Save the Children Türkiye strengthens children’s psychosocial well-being through a child-centred anti-bullying campaign featuring a fairytale written by earthquake affected children in Hatay and adapted into an animated film. The campaign was supported by Save the Children US.
Bullying undermines children’s psychosocial well-being, sense of safety, and peer relationships. In post-disaster contexts, such as earthquake-affected regions, these risks intensify due to prolonged stress, disrupted social networks, and fragile living conditions.
To address these challenges, Save the Children Türkiye implements child-centred psychosocial support (PSS) approaches that enhance children’s awareness, coping mechanisms, empathy, and positive peer interaction. Building on this framework, the organization launched a comprehensive anti-bullying campaign designed not only for children, but together with children.
CHILD PARTICIPATION THROUGH FAIRYTALE STORYTELLING
In Hatay, one of the provinces most affected by the February 6 earthquakes, Save the Children Türkiye facilitated three-day Fairytale Storytelling Workshops with 24 children aged 6–9 and 10–13.
Through play-based learning, character creation exercises, emotion-sharing activities, and collaborative creative writing, children explored themes of bullying, friendship, empathy, and inclusion in a safe and expressive environment.
The campaign places strong value on children’s voices and meaningful participation, positioning them as active leaders and cocreators of ideas and solutions. creators of ideas and solutions.
Click here to watch the workshop video.
“One More Chance”: From Children’s Words to Animation
At the end of the three-day workshop, children collectively created the fairytale ‘One More Chance’.
The story was written by 12 children aged 6–9, living in a post-earthquake container settlement in Hatay. Drawing from their lived experiences and reflections on peer relationships, the children created characters navigating conflict, misunderstanding, and ultimately reconciliation.
Save the Children Türkiye adapted the story into an animated film, preserving the children’s narrative voice and core message. The animation was further enriched by an original musical composition performed by child composer and pianist İpek Nisa Göker. By transforming children’s creative expression into a professional animated film, the initiative amplifies their voices beyond the workshop space reaching wider audiences through digital platforms.
Publicly Available Anti-Bullying Resources
As part of the broader child-centred anti-bullying campaign, Save the Children Türkiye developed accessible awareness materials for children, families, and educators:
Anti-Bullying Booklet (Turkish & Arabic)
• Designed for children aged 6–12
• Available in Turkish and Arabic, open access via the Save the Children Resource Centre
• Accessible in audio formats
• Includes the child-written fairytale developed during the workshop
Anti-Bullying Motion Graphics Video Series
• 10 short, child-friendly awareness videos, published on social media channels and the Save the Children Türkiye website
• Focused on bullying prevention, empathy, and positive peer relationships
Strengthening Children’s Well-Being Through Participation
By integrating creative expression, child participation, and psychosocial support, Save the Children Türkiye continues to promote safe, inclusive environments where children can build resilience and healthy relationships, especially in post-disaster contexts.
Through initiatives such as the “One More Chance” animation, children are not only safeguarded against bullying, but they are also empowered as storytellers, peer advocates, and active agents of change within their communities. We hope that the fairytale, together with the anti-bullying booklet and child-friendly awareness videos developed through this campaign, will continue to inspire both children and adults to recognise, prevent, and confidently stand up against bullying in all environments where children live, learn, and grow.
Contact:
Ayşe Nur Gençalp
Save the Children Türkiye - ACCM Specialist
ayse.gencalp@savethechildren.org
+90 531 103 81 98
