Vakıflı, Samandağ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vakıflı
Վաքըֆ
Vak'ëf, Vakıfköy |
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Neighbourhood
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Village Church
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 Vakıflı, Samandağ
Location in Turkey
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| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Hatay |
| District | Samandağ |
| Population
(2022)
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103 |
| Time zone | TRT (UTC+3) |
Vakıflı is a special village in Turkey. Its official name is Vakıfköy. It is located in the Samandağ area of Hatay Province. In 2022, only 103 people lived there.
What makes Vakıflı unique is that it is the only village left in Turkey where most people are Armenian. It sits on the side of a mountain called Musa Dagh. From the village, you can see the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The border with Syria is also very close by. About 130 Turkish-Armenians live here. They speak a special kind of Armenian that is a bit different from other Armenian dialects.
Contents
A Look at Vakıflı's Past
The people living in Vakıflı today are the grandchildren of Armenians who bravely fought back in 1915. This was during a very difficult time called the Armenian genocide. For 53 days, they defended themselves on Musa Dagh mountain against attacks.
French sailors eventually saw a flag they had put up. It said, "Christians in Distress: Rescue." The French then helped these villagers. They took them to Port Said, a city in Egypt.
Returning Home
After a few years, starting in 1918, the Hatay region was controlled by France. The people from seven Armenian villages, including Vakıflı, were able to return home.
Later, in 1939, Hatay became part of Turkey again. This happened after an agreement between France and Turkey. Many people from the other six Armenian villages decided to move away. They went to Lebanon, especially a town called Anjar. But the people of Vakıflı chose to stay in their village.
Life and Changes in Vakıflı
For a long time, it was hard to find jobs in Vakıflı. Because of this, many young people moved to a big city called Istanbul. About 500 former residents of Vakıflı now live in Istanbul. But in the summer, the village gets busier. Many people come back to visit, and the population can grow to about 300.
New Opportunities
Around the mid-2000s, things started to change. With help from local leaders and a group called the TEMA Foundation, Vakıflı found new ways to grow. The TEMA Foundation helps villages stop people from moving to cities.
Vakıflı was chosen to develop organic farming and eco-tourism. This means growing food without harmful chemicals and inviting tourists to enjoy nature. The village even got a special certificate from the European Union for its organic farming.
In 2004, the Vakıflı Village Cooperative sold organic oranges worth a lot of money. This gave people hope for a better future in the village. Some villagers even started moving back from Istanbul.
Restoring the Village
Between 1994 and 1997, the village church was rebuilt and made bigger. The Turkish government helped with this project.
In 2005, Vakıflı fixed up its old school building. They turned it into a bed-and-breakfast, a place where visitors can stay. Two more old houses were also changed into bed-and-breakfasts.
With help from the local government and an organization in Istanbul, a project for ecotourism is happening. This project aims to fix up the traditional stone houses in the village. This helps keep the village's history alive and attracts more visitors.
Recent Events
During the Syrian civil war, Vakıflı welcomed about 20 Syrian refugees. These refugees were of Armenian origin from a place called Kesab.
In February 2023, a big earthquake hit the Hatay region. Vakıflı was badly affected. About 30 of the village's 40 stone houses were damaged. The village church was also heavily damaged. But thankfully, no one in Vakıflı died in the earthquake.
