Hatay Surf Center

Following the February 6 earthquakes, Ahbap identified the creation of permanent spaces that support children’s and young people’s participation in social life, recovery, and personal development through sports as one of its priority areas of work in Hatay. In line with this approach, Ahbap undertook the construction of the Hatay Surf Center, established in Samandağ in cooperation with the Governorship of Hatay and the Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency.

The Hatay Surf Center was designed as a multi-purpose living space where children and young people can benefit from surf training, sea safety education, youth programs, workshops, and social activities throughout the year. Bringing together accommodation areas, a café, education and workshop classrooms, and a sports hall under one roof, the center is not only a sports facility but also a development space where children and young people can socialize, build self-confidence, gain new skills, and pursue new goals.

With its new campus, the Hatay Surf Center is planned to provide training to 1,000 children and young people each year. The center aims to help children and young people engage with sports in a safe, high-quality, and sustainable environment, while supporting their participation in social life and encouraging them to imagine new possibilities for the future.

The surf-focused activities carried out in the region since 2023 have also made a meaningful contribution to the development of young athletes. The fact that five young athletes who grew through this process will represent Türkiye in Ireland as members of the national team shows that the project is not only a local social support initiative, but also a strong development platform that can open pathways to national and international achievement for young people.

Through the Hatay Surf Center, implemented as part of our work in the earthquake-affected region, Ahbap aims to increase children’s and young people’s access to sports, education, socialization, and personal development opportunities, while making a lasting and hopeful contribution to the region’s recovery.