was a simple story. But underneath was something the children understood deeply: what it feels like when decisions are made for you without your needs, feelings, or perspective being fully considered.
When asked what their film represented, the children described it simply as “rights and freedom.” And when they talked about freedom, they defined it in their own words as “not limiting the rights of others.”
The children took ownership of the creative process, shaping the story and contributing to stop-motion animation and voiceovers. Along the way, they navigated interruptions from flooding, electrical problems, weather, and other unexpected challenges. Each time, they returned to the work and continued creating together.
The result was more than a short film. It was a story shaped by their imaginations and experiences, told in their own voices.
The project culminated in a community screening where the children could share what they had created with others. TPF's grant also supported child-safety training for civil society professionals working with children in post-disaster settings, extending the lessons of the project beyond the workshop itself.
In a period of their lives shaped by circumstances largely beyond their control, Rights in Frame gave children something that belonged entirely to them: the opportunity to decide what story they wanted to tell and how they wanted to tell it.
And this time, the adults listened.