https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcChaek5xhs
My grandparents emigrated to Germany back in the 60s and I immigrated to the US at a young age.
Anyone who has moved away from home knows the value of neighbors.
"We are all neighbors" is a project to build a sustainable Disaster Relief Center for refugees in the ancient city of Urfa (Sanliurfa) in Turkey, near the Syrian border to help refugees in their transition to a new life. We currently have a site to build a center where refugees can have a central location that provides job training, language classes, therapy, kindergarten and more. I wanted to give them a hand by designing a space for them.

2016

There are currently two existing residential buildings at the site. They will be gut renovated into job training classrooms and computer labs. The additional spaces will be built from shipping containers that can later be relocated to other disaster sites when needed.

Although the city is famous for its ancient local architecture, the site is located in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts, surrounded by concrete buildings. I imagine our site as a garden oasis in this urban landscape that has the potential of bringing the local communities together with their refugee neighbors. Our hope is that collective disaster relief can be alleviated by gathering people together to share a common space.

For our sustainable Disaster Relief Center project, we reached out to women owned eco-friendly construction material supply businesses. Our project will have solar panels, rainwater storage and other green materials and sustainable systems. I will be using recycled/reused refrigerant shipping containers that are self-insulated. Also, we contacted local manufacturers to shop for our project to help the local economy. Urfa is famous for its Urfa Stone, a type of stone that gets stronger and more beautiful when exposed to weather conditions wind, rain, snow etc. Urfa stone will be used to build our amphitheater where we will embed our donor neighbors names to show our gratitude for helping us to make the project happen.

Esin Pektas, Architect, Founder - We are a group of friends, architects, musicians, artists, engineers, and scientists who have all come together to lend a hand to anyone in need. Women, minorities, refugees, LGBT, victims of war and disasters. No matter how far apart we think we are, this is our planet and we are all neighbors.

Christopher Trapani, Composer - "There are over 2.7 million refugees in Turkey, and more coming over the border everyday. The town of Urfa has seen its population of 400,000 doubled by the influx. Theres an urgent need for support from abroad, to help these new arrivals find their footing. We Are All Neighbors brings together a group of dedicated and capable individuals with the knowledge and skills to start making a difference right away."

Aysegul Gorsen, Statistician - "This could have happened to all of us and you. And if it did, we would be there to get you through it. For our sustainable Disaster Relief Center project, we reached out to women owned eco-friendly construction material supply businesses. Our project will have solar panels, rainwater storage and other green materials and sustainable systems. We will be using recycled/reused refrigerant shipping containers that are self-insulated.Also, we contacted local manufacturers to shop for our project to help the local economy. Urfa is famous for its Urfa Stone, a type of stone that gets stronger and more beautiful when exposed to weather conditions wind, rain, snow etc. Urfa stone will be used to build our amphitheater where we will embed our donor neighbors names to show our gratitude for helping us to make the project happen."

Jackie Delamatre, Museum Educator - "In our new global world, in which information flows without borders and a web of interconnectedness links everything from commerce to culture, we cannot ignore the plight of any group. Every choice we make affects thousands around the world. Every choice we dont make affects just as many. A distance of six thousand miles collapses into nothing. Lets choose to reach across the fence. We are all neighbors."

Stefanos Roulakis, Maritime Attorney - "This project not only answers the question of "who is my neighbor," but challenges us to answer it for ourselves."

Nick Danforth, Historian - "In a nonsense world this pioneering project might be the only thing that makes sense"

Colin FitzGerald, Designer - "The word "neighbor" is derived from the Indo-European root "bheu?-" meaning: To be, exist. grow. There is always hope in ideas so fundamental to our shared humanity. We exist together. We grow together. We are all neighbors."

Chianju Ku, Architect - "Just like Romain Rolland said it:There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it."

Olivia Durif, Writer & Gardener - "We Are All Neighbors is literally a vital project, building a physical space for people seeking refuge from extreme circumstances of violence, displacement and environmental crisis. The Relief Center will be a shelter for the physical lives, as well as the emotional, psychological and spiritual lives of our neighbors. There is nothing more human than vulnerability. By working together, we can prove that vulnerability and strength are the closest neighbors of all."

Lucy Dhegrae, Vocalist - "Our response to disaster has to be this: creativity, coming together, hard work, and love. This project embodies these ideals, and I fully support its vision. Let us honor our connection to one another, and honor the fragility and preciousness of all life, by supporting this work. We are all neighbors!"

Melani Tankel, Ecobroker - "My unwavering and unflappable belief is that this life is a gift to share with one another.I have faith in humanity because We Are All Neighbors."

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Tuce Girit