An Examination of the Experiences Gained by of Social Workers Volunteering in the Kahramanmaraş-Centered Earthquakes

This study explores the experiences of social workers who volunteered or were assigned to provide support after the devastating 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. The earthquakes caused significant loss of life and property across ten provinces, with social workers playing a key role in offering psychosocial support. The study focuses on their emotional reactions to the disaster, motivations for going to the affected areas, the challenges they faced, the coping strategies they used, and the roles they took on. It is a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. The participants are 20 social workers from public institutions and non-governmental organizations, selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and analysed with qualitative data software. The results show that social workers encountered severe destruction and emotional difficulties in the disaster area. This study aims to enhance the understanding of social workers’ roles in disasters and to assist in preparation for future crises. It also aims to offer valuable insights for policymakers to improve disaster management and emergency interventions.