❤️ Together for Tetiana: A Community That Stands By Its Own

On October 8, 2026, a seven-story building partially collapsed in Maltepe, Istanbul, claiming five lives and leaving others facing unimaginable loss.

Among those affected was our fellow Smileys member Tetiana, who managed to escape physically unharmed but lost her home and nearly everything she owned.

Since we first shared her story, the response from our community has been extraordinary.

Members, friends, and supporters from different countries have offered donations, accommodation, clothing, household essentials, professional assistance, and, perhaps most importantly, friendship.

❤️ A Personal Message from Tetiana

On Sunday morning, Tetiana shared a heartfelt message thanking everyone who has reached out.

She is currently staying with friends in Üsküdar and is especially grateful to those who have welcomed her into their homes and kept her company during these difficult days.

Despite everything, she has managed to maintain her sense of humor and positivity.

She even described the past few days with friends as feeling “more like a Christmas party than a time of mourning.”

But behind that positivity, things are not easy.

Tetiana has been struggling to sleep since the collapse. Although she escaped without physical injuries, the experience has understandably been difficult.

And what she misses most isn’t necessarily the furniture, clothes, or other possessions.

It’s the memories.

Many of the things she lost were connected to her family, loved ones in Ukraine, and meaningful moments from her life in Istanbul.

As she explained, losing these belongings feels like losing an important part of her personal history.

Some things simply cannot be replaced.

🏠 Her Biggest Priority: Finding a Home

For now, Tetiana is safe and staying with friends, but she still needs a stable place to live.

Several generous people have already offered accommodation. However, because she is working, finding somewhere with a practical commute is important.

Our immediate priority is helping Tetiana find suitable, affordable accommodation.

Many community members have also offered furniture, clothing, and household items.

Tetiana is grateful for these offers but has asked everyone to be patient. Once she has somewhere to settle, she will be better able to identify what she needs and accept the items people have kindly offered.

If you know of an available room or apartment that might be suitable, please contact our volunteer coordination team.

❤️ Let’s Not Forget Alexandr

We also want to acknowledge Alexandr, Tetiana’s roommate, who was affected by the same building collapse.

We recently learned that Alexandr was also a member of Smileys Community, although we are unsure how actively he participated.

While our current fundraising campaign is focused on supporting Tetiana, we don’t want Alexandr to be overlooked.

If anyone would like to help Alexandr, whether through accommodation, financial assistance, essential belongings, or other practical support, please reach out to our coordination team.

We can help connect those willing to assist and coordinate offers of support.

Our thoughts are also with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragedy.

💰 Nearly 65,000 TL Raised — Our Goal Is 100,000 TL!

Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters, we have already made significant progress.

Fundraising Update

• ❤️ Raised so far: Approximately 65,000 TL

• 🎯 Our goal: 100,000 TL

• 🤝 Still needed: Approximately 35,000 TL

We’ve reached about 65% of our goal!

These donations are intended to help Tetiana secure accommodation, cover essential expenses, and begin rebuilding her everyday life.

Every contribution matters, regardless of the amount.

If you’re unable to donate, you can still help by sharing her story, offering accommodation leads, or connecting us with someone who may be able to assist.

🤝 More Than Just a Community

One of the most meaningful things to come out of this tragedy has been seeing how quickly people stepped forward to help.

Some donated money. Others opened their homes, offered belongings, provided legal assistance, or volunteered their time.

Our volunteer coordination team — Cenk, Laura, Nour, Cansu, and Nate — has been working to organize these efforts and help Tetiana navigate the immediate challenges.

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has contributed, including those who have chosen to remain anonymous.

What makes this especially meaningful is that many of the people helping come from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

Some have known Tetiana for years. Others may have met her only once, or not at all.

Yet they all share the same willingness to help.

❤️ A Message to Tetiana

Tetiana, we know that no amount of money can replace the memories and personal belongings you’ve lost.

And finding a new home won’t make everything better overnight.

But we hope that, little by little, with the support of friends and community, you can begin to feel settled and secure again.

You have friends here, and people who genuinely care about what happens next.

To everyone who has already contributed, thank you.

And to those who are still considering helping, we invite you to be part of this effort.

We’re approximately 35,000 TL away from our goal. Let’s get there together.

Because Smileys has never been just about parties, language exchanges, dinners, or social events.

It’s about the people we meet, the friendships we build, and being there for one another when it matters most.

Smileys Community — Real People. Real Connections. Real Support. ❤️

To offer accommodation, contribute to the fundraising campaign, or help Alexandr, please contact the Smileys coordination team.

Read our original article about Tetiana and the Maltepe building collapse⁠.