Education centres in containers delivering immediate support after disasters

After the 2023 earthquakes, Geleceğe+1 Academy deployed modular, accessible container centres that deliver inclusive education, therapy and psychosocial support. Teams reached 1,045 people with disabilities, 356 professionals and 550 families. Centres were later handed to local authorities.

Founded by parents and professionals, the Türkiye Down Syndrome Association established the Geleceğe +1 Academy Container Education Centres to provide accessible education and support to children with disabilities and their families in the event of a disaster. These container-based centres can be set up within a week and provide teaching, therapy, and counselling services. Following the February 2023 earthquake, four containers were built, which have supported more than 1,000 persons with disabilities.

Problems Targeted

Young persons with disabilities in Turkey lack access to education, specialized support, and information during and after emergency situations.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The Geleceğe+1 Academy Container Education Centres provide inclusive education, therapy, social activities, and psychosocial counselling for children with developmental disabilities and their families in the event of a disaster. It takes around one week to assess the situation, set up the modular, container-based units, and begin activities by teams of psychologists, special educators, and social workers. The containers are rapidly deployable, physically accessible, secure, and inclusive spaces designed for multifunctional use after disasters. After the earthquakes in February 2023, new containers were constructed and, after about three months of field assessments and coordination, were established in Hatay, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, and Kahramanmaraş, ensuring inclusive educational and community support in the provinces most affected by the disaster. Each container centre was staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including a physiotherapist, a special education specialist, a social worker, a preschool teacher, and psychological counsellors/guidance teachers. A mobile social worker operated in the field to coordinate between centres and monitor families’ social support needs. The curriculum and materials are tailored to family needs, supporting rapid recovery of learning and emotional stability. After a two-year service period, the containers were handed over to municipalities and schools through official protocols so they can continue to function as inclusive educational centres for all local students.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The total financing of Geleceğe-1 Academy Container Education Centres amounted to TRY2.5 million (app. €51,100), which was funded by the Bridge to Türkiye Fund, Turkish Philanthropy Funds, and contributions from the private sector. (#ZeroCall26)

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