Marshall supports schools affected by earthquakes in Hatay, Türkiye

Our paint brand Marshall joined forces with local authorities to rejuvenate the schools affected by last year’s earthquakes in the Defne district of Hatay in Türkiye. As part of Let’s Colour, this initiative seeks to transform the educational facilities into bright, hopeful learning places.

A palette of promise

Türkiye’s Ministry of National Education, Hatay Provincial Directorate of Education and Defne District Directorate of Education teamed up with Marshall for the Let’s Colour Hatay project to bring color into the lives of those affected by the 2023 earthquakes.

This project with the slogan “Color your life” aims to benefit approximately 8,000 students and 600 teachers by infusing their educational spaces with color and vibrancy, using around 60,000 liters of Marshall paint.

The initiative began its mission of transformation at Harbiye Mezyet Ekrem Karateke Primary School – the first school to be revitalized in the wake of the disaster. Located in the Defne district, struck hardest by the 2023 earthquakes, the school stands as a symbol of resilience and hope for a new start.

On February 6^th, 2024, a year after the disaster, a festivity was held when the painting of the school was finished. The whole community, including the local mayor and students, came together and happily celebrated the school’s new, refreshed look and the promise of a better tomorrow. The students and teachers can now enjoy a more stimulating and colorful learning environment.

Turning ruins into rainbows

Pınar Adabağ, Marshall’s Marketing Director, emphasized the project’s significance, saying, “By identifying all the schools in need within our district with our Directorate of National Education, we aim to create an environment where our children’s lives are filled with color, facilitating a more comfortable educational experience. We are happy if we have enabled our children to alleviate some of the trauma caused by the earthquake with this work we have done!”

The painting and refurbishment efforts, supported by 10 AkzoNobel volunteers and 300 registered local painters, are not only about aesthetic enhancement but also about fostering a sense of normalcy and comfort for the children and their educators.

So far, 20,000 liters of paint have transformed 10 schools, and the plan is to transform many more.

Recovery in every color

Through the Let’s Colour initiative, we’re using colors to heal and help Hatay’s communities hit by tough times. Marshall and our partners are focused on brightening schools in Defne, aiming for a better future for the kids and their teachers.

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