GSK Türkiye and TOG Sign Meaningful Cooperation Agreement

GSK Turkey has signed a meaningful partnership with the Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG) to support the region's population following earthquakes affecting 11 provinces centered in Kahramanmaraş. With a project initiated in Adıyaman with the support of Community Volunteer youth and GSK employees, the aim is to support all regional residents, particularly children, youth and women affected by the disaster, and facilitate their well-being process. Following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş that significantly affected 11 provinces in Turkey, GSK Turkey joined forces with the Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG), an organization carrying out activities in the aftermath of the earthquakes, to mobilize support for those affected. Within the scope of the project, which includes voluntary participation by GSK Turkey employees, a multifaceted support center was established to benefit all regional residents, with priority given to children, youth and women living in the disaster zone. TOG's "Support Centers Project," one of GSK Turkey's reliable corporate social responsibility partners, encompasses post-disaster trauma management training with contributions from various civil society organizations. Through this important project, GSK Turkey aims to reach 6,500 people annually via lessons, workshops and practical applications prepared by TOG experts, contributing to their normalization process. The activities to be implemented will include support for mathematics, Turkish language and science classes for children and youth, as well as applications to develop emotional expression skills. The program also features psychosocial activities and development discussions for high school and university-age youth. Additionally, workshop activities and information sessions available to women in the region aim to enhance their well-being. The Support Center, located in the container city, includes socialization and sports areas for use by those affected by the earthquake. In addition, with a full-time psychologist at the center, a comprehensive structure has been created to provide holistic psycho-social support to anyone in need in the region. Along with all this, students studying at the primary school located within the container city have the opportunity to benefit from social areas within the Support Center such as a park, library and conference hall.

Selcen Çökdü, Head of Communications and Patient Relations at GSK Turkey, made the following comments on the matter:

"Following the earthquakes that brought us great sorrow as a nation, we bear the responsibility of implementing our duties. In this regard, we wish mercy from God to all our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquakes, and we hope that all the negative effects caused by the earthquake will be promptly eliminated and that our country will not experience such a disaster again. Our employees have directly and indirectly volunteered to participate in this project, which aims to provide psycho-social support to everyone affected by this disaster in the disaster zone, particularly children, youth and women. We are very excited about this project, which we will implement together with TOG, our valuable project partner with whom we have jointly undertaken important projects for many years and touched the lives of millions of people."

Ayşe Kırımlı, General Director of TOG, emphasized that civil society organizations and stakeholders play one of the most important roles in meeting community needs following natural disasters, and continued as follows:

"For over 20 years, we have strengthened projects created by Community Volunteer youth coming together from different cities across Turkey with a dream of a better world. Following 6 February, we worked with thousands of Community Volunteer youth to weave networks of solidarity and reduce the negative effects of the earthquake. Now, with our Support Centers, we aim to ensure that this solidarity is sustainable and to support the recovery process. Through psycho-social support work that we will carry out in the region together with GSK Turkey volunteers and youth, we aim to empower all regional residents, particularly children, youth and women. We thank the valuable GSK Turkey family, our stakeholder for many years, for their contributions."