A door to nowhere: A youth’s struggle and strength
The situation in Syria continues to evolve rapidly on all levels. This series of posts looks back in time, telling the stories of what people endured during the earthquake, providing layers of context to the current situation, honouring their resilience and strength, and meeting them with empathy.
In the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquake that shook both southern Turkey and northern Syria, the lives of countless individuals were irrevocably altered.
Standing amongst the rubble, Luay Asmar, a young Syrian refugee, a qualified civil engineer and Program Manager at ActionAid partner, Violet, told us his story.
When the earthquake struck his home in Hatay, Turkey, Luay and his wife managed to evacuate their apartment just in time. The building they called home had cracked and its floors had collapsed. “We would have been engulfed by the debris had we not fled so swiftly,” he said.
A lucky escape – but the beginning of a traumatic ordeal.
Gripped by fear for his loved ones, Luay made his way to his family’s neighbourhood, the once-familiar streets unrecognizable and dark.
“Heavy rain obscured my vision,” he said, “yet the screams of others in distress reverberated around me, haunting echoes of a once-vibrant community reduced to chaos.”
His family remained unaccounted for. With each passing day, he clung to the hope that a miraculous survival story might yet unfold.
Nine days after the earthquake, the bodies of his father, mother, brother, pregnant sister-in-law and young nephew were uncovered from the debris. On the same day, he laid them to rest.
“My life now feels similar to the door of this wrecked building, “ Luay said. “Open to nowhere.”
This is a life he has had to rebuild from ruins a staggering 10 times in his young life. Born in Ideb, Syria, Luay is a Syrian refugee who later became a Turkish national. He is well versed in the struggles of displacement, the challenges faced by so many refugees, and the strength it takes to create something from broken pieces of what was once whole.
It is, perhaps, what makes him such a dedicated Program Manager at Violet, an organisation that aims to protect the oppressed and the neediest from exploitation, build society and seek development.
“Each time, we have to stay strong to clear the rubble and rebuild in the hope that tomorrow will be better,” he said.
Luay’s experience of the 2023 earthquake reflected a larger picture: the livelihoods that the youth had painstakingly carved for themselves were reduced to rubble, leaving them stranded in an unforgiving landscape. The quake’s aftermath worsened the already heightened insecurity that stemmed from over a decade of civil war, pushing these young people to the brink of despair.
Yet Luay’s dedication, and that of his colleagues at Violet, showed a profound strength in community resilience. Despite grappling with their own personal losses and navigating their grief, they remained steadfast in their support to the affected communities.
They played a pivotal role in saving lives during the days following the disaster.
Luay’s story, and Violet’s relentless pursuit of compassion, highlight the strength to be found in unity. Where devastation often tests the limits of human endurance, these young individuals exhibited a remarkable capacity to channel their grief and sorrow into action. Their actions reaffirmed the power of human connection and empathy, proving that even in the face of adversity, the will to rebuild, to uplift, and to inspire endures.
In 2025, Luay remains a dedicated project manager at Violet, working to ensure that the voices of the communities he helps resonate globally, and their struggles are brought to light. In October 2024, he attended the Youth Annual Compact Meeting in Malaysia, a gathering of youth leaders, policymakers, and changemakers from around the world to explore the crucial role young people play in advancing sustainable development and building resilience within their communities.
“The discussions highlighted the importance of youth leadership in humanitarian efforts, an area where energy and innovation can drive meaningful change, “ Luay said. “I’m looking forward to bringing these insights back to my work, where we continue to support young leaders and build resilient communities through local empowerment and anticipatory action.”
