How a documentary night in Cambridge sparked a movement beyond the city
Just over a year ago, a small group gathered in Cambridge for a screening of Just Like Before (Eskisi Gibi), a documentary sharing the story of resilience, friendship, and recovery in the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye.
At the time, it felt like a simple opportunity to come together, reflect, and learn. What none of us realized was that the evening would become the beginning of something much larger.
That first screening introduced many of us to the Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF) and to one another. Conversations continued long after the credits rolled. New friendships formed. Shared concerns became shared goals. What started as a single event grew into a community of volunteers united by a common purpose: creating opportunities for children and young people in Türkiye.
Over the past year, that community has transformed compassion into action.
Through four events across Cambridge and London, BTF UK volunteers and supporters have funded 17 scholarships and helped provide educational materials and supplies to 138 children in Türkiye. From a Turkish Bazaar supporting students in Niğde and Şanlıurfa to a special piano recital by renowned pianist Gülsin Onay that funded educational support for young women, each event demonstrated what can happen when people come together around a shared mission.
For supporter Mihriban Tuna, the impact of BTF extends beyond the programs themselves:
“I was recently introduced to Bridge to Türkiye Fund and have been deeply impressed by their mission to connect communities around the world in support of children and young people in Türkiye. The organization stands out for the way it pairs compassion with practical action through trusted local partnerships, helping to expand access to education, health services, and disaster relief.
Having attended fundraising events in the UK, I have been inspired by the passionate, proactive, and creative volunteers whose efforts make a meaningful difference to the lives of those in need in Türkiye. What inspires me the most is the charity’s commitment to creating lasting, community-led impact and brighter futures…”
Finding Purpose Through Community
While the impact in Türkiye remains at the heart of BTF UK’s work, many volunteers describe being transformed by the experience themselves.
For Feryal Erhun, volunteering became a way to redefine what belonging means:
“Living across different countries for nearly three decades has been one of life’s greatest gifts, giving me the space to reflect on belonging and purpose. For many years, friends and family shaped my sense of home. BTF gave me something more: the realization that belonging is not a place; it is a purpose.
Over the past year, that purpose kept me calm when the world felt uncertain, connected when I am far away, and grounded in what matters most. BTF gave me the opportunity to prioritize what truly matters, and for me that means choosing a child’s smile over the rush of everything else.”
That sentiment is shared by many members of the BTF UK community. What began as a response to a moment of need has evolved into a network of people committed to creating lasting opportunities for children and young women across Türkiye.
For BTF UK board member Burcu Babaoğlan Fiehler, volunteering provides a way to channel concern into action:
“As part of the BTF UK board, this is where I turn global helplessness into real action. Volunteering here connects me with an incredible, big-hearted community, and together, we drive change, whether it’s healing hearts after a devastating earthquake or empowering girls through education. Knowing that none of us are powerless and being surrounded by such inspiring people is what keeps me moving forward.”
From Cambridge to London
This year also marked an exciting milestone: expanding beyond Cambridge and hosting BTF UK’s first event in London.
Bringing Just Like Before to a new audience felt like coming full circle. The same documentary that first brought our community together became the bridge to a new one.
The London screening welcomed supporters from across the city and raised enough to fund a full year of scholarships for two amputee children, continuing the mission that began in Cambridge the year before.
The experience reinforced something we have witnessed repeatedly throughout the past year: when people are given a genuine way to help, they respond with extraordinary generosity.
For Burcu Bronner-Anar, that sense of connection has been especially meaningful:
“Volunteering for BTF UK came into my life at a time when the meaning of belonging and roots became especially important to me. After spending 28 years living abroad and often feeling a sense of gurbet, BTF gave me a renewed sense of purpose. Supporting children and young women in my beloved country has become a true passion, and I feel incredibly grateful to do this work alongside such an inspiring group of people.”
Looking Ahead
Looking back, it is remarkable how much has grown from a single documentary screening. What started as one evening in Cambridge has become a thriving volunteer community spanning multiple cities, supporting students, funding scholarships, and creating opportunities across Türkiye.
As BTF UK enters its second year, we remain committed to building on that momentum. Every event brings new people into the mission. Every volunteer strengthens the community. Every donor helps create brighter futures.
To everyone who has attended an event, volunteered their time, shared our work, or supported our mission: thank you for being part of this journey. We cannot wait to see what we accomplish together next.
