Anadolu Sigorta has expanded its Anadolu Sigorta Libraries initiative to Hatay, creating new reading spaces for children in an area deeply affected by the earthquake. Through the establishment of libraries in 10 separate schools, the project has delivered a total of 11,000 books, helping pupils gain better access to educational resources while supporting their academic and social development.
First introduced in 2023, the initiative continues to grow across Turkey with the goal of encouraging children’s connection with books and learning. With the latest additions in Hatay, the total number of school libraries created under the project has reached 38 across Istanbul, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Eskişehir and Hatay. So far, nearly 20,000 students have benefited, and more than 52,000 books have been made available to children.
A meaningful step for children in Hatay
The opening ceremony for one of the new libraries took place at Yavuz Sultan Selim Secondary School in Antakya’s Gülderen neighbourhood. The event brought together Anadolu Sigorta General Manager Z. Mehmet Tuğtan, Hatay Provincial Directorate of National Education Deputy Director Mustafa Öztürk, school principal Salih Er, along with teachers, administrators and students.
At the ceremony, Tuğtan emphasized that Anadolu Sigorta, as Turkey’s first national insurance company, sees its role as extending beyond protecting today to also investing in tomorrow. He noted that the relationship children build with books can influence not only their education but also their imagination, dreams and future perspective.
Books as a pathway to imagination and growth
According to Tuğtan, the purpose of the project is to create environments where children can more easily reach knowledge and strengthen their learning journeys. He described libraries as far more than rooms filled with books, calling them places where curiosity deepens, imagination expands and children begin to discover themselves.
He also underlined the special importance of contributing to Hatay after the hardships the region has faced. Supporting children’s education and social development in such a context, he said, carries strong meaning for the company. Bringing even a small sense of happiness and motivation to students through these libraries was described as a valuable outcome in itself.
Project reaches thousands of students across Turkey
The Anadolu Sigorta Libraries project was launched in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the objective of Quality Education. With the newly opened libraries in Hatay, the initiative has now extended to 38 schools in total.
Across all participating provinces, the project has distributed nearly 52,000 books and reached close to 20,000 pupils. Anadolu Sigorta has stated that it plans to continue opening libraries in different parts of Turkey, further supporting children’s access to books, knowledge and brighter educational opportunities.
