Merck Türkiye Provides Library Support for Children Affected by the Earthquake

Merck, a leading science and technology company, continues to support work and education in earthquake-affected regions.

In a district of Hatay heavily damaged in the 6 February earthquake, Merck has added another initiative to its regional support efforts by establishing a library in a primary and secondary school in cooperation with Herkese Kitap Vakfı.

Merck, one of the world's most established pharmaceutical and chemical companies, acts with the awareness that contributing to the community in which it operates is a social responsibility. Following the earthquake disaster that occurred in Turkey on 6 February 2023, Merck made a donation to UNICEF for use in the region through global contributions from company employees and the Merck Family Foundation. After the earthquake, Merck Turkey provided humanitarian support to the region in solidarity with relevant authorities and institutions, and offered scholarship opportunities for students affected by the earthquake. 

Within this scope, the "Merck Turkey 25th Anniversary Scholarship Fund" created in cooperation with TEV (Turkish Education Foundation) provided scholarship opportunities lasting until graduation for 25 female medical school students. Support provided to the earthquake region continued with company employees visiting a tent city in Kahramanmaraş to conduct play workshops with children and meet the urgent needs of children in the tent city. Most recently, Merck Turkey continued its support to the region and education by establishing a library in a primary and secondary school in a district of Hatay affected by the earthquake. Within the scope of the "Elele" project of Herkese Kitap Vakfı, founded to foster a love of reading in Turkey and ensure equal access to books for those in need, company employees also supported the library opened by Merck Turkey through book donations.

Merck's full support for education towards a brighter future

Şehram Zayer, General Manager of Merck Turkey, who attended the library opening, stated: "As a company that places scientific progress and human life at the centre of its activities, we greatly value the education of children who are the adults of the future. In this direction, we have implemented many corporate social responsibility initiatives. Following the 6 February earthquake disaster that deeply affected our country, we focused our work on the young people and children in regions affected by the earthquake. We have opened a library through Herkese Kitap Vakfı, founded by Bülent Şenver, for a primary and secondary school in a district of Hatay that was heavily damaged by the earthquake. During our visit for the library opening, the light we saw in our children's eyes gave us hope for a brighter future. As Merck Turkey, we will continue to support children and young people throughout their educational journey through our work."