ISTANBUL — In a cramped, dimly lit apartment located in one of Istanbul’s less affluent areas, 11-year-old Atakan Sahin sits on a worn-out sofa alongside his siblings, engrossed in a television show while their mother prepares a pot of pasta. For the family of six, this modest meal is often the highlight of their day. Atakan, his two younger brothers, and their 5-year-old sister are among the approximately one-third of children in Turkey facing poverty.
“I look at my kids, and it breaks my heart,” Rukiye Sahin, 28, shared. “I have four children, and they rarely get to eat meat or chicken. I send them to school in torn shoes.” The ongoing inflation crisis, primarily fueled by the devaluation of the currency and unconventional economic strategies implemented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—many of which have since been retracted—has left numerous families grappling to meet their basic needs for food and housing. Experts warn that this could lead to a generation of children forced to grow up too soon as they take on responsibilities to help support their families.
A report released in 2023 by UNICEF and the Turkish Statistical Institute indicates that around 7 million out of Turkey’s 22.2 million children live in poverty. This grim statistic is glaringly evident in neighborhoods like Tarlabasi, where the Sahin family resides just a short walk from Istiklal Avenue, a bustling area known for its vibrant shops and upscale eateries.
The family’s dining arrangement exemplifies their situation; they eat on the floor of their small room, which also doubles as sleeping quarters for Rukiye and her husband, leaving their children to rest on the sofas. During the chill of December nights, a small stove burns pieces of wood for warmth, and the sounds of rats scurrying through the building sometimes lull them to sleep.
Atakan spends his days rummaging through dumpsters with his father, searching for recyclable materials to sell for a meager income. Other children in Istanbul also resort to selling small items like pens and tissues at local bars and cafes, often late into the night, to contribute to their households’ finances.
“I can’t attend school because we lack money,” Atakan expressed, sharing his frustration. “We don’t have anything. On sunny days when I’m not in school, I help my dad collect plastics and other recyclables to sell.” The little money they earn goes toward buying basic food items and sending his siblings to school. However, when he is able to attend classes, Atakan feels ill-prepared: he lacks proper footwear, a warm coat, and textbooks for the English lessons he enjoys.
The financial strain is immense, complicating their ability to cover rent and utility bills as Turkey grapples with a prolonged cost-of-living crisis. The inflation rate stood at 47% in November, an increase of 5.1% from the previous month. Many families, including the Sahins, are largely unable to prepare fresh meals that include meat or vegetables, which remain elusive luxuries.
Rukiye and her husband rely on government assistance of 6,000 lira ($173) per month to help with school expenses but find themselves spending that entire sum on rent. “My son says, ‘Mom, it’s pouring, my shoes are soaked.’ There’s nothing I can do,” Rukiye lamented. “I am left here alone with my children; they are all I have.”
This stark reality stands in sharp contrast to the image Turkey projects internationally—of a significant global player with a robust economy that attracts foreign investment. Erdogan proudly highlights the social initiatives established during his over two-decade governance, claiming that the era of harsh restrictions and poverty is over.
During a speech at the G20 summit in November, Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s social security framework, calling it one of the most comprehensive in the world, and committed to ensuring that poverty is eradicated. He stated, “Our commitment is to ensure that no citizen remains impoverished.” Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek defended the minimum wage, currently set at 17,000 lira ($488), while vowing to increase it soon.
Despite the government’s substantial financial allocations to assist struggling families, rampant inflation, believed to be significantly higher than reported, reduces the effectiveness of any aid. Areas like Tarlabasi have seen rental prices skyrocket due to gentrification, making it increasingly challenging for low-income families to secure housing.
Many experts believe that government welfare programs fall short of meeting the needs of millions, forcing parents into impossible decisions: Should they allocate funds for rent or for providing clothing for their children? Should children attend school or remain at home to contribute financially?
Efforts by volunteers aim to alleviate the burdens of poverty. Mehmet Yeralan, a 53-year-old former restaurant owner, provides essentials to impoverished residents in Tarlabasi, such as coats, notebooks, and sometimes bags of rice. “Our children deserve better,” he stated while warming himself by a fire made from scrap wood. “Families are in dire situations, unable to provide food or education for their children.”
Hacer Foggo, a researcher on poverty, emphasized the urgent need to address the challenges facing children, noting that two million are trapped in deep poverty. “Child labor is alarmingly prevalent. Families prioritize education-work programs where children can earn money instead of receiving a proper education,” she noted.
UNICEF ranked Turkey 38th out of 39 countries in the EU or OECD in terms of child poverty between 2019 and 2021, reporting a child poverty rate of 34%. Occasionally, the devastating impacts of this situation are thrust into the spotlight, as seen in November when five children died in a fire while their mother was out collecting scrap materials. The heartbreaking image of their father, handcuffed and brought from prison to attend their funeral, sparked public outrage and highlighted the struggles facing impoverished families.
“I sometimes go to bed hungry, sometimes I’m fortunate enough to eat,” Rukiye reflected. “We can’t progress; we always find ourselves falling behind. When you’re broke, there’s no way to get ahead.” Her eldest son dreams of a brighter future, saying, “I want my own room. I want to go to school regularly. I want everything to be organized. One day, I hope to be a football player and support my family.”