Dear Ladies,
Once again the IWI Christmas Bazaar is at our doorstep and once
again we are anticipating a highly successful and profitable event.
The energy and effort put into this four hour event by all the
wonderful women involved is truely remarkable and something of which
we can all be proud. The "spirit of volunteerism" begins well before
the actual day, with months of preparation leading up to the Bazaar,
continuing on until after the dust has settled and eventually fading
away as accounts are closed and decorations packed away. What a
shame that the volunteer efforts of our women fade away until the
next time around!
I realize that most of you lead very busy and hectic lives (this
is Istanbul after all!) and that any spare time you have is usually
spent in well deserved relaxation. I would like to make an appeal,
however, to all of our members out there, to please consider
devoting three to four hours a week doing some volunteer work with
any of the fine projects we have organized in various areas of the
city.
Our volunteer groups are in desperate need of new helpers and
with out new help, unfortunately, these groups will eventually fade
away due to lack of interest. You can make a difference! The women
already involved in charity volunteerism are caring and enthusiastic
about what they do...and you will be too once you make the
commitment to help some one less fortunate than yourself.
Currently we have charity volunteers working at the Bakirkoy
Orphanage, the Bomonti Home for the Elderly in Sisli, SSK Okmeydan
Hospital and our newest program (for Asian residents) at the Marmara
Hospital. Hospital volunteers work with the sick children three days
a week playing games, doing puzzles, drawing etc. The orphanage work
involves smaller children with few language skills so it is the
perfect place if you don't speak much Turkish. Your time at Bomonti
can be spent talking to, reading to, feeding or helping to bathe the
seniors.
All you have to do is make is a small time commitment on a
weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly basis. The important thing is that
you DO commit. Let's all try to carry the spirit and the success of
the Christmas Bazaar into our everyday lives and spread the
energyand positive feelings we have on that day in to the lives of
others.See you at the Bazaar and hopefully, on the volunteer
circuit.
Suzy Kaluti
Charity Coordinator |
 |
Charity Inside
“Charity Inside” is a new feature which
will introduce one project of the IWI’s Charity projects at a time
thus giving more detailed information about the organisations which
are sponsored by IWI.
Nesin Vakfi
This month the visit to one of the charity organisations which
are supported by the IWI takes us out of Istanbul. The Nesin Vakfi
(Nesin foundation) is located in Catalca, a one hour drive from
Istanbul on the E5 towards Edirne. It was founded by Aziz Nesin, a
very famous and internationally recognised Turkish writer,
(1915-1995). His works consist of over 130 books, satirical
articles, theatre plays and literature for children. They have been
translated into over 40 languages. In his publications he
satirically criticised bureaucratic situations in daily life. Due to
his political engagement he came into conflict with various
governments and he spent a number of years in prison for his strong
beliefs. Nevertheless he continued to be very outspoken. Later in
his career he received many national and international prizes.
In 1972 he started his project Çoçuk Cenneti (“childrens
paradise”), a foundation for a home for children. In “Korkudan
korkmak” (Fearing fear) he summarized on 40 pages the principles of
his foundation, which should not only provide shelter, food and
health support for children, but also provide them with an proper
education in order to become confident members of society. Spending
all revenues from his books for the realization of his dream, he
bought land and started to build. In the middle of the 1980’s the
first children moved in. After his death in 1995 his son Prof. Ali
Nesin continued his work.
Today the compound consists of several buildings. In the main
building there are sleeping rooms, a kitchen, dining area, a large
living room, a computer room, a little theatre with stage and
auditorium, a library and two rooms which form a museum comprising
memorabilia of Aziz Nesin. Other buildings comprise a craft
area/atelier and stables for the animals. In front of the main
entrance there is a playground – the rest of the land contains
vegetable and fruit gardens. Some areas can be used for different
purposes – the apple trees are surrounded by a lot of grass and make
a good area for ball games. 1 km away from the main area a small
farm is established with cows, chickens and ducks.
The children come from provinces all over Turkey. Some of them
are orphans; some of them come from families with economic
difficulties. The idea is to give those children a home – a home
that resembles a family environment with all the love and care for
each member, but with all responsibilities and duties at the same
time. Most of the children have their own room, except for the very
small ones. Their ages range from kindergarten children to
university students (currently 13) which reflects the long-term
dedication of the foundation. Older children often take
responsibility for smaller children, so small family groups are
formed. All of the children have daily duties, like helping in the
household or in the garden or with the animals. One of the slogans
says “what you use, you have to produce”. So the children learn to
make cheese, cream or jam.
Additionally, they are encouraged to
pursue and develop their individual abilities. At the same time it
is emphasized that excellence is something which does not just
happen to be there, but which has to be achieved by constant work.
Highly encouraged is participation in creative activities, like
conducting theatre plays, pottering, sculpturing and playing music.
Volunteers support these activities, eg. by teaching music or art
classes. Regular trips to Istanbul to concerts, exhibitions or
theatre plays are additional activities,.
As a private foundation, the Nesin Vakfi draws its
money from the revenues of Aziz Nesin’s work, income from real
estate properties which are owned by the foundation, and donations.
But with currently 43 children (3 over capacity because of
urgency) that does not always cover all expenses. Always needed are
items of the daily life, like toilet paper, napkins, pads, cheese,
olive oil, jams, sheets, pillows, bedding items, underwear and
shampoo/deodorant/soaps. Soon for the winter, large amounts of coal
will be needed for heating. Therefore the IWI has added the Nesin
Vakfi to the list of projects which we will support in this season.
I would like to thank Feyzi-Bey who took the time in his busy
schedule to meet Suzy and me to show us around and to answer all our
many questions.
Note:
If you would like to support Nesin Vakfi with some of
the goods mentioned above, please feel free to contact our charity
coordinator Suzy Kaluti under Suzy@iwi-tr.org or
0533-3314343.
(Please note that due to space restrictions items
are required to be delivered in reasonable quantities on a regular
basis rather than in on go.)
Sosyal Sorumluluk Egitim Dernegi
(Society for
the Education of Social Responsibilities)
Registered Charity
Code #34-104/155
Dear Friends,
Thank you to Koza Gida and Coca-Cola and all of SED's friends for
making SED's fundraising picnic a huge success. Beautiful weather
and our loyal supporters made the day fun filled.
The menu
provided by Koza was equal to what you would find in a five star
restaurant. Spring rolls, tortallini, lasagna were just a few of the
delights we ate. Rancho California provided lots of space for the
kids and animals to play.
October also brought Yuli the opportunity to present SED's
accomplishments at The International Companion Animal Welfare
Conference which was held this time in Dubrovnik. This conference,
the biggest of its kind, is attended by animal welfare organizations
and professionals from around the world. Yuli was invited to be one
of the speakers specifically on "Education." We hope that sometime
this year, you might also view this power point presentation
entitled "Education by SED" which has impressed the international
audience of ICAWC.
Last week in October, Turkey was shocked by the news of horrible
abuses inflicted upon kids between 0-6 years of age in a government
owned children's refuge (Cocuk Esirgeme Kurumu) in Malatya. Four
women, one staff member and three cleaning contractor's employees
have been arrested in the case.
There is uncanny similarity between child abuse and animal abuse.
The victims are always vulnerable. That's why, we feel that our
strife to awaken in youth the feeling of compassion will contribute
into making kinder adults in future.
SED is about to enter a new phase. Since our beginning, we have
been organizing in various locations the adoptions of four-legged
friends that have been fostered in our homes or offices. As of next
month, SED will be moving to the Anatolian side where we will have a
permanent adoption location. More news on that in the next Lale.
SED NEEDS your HELP now, more than ever.
You can
become…
1- A SED corporate or individual Sponsor
2- A SED
Volunteer (Your talents in PR, marketing, internet know-how are very
valuable to us)
3- A liaison person between schools and SED
4-
A SED member
5- A SED non-voting member by making a cash
contribution
Merry Christmans and a Happy New Year from all your friends at
SED!
BANK Info: Ziraat Bankasi, Galleria Subesi 1773, Hesap No.
103459-5003
Please contact: 
