Help Mazıköy locals in Bodrum, Turkey

Hi,

I am Kumru Toktamis, Ph.D. and I am fundraising to support the local rural families of Mazıköy, Bodrum Turkey who lost their homes, their livelihood, and their self-sufficient vegetable gardens during the (still ongoing) wildfires in Southwest Turkey.

Mazı has been my corner of paradise for more than a decade and it has been heartbreaking to watch the locals fleeing fires that could have been controlled by proper government action--action which did not come. They abandoned their homes as the relentless flames burned through all the sustainable beauty they had created or protected for decades.

These families lost their modest winter residences up in the hills as well as the rooms on the beach they rent out to loyal guests like myself. They would feed their guests with the organic vegetables from their gardens and, for years, provided refuge for us from seven-star hotels that devour such lands with greed.

It is now up to us to provide some seed money for the survivors of this devastating fire so that they can start rebuilding once the fires subside. Please note that these rural people will not receive national funds or any insurance money. So any amount of help is truly much appreciated.