Each brushstroke, each small donation, reaffirmed the subtle power of
imagination and empathy.

By Aylin Yardımcı, PhD

Mira Erdim, age ten, has a schedule worthy of a diplomat. Swimming four days a week, violin practice, vocal lessons, emceeing at Seattle’s International Children’s Friendship Festival, acting—and still, always finding time for art. Mira has been drawing since she was old enough to hold a pencil, each brushstroke marking a clear and colorful voice. Her creations—delicate, vibrant acrylic paintings—reflect a keen observational power surprising for her age.
Yet, it was not until after the devastating earthquakes struck Türkiye nearly two years ago that Mira felt the impulse to use her art as a bridge, connecting her world in Seattle to children just like herself, whose daily routines had been abruptly disrupted by tragedy. Guided gently into philanthropy by her mother, Banu—a sustainability professional whose career weaves environmental responsibility with community engagement—Mira discovered the Bridge to Türkiye Fund and quickly discovered how she could transform her creativity into action.
The family had long supported BTF’s mission, quietly channeling birthdays and special occasions toward classrooms in rural corners of Türkiye. When the devastating earthquakes struck Türkiye a year earlier, Banu explained to Mira how thousands of children had lost homes, schools, and routines overnight. It was a conversation that would shape Mira’s small but mighty project.
“I was really thinking about the kids after the earthquake,” Mira recalled during our conversation. “Like, what happened to them? What is going to happen? They lost families, they lost homes.” She paused thoughtfully before adding, “I decided to help.”
Thus began Mira’s Giving Tuesday campaign, appropriately titled “Art for Change.” She selected Mehmet Ali Zengin Anaokulu, a humble preschool in Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the 2023 earthquakes. Mira’s modest goal was to raise $325 to purchase art supplies, giving the students a chance to create, dream, and perhaps, momentarily, forget the traumas they had endured.
But Mira soon discovered something important about kindness—it multiplies. With gentle persistence, she shared her fundraiser page, sweetening the deal with an offer: her painting depicting a beautiful fox would go to whoever donated the most. Within weeks, she had surpassed her initial goal, raising enough for a set of educational toys, too.
One wonders what inspires a child living thousands of miles away to engage in the lives of children she will likely never meet. When I posed the question, Mira’s answer carried sincerity beyond her years. “It really warms my heart,” she said, thoughtful but decisive. “Even if they never know who I am, just knowing I helped makes me feel happy.”
Sat beside Mira, her mother, Banu, a sustainability manager at a Washington bank, listened quietly, eyes shimmering. As a Turkish immigrant who moved to the US in 2010, Banu works daily to build bridges between worlds, managing sustainability projects and community outreach at her workplace. Watching Mira grasp those connections filled her with visible pride—and a touch of motherly emotion. “We owe thanks to BTF,” Banu said softly, her voice trembling. “Without organizations like this, how could we even know how to reach these children?”
Though Mira’s fundraising goal was modest, its resonance was not. Each brushstroke, each small donation, reaffirmed the subtle power of imagination and empathy. Mira’s gentle artistic activism challenges adults twice her age to reconsider the weight of small gestures, reminding the Turkish diaspora—and anyone who comes across her story—that compassion and creativity can indeed span oceans.
April, notably, brings a meaningful echo to Mira’s initiative. In Türkiye, April 23rd is National Sovereignty and Children’s Day—a celebration dedicated by the nation’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself, to the youngest generation. Mira’s transcontinental gift perfectly embodies this spirit: youth leading the way, hands small but hearts immense, ensuring their peers across the globe are seen, cherished, and empowered to dream.
For the preschoolers at Mehmet Ali Zengin Anaokulu, Mira’s efforts mean tangible joy— fresh paints, crayons, art paper, and colorful toys that open new worlds. But Mira’s quiet project also opens doors for us. It whispers a simple truth often overlooked in our noisy adult lives: that perhaps the most significant gifts are not wrapped in paper, but offered through thoughtful actions, humble and bright.
Mira’s work is proof that the brush of kindness creates ripples, small acts echo across continents, and that hope, however distant, can always find its way home. ■

Adopt a Classroom in Türkİye

Many teachers across Turkish villages, faced with limited resources, turn to BTF for support to enhance their students’ classroom learning experiences. Adopt A Classroom is a program designed to equip under-resourced schools throughout Türkiye with crucial educational supplies. By enhancing the classroom learning experience and improving teacher effectiveness, this program serves as a vital support system not only for students but also for educators. If Mira’s story inspires you, you have the chance to support many other classrooms in Türkiye. Learn more here: http://btf.news/4kids