In 2009 TEFAF supported the Prince Claus Fund’s Cultural Emergency Response (CER) programme to restore the Turkish Nesin library in Çatalca, Istanbul. Through the support of 10.000 Euro provided by TEFAF, the Prince Claus Fund was able to restore the library and save much of the unique collection of more than 30.000 books and 300.000 records. The Nesin Foundation was able to continue its work as an independent space for political thought and educational centre for orphans.

Torrential rains had flooded Çatalca in September 2009 and severely damaged the library holding irreplaceable materials collected by political activist Aziz Nesin (1915-1995). The collection is of great cultural-historical significance because it documents the literary and political history of Turkey between 1946 and 1995.

The library was flooded, the electricity system damaged, and the walls and the roof were on the brink of collapse. Various flood-affected spaces of the building had to be cleaned of mud and detritus, and repairs carried out to secure the electricity and reduce the risk of fire. The ruined bookshelves and broken windows were replaced and then work began on restoring the damaged books and documents. In the process, a start was made to digitalise and classify the most important records in order to preserve this archive for future generations. The restoration of the library was successfully completed in August 2010.

Most of the library’s rooms are now in use and the library’s doors are once again open to researchers and scholars. The Nesin Foundation has restarted its activities as an educational centre for the children in its orphanage.  The project has had a positive impact on the normalisation of life for the disaster-struck community of Çatalca.

TEFAF supports the Prince Claus Fund to save unique cultural heritage damaged by natural or man-made disaster. Restoring cultural heritage is important to help communities to rebuild their lives after calamity has struck.