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Happy Birthday Basak!! Here again we have another year past, with happiness, sadness, excitement…. Basak which brings together all the lines that hang out in a notch of life was born again in the beat of tiny hearts…. Basak Culture and Art Foundation celebrated its 7th anniversary with great enthusiasm on 29 August 2010. The stage opened its curtains with Basak Music groups that are working with foundation almost four years and continued with Sahmeran Children's Theatre. They staged the play in Kurdish with great hardship and difficulties working for months. Their performances were very much effective. For the theater Sahmeran that night was more meaningful because children who came from far away shared proudly that how every one of them are transformed into Basak that evening. French music group that carry away breeze from far away to our hearts reminded us once again that the language of pain is the same everywhere. The music group shared memories of Brittany families under the French domination, caught many viewers eyes… Seyr-i Mesel Theater took us more familiar scene and reminded us that how some forgotten memories come to surfaces suddenly. They did this with their only Kurdish speaking theatre group. This time stage curtain opened with Kardeş Türküler. With their beautifully expressed songs from different part of country, we, once more felt thousands and one Basak in our hearts. The questions we sometimes ask about life have been answered probably simultaneously. Basak was in the simile of many children and maybe many mother hearts in that night. Every year there are many more Başak growing in our hearts.. Happy birthday Başak….. DERYA ÖZKAN BAŞAK CULTURE AND ART FOUNDATION ------ BAŞAK CULTURE AND ART FOUNDATION The Summary of activities in 2009-2010 The Basak Culture and Art Foundation established on 26 July 2002. It aims to support for developing artistic abilities of young people and children with low income and deprived and eliminate the obstacles of their personality development and helping them to become a healthy individuals as well as making scientific investigation and research in the field of culture and art. Theatre: Aged 9 -14 years old children are attending the classes which are divided into two groups of 14 people. The theater play named Alice and tales named Shahmaran are prepared. Sahmaran continues to play in the year 2010. Painting: 59 of children between the ages of 7-14 participated in three groups. Ceramics: 10 children participated in the ceramics workshops. Music Group: young people are continues to work within the Foundation. Acrobatics: 15 child participation in workshop which we conducted to develop children concentration and skills. Clowns: 10 children have participated in our courses and were prepared colorful demonstrations.. B) SERVICES GIVEN BY TRAINING: English: 0 children and 17 adults took advantage of our ongoing English classes in the foundation by two groups (Children and Young People).. Italian: 7 children joined in Italian language course given by EVS volunteers. Mathematics: 30 students from formal education registered in our courses. The course is still ongoing into two groups. First-group (7th grade) 10, the second group (8th grade) 13 people (attendance is free) in a total of 23 people participated. Scholarships: Each year since its establishment, we provide scholarships to low-income and poor children and young people. In 2009 and 2010, 10 students (100 YTL per month) scholarships have been provided. Psychological support: Beside individual and group trainings, social counseling are given to our target groups who do not benefit from public services. Psychological support and guidance has been given in two days and a total of 18 persons have benefited from this service. C) EVENTS Festival: “Mobile Street Art Workshop" (26-27 September) organized by Basak Culture and Art Foundation for the poor and disadvantaged kids meet in Icerenkoy Park. The presentation meeting for he Foundation's goal: Mehmet Ali Düzgün, Ayten Demirbaş and EVS volunteers Jahala Milani gave presentations about foundation and information about our target group at Bilgi University on 14/10/200, Ayse Tepe made a presentation describing the foundation. for Bilgi University students within the scope of NGO courses at Bilgi University Those who Make a Difference Program: Basak Culture and Art Foundation also participated in CNN Turk program as a guests about ‘Those who make a difference’ presented by Cüneyt Özdemir. Charlie Porter Quartet: American jazz group held children's workshops in our foundation. World Cultural Heritage Summit- Basak Culture and Art Foundation made a presentation in international meeting in Istanbul organized by Europe Nostra. D) Projects: "Have the choice, hear my voice": The project started in December 2009 aims to update research that made in 2004 about "forced migration and its impact on children and youth". Our project continues Musical: 15 young people between 15-27 ages have joined in the Musical (Music, Dance and Theater) which have continued since 2008. At the end of the six months a musical named harvest put on stage on July 12 2009 in the Kadikoy /Caddebostan cultural center. Support for amateur artists: providing support to Peristan women's theater group by given space and financial support . Youth meeting: Meeting took place in an art gallery on 08 August 2010 in the scope of "You have a voice Hear my Voice" project in the Kadikoy IDO. Foundations participated in art contest organized by General Manager of the Foundation each year with mobile street art project under the "Foundation that bring something to Istanbul " project . Young people and volunteers of Basak Culture and Art Foundation came together in the traditional picnics in 2010. "Basak Mobile Street Art Workshop": The project started on July 2009 in Istanbul’s district; Sultanbeyli, Ataşehir Zeytinburnu Sultançiftliği, Fatih, Maltepe and Uskudar and 12 different streets. 558 children attended at the eight-week workshop. The project implemented in Izmir Karabağlar Council as a model project. It still continues Istanbul’s 12 different streets in 2010. 1100 children attended the workshop. Training: Our two projects (“The Voice of Youth” and “Different Lives Common Hopes”) have selected as sample projects at the European conference on creativity organized by National Agency. Our foundation realized five meetings which trainers and families of students come together. Women meetings: There have been a meeting on Dersim Culture and forty women participated. Utterance: the conversation took place in the foundation by Nezahat Gundogan and Kazim Gundogan who are the director of the documentary titled "Dersim lost daughter” on 20 December 2009. Oral History training study: 10 young people participated in the oral history training for a one day on 7 December 2009 The Success of Başak Youth: Basak youth have gained a success with their work. The projects called “The Voice Of Youth”, “Different Lives, Common Hopes” which have been supported by European Union Youth Programs Center, prepared by Basak youth have been selected as a sample projects in scope of “2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation”. TRAINING: The five students who involved in internship work at Bilgi University Psychology Department have provided training of reinforcements in math’s and English in the foundation in 2009. Publications 1) Brochure of Basak Mobile Street Art workshop 2) Street Art Magazine 3) Booklet for Children Sahhanım Kanat The head of Boarding Committ ------------- MEETING of YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCEDLY IMMIGRATED Basak Culture and Art Foundation shared the data of " The Comparative Survey of Forced Migration Impacts on Children and Young People 2004-2010 " called ‘You have a choice, hear my voice’ that realized in partnership of Istanbul Bilgi University Migration Studies Research Center, on the 8 August, 2010 on Sunday, with "Youth Gathering". The data of SES-ÇIK project “Don’t make an issue Lay claim to” which was supported in the scope of” Micro-Projects Programme of European Initiative for Turkey 2001 Ref.: 2003 / EIDHR-micro/007, sponsored by European Commission Turkey Representative for the Democracy and Human Rights" in 2004, by Netherlands Consulate General of the Human Rights Fund. At IDO Art Gallery, on Sunday, 8th of August at 15:00, 150 young people who are the victims of forced migration have come together. Beside the young people who participated in survey, there were others as well as the press paid an attention in the event. The Project Coordinator Ayse Tepe has given information about the contents of the project activities and the documentary that has been carried out within the scope of the project was shown to young people. Presentations that had a big interest from young people, is almost turned into a platform for discussion with questions. Finally, after receiving the opinions about solutions and proposals, it is ended with the concert by our band, accompanied by cocktails and halay (Anatolian folk dance). The project that started on 1 December 2009, will at the end of August 2010. With the survey the project were reached 353 adults, 260 children and 267 young people. The part of the data which is related with young peoples education, working life and social security were shared at the meeting. We thank Dr. Ahmet Paksoy who is a general director of IDO Art Gallery for opening the venue for this meeting and showing his social responsibility and Aysegul Abay who is a director of art gallery for not leaving us alone. The final report of the project will be shared with the public on 15 September 2010 at 10:00 by press conference to be held. Shared data are down below.. Yours sincerely; Ayşe Tepe Project Coordinator MEETING of YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCEDLY IMMIGRATED Presented data in the meeting A Young people's educational level a- Do not ever gone to school (Ses Çık) 32,1% (Ses-Duy) 11,5% b- Left primary school (Ses-Çık)18.7% (Ses-Duy) 21,0% c- Primary school graduate (Ses-Çık) 33,6 % (Ses-Duy) 9,5% d- Left Secondary school (Ses-Çık) 3,7 % (Ses-Duy) 7,0% e- Secondary school graduate (Ses-Çık) 3,0% (Ses-Duy) 18,5% f- Left High school (Ses-Çık) 2,2% (Ses-Duy) 15,5% g- High school graduate (Ses-Çık) 6,7 % (Ses-Duy) 16,5% h- Left University or higher education (Ses-Çık) 0,0 % (Ses-Duy) 0,5% B-Young Women's Education / Employment Status a- SES-ÇIK: Students: 6.4%, both students and works:% 0, working: 36.2% neither student nor works: 57.4 % b-SES-DUY: Students: 20.4%, both students and works: 3.6%, working 28.1% neither students nor works: 47.9 % C-Young Men Education / Work Status a-SES-ÇIK Students: 8.2%, both students and works: 1.4%, working: 78.1%, neither students, nor works: 12.3% b-SES-DUY : Students: 18.4%, both students and works: 8.0%, working: 57.0% neither students nor work: 17.0% D-Social Security a-Ses-Çık (women) : Not registered: 76.3%, Social Security: 23.7%, Pension Fund: 0% Men: Not registered : %87,1,Social Security:%12,9, Pention Fund: %0 b-Ses-Duy (Women): Not registered: %39,9, Social Security,Bağ-Kur, Pention Fund:%46,2, Green Card for poor: %14,0 Men: Not registered: %38,0, Social Security,Bağ-Kur, Pention Fund:%54,4, Green Card for poor: %7,6 E-Child mortality: It was one of the important data that the project team to share; child deaths in immigrant families. This data was quite striking and it was pointed out, the child's death was important life infringement. It has indicated that among 353 households interviewed, in 34.7% of (n = 122) them, at least one baby or under five years old had died. In households a total of 210 infant and child mortality occurred. In the households that more than one child death rate is 15.9%. The causes of death, related to child mortality were explained in the following way: inability to take the child to a doctor or a hospital because of financial problems, lack of doctor or hospital, to live in unhealthy housing with the accidents risk. -------
http://www.sabancivakfi.org/eng/programlar/fark_yaratanlar/bolumler/bolum31/bolum31.php ------------- “Children are like almond trees.As soon as warm air blows they open their flowers” In the 9th week of ‘Art in Street Project’ held by Basak Culture and Art Foundation, we were in the neighborhood of Üsküdar called Kirazlıtepe. The most significant of this work was that Başak children, who were themselves in the previous workshops, are now assisting us in this project. We met a group of children who waiting for us on the first day of our arrival in Kirazlıtepe. We gave brief information about our work to children who are gathered around and wondering what we are going to do. As soon as we finished explaining what we are going to do they disappeared in the street and a few minutes later they came back with a group of children taking their friends with them. We conducted fun activities with children who were joyful and excited, we laughed, had fun, we play games. Initially the skeptical view and cautious approach of families gradually changed it to pleasant observation. Children initially hesitant to participate in the activities were persuaded by their families. On the other hand it was pleasant for us that people participated in these activities. 161 children from different ages participated in three day workshops. There were clown, painting, puppets, face painting and the rhythm workshops. As like every week, we are continuing to share with you our volunteers impressions this week. You can find Gurbet ilbars’ views who participated on the 2nd day and said "Children are similar to the almond tree." As soon as warm air blows they open their flowers, “in the appendix Participated Volunteers: ahale Milani, Charlotte Heslouin, Alessanadra Mainini, Elena Lar Rovera, Hümeyra Tusun Yeğin, Gurbet ilbars, Gökhan Ballıkya, Kadriye Kurt, Zafer Atmaca,Kinem Aydın,Dicle Kuaz,Serbun Yurtsever "We were in Kirazlıtepe neighborhood on the 23rd July, Friday, established on Büyük Çamlıca Hill...We set aside the war, poverty, problems, irresponsibility and all of the grim faces with the district's 'other' children and made smiling puppets. Every child wanted to create the face of his own world. As if waiting for this moment for long time, their skilled hands were impatient and excited. Those children, who have lost many things before even come to this world, now were trying not to lose their toys. Unfortunately, it was possible to see their fear of losing. But this time, they were not losing, they were winning. Socks were put into the hands….buttons become the eyes, the color feathers become hairs.Everyone made smiling puppets. As the puppets smiling, the children whose cheeks become reddish in the summer heat were smiling too. I believe how an instant disaster can destroy children joy, for a moment of happiness can flourish children hopes again. I think all the kids that night sleep peacefully and have dreamt beautifully. “Children are like almond trees. As soon as warm air blows they open their flowers” Thank you BAŞAK for making children flowers open and making beautiful weather blows through their smile.... Gurbet İlbars Başak Culture and Art Foundation ------- STREET ART IN THE SILENT SCREAMS OF THE STREETS In the Scope of the Cultures meet in the Street Project, we still go and color different back streets of Istanbul by our workshops with inter-institutional cooperation every week even its rains. We were at three different points of Istanbul this week by our art workshops that instill hope to the silent scream of street children. We have come together with children and young people on the 16 July 2010 in Sarıyer-Bahçeköy/Bahar Country in Istanbul due to V. ISTANBUL FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SERVICES with the hundreds of organizations of Social Services Child Protection Agency. We have participated to this event by Music, Painting, Ceramics workshops and face painting. In the event our young musician Ronahi gave the violin recital and our volunteers worked like a factory worker from their hearts. They have lived though unforgettable day.. We were guests in Kartal in the second day and were guest in Fikirtepe in the third day. Derya Ozkan who participated in the workshops this week shared her emotion and observation with us. Our routes were Fikirtepe, "Çeşme Sokak" this time in the hot afternoon. When we arrived at the street which had a cool air of Çeşme (fountain), there were familiar sounds knocked our ears. With the excitement of not knowing what to do, but still shy eyed screaming kids.. We started to spread our blanket while waiting kids who went to tell their friends about the workshop. The colorful fabrics, feathers and beads shadows were shining on children's faces and they began to approach us with their tiny hands, perhaps with the pride of being recognized and with excitement... The day attractions were hand puppets which were created with decorated socks and when our volunteers said with holding a few sample of puppet in their hands, "Hello, I'm Alessandra", "I am Elena", "I am Caharlotte", "I am Jahela" children impatience on the face were worth seeing. Another nice addition to this work were that children would be able to take the puppets with them at the end of the day and would remember this day . When I said that " you can get the puppet that you make", 12-year-old Emrah who stood by the door of car repair shop and were looking at us since we started the workshop, came next to me as close and said, " if the puppets will stay with us I would one for my brother!" he said. At that moment I felt deeply that within sight of this big eyes and body covered with the car shop oil and dirt with was just a child.... By creating a large circle we started throw our dreams, flowed from our hearts to fabrics, cardboard and beads under the gaze of a passerby and people hanging from balconies, we forget the world.. I just realized two boys who were watching us from a little distance. I slowly approach them and asked "Why don’t you come", the excitement in the eyes were struck like blazing flame but there was something that keeping them away. Before I didn’t want to insist upon, but later I noticed that they were staring at me and merely asking me, "Come on call us again and take us there”. The big lesson I learned a little bit before from Emrah that these 10-11 old years children who fit something big to their tiny heart were almost shame of being a child. It was like being a child and playing game were so simple and lost its meaning long ago. 'When said, “Come on join us, I know you are already an adult but you would take them to your brother or sister” these little hearts joined by others believing that they have a mission... Today, in Çeşme Sokak I and all my friends understand one more time that the real secret of happiness is somewhere in a child smile. When my eyes met my friends, we understand each other emotions. While time running quickly there were 25 children playing with hand puppets. 25 big-hearted little man waving of us, already dreaming of the day to the next meeting 22.07.2010 Derya Özkan Basak Culture and Art Foundation ------- Cultures meet in the Street-‘Street Art’ We were in Tuzla this week in scope of ‘Street Art-Cultures meet in the Streets’ Project. We were in the Ayazma park in Tuzla, Aydınlı district. There were 97 childeren participated in two days workshop. We would like to share our volunteer evaluation about the workshop. BASAK CULTURE AND ART FOUNDATIOn Observation Tuzla - 12-13 June 2010 - by Jahela Milani I'm Jahela from Italy and I'm an EVS volunteer at Başak Foundation since the beginning of October 2009.I started my project in autumn and I did several activities including a experimental clown workshop for children. I began my experience with a group of EVS volunteers that now is not here anymore, because their projects lasted only 6 months, so I'm working with a new group and we cooperate above all for the summer project called“Sokakta Sanat”, That is on its 2nd edition. For this second week of activity we went to Tuzla, a district in the Anatolian side ofIstanbul. We worked in a public park, the days were sunny and very hot. During two days we proposed two kind of atelier, one was managed by Elena and Luís (about painting), the other was managed by Alessandra, Charlotte and me (about dance and music). As far as our workshop concerns, on Saturday we had a bad start because we wanted to propose a dance workshop without music, but unfortunately it didn't work, so we finally tried to animate children with songs and simple games. We realized that children's desires were mostly to sing, so for the following day we didn't propose the dance atelier we had prepared (not to repeat the same mistake), but we proposed a workshop focusing on the voice. At the end of the day we were very happy because it worked: thanks also to thevolunteers that helped us with the language translation, we could make the childreninterested and we made them participate. What we gave: Our goal was to let the children experiencing what is working together, listening each other and at the same time we wanted to give them the possibility to explore their bodies and to use them as instruments of themselves expression. I think we can be satisfied of our efforts. What we learned: Given that we studied an alternative solution for the second day, it's clear that we learned a bit from our mistakes. We listened to the children's desires and we adapted our workshop in a way to be oriented to what children wanted to do with us and not to what we wanted them to do. It has been a good lesson on the subject of “listening”. So the main points of the lesson from us to the children were: experiments, team work, cooperation, use of the body and its parts; the points from the children to us were: listening, adaptation and strategy. Actually a very good exchange! ------------------ CAZ’IN VE BLUES’UN MUHTEŞEM RİTMİ GREAT RHYTHM OF JAZZ AND BLUES CHARLIE PORTER QUARTET MET WITH OUR YOUNGSTERS AND CHILDREN IN BASAK CULTURE AND ART FOUNDATION Charlie Porter Quartet visited our foundation on June 11, 2010 and it was an unforgettable day for our children and youngsters Children and young people from near districts schools participated in the workshops and they have met with the magical world of jazz and joint actively to create their own rhythm with the group. They joint in workshops with great enthusiasm and perhaps the first time the kids listen and witnessed a live performance of blues and jazz.Charlie Porter, the lead singer of the group set up a really good dialogue with children, so children were literally lost themselves in beautiful rhythms of jazz music and they kept pace with the universal rhythm of music. The contact they established was strong and beautiful enough to say just “this is how you make jazz lovable”. Because, jazz was just a voice coming from a foreign and far away for children who participating in the workshop.They showed the dialogue can be established without talking by using rhythmic sound and the instrument.Charlie invited Basak musicians and children to the stage and they talked to each other with tunes and melodies. Charlie Porter led them feel the jazz which is originally comes from Africa, by sometimes using great rhythms of jazz or animating human voices or just with applause. Then, they told how sorrow can be expressed in blues and how sorrow can be converted to happiness by music.We were so glad to see a happy smile in their eyes when he asked them whether they liked the jazz or not. We were delighted with a warm and friendly atmosphere they created. Unifying magic of the universal music took us all under its influence. The children left the foundation with the joy after spent a very educational and joyful day. BAŞAK CULTURE AND ART FOUNDATION
-------------- Meeting of Different Cultures on the Streets... The project called Street Art conducted by the Başak Culture and Art Foundation, began with the activities such as painting, collage making, jewelry making and dancing on the 4th-5th June, 2010 in Ataşehir \ Kayisdagi in the 80th Year Park.There were 95 children participated in the activities, aged 4-16 in two-days. Although our target groups were supposed to be between 07-13 ages, 18-year-olds were also interested in joining the activities and we welcomed them. Although at first the children were watching from far away but slowly they began to participate in the activities. Sometimes they joined in by their mother request, but they remain with us until the end of the day. They were much more willing to join in the second day.However, the first question was about the cost of the activity asked by both children and their family whether it was free or charged. Hence the importance of the activities had revealed itself again. Our main goal was to not having to go away far from their home. Because of economic reasons, many children do not have the opportunity participating in artisticactivities. Although the activities are free but because of the way and having to pay the fare makes it difficult for children to participate.Our aim is also to introduce our children to different cultures and to integrate them through artistic activity. Our volunteers come from Europe. Although they don’t speak Turkish, the children did not know English; the very good dialogue was maintained between them. The willingness of participation and collaboration eliminated the dialogue problems and we had a very enjoyable two days.The project team: Elena Lar Rovere (Italy), Jahela Milani (Italy), Luis Gandara (France), the Maine Alessandra (Italy), Charlotte Heslouin (France). Gülbahar Dağ (Theatre), Mehmet Ceber (Camera), Sergun Yurtsever (Technical), Kadriye Kurt (Music), Sibel Erduman (Photo) Hümeyra Tusun Yeğin06/06/2010My name is Charlotte Heslouin, I am from France and I have been in Turkey for one month. I am here to make an EVS project for 6 months. With four others volunteers and members of Başak Art and Culture foundation, we have started our Sakakta Sanat Projesi on the 4th of June, two days ago. The goal of this project is to meet different cultures, to link children through art workshops. For this, we have already made two workshops: painting and dancing, in Ataşehir district, in Kahışdağı’s park. It is a new experience for me to be faced to the difficulty of communication; in fact I don’t know Turkish. It is a real challenge to prepare this workshop with the others volunteers, since we need a common language to communicate which is not our mother tongue, and also to explain to the children what we want from them, and the goal of the activities. But for this reason it is a very interesting experience: trying to share and to live all together; to give them a little bit of my art’s knowledge. I help them to discover an other culture and way of thinking, and at the same time, they help me and teach me also to open my mind, to see behind my prejudices.Finally, the main aim of this workshop, on my own point of view, it is to learn from each other, try to understand, to listen, and to respect each other, and of course to enjoy, as much as possible, the time spending together.Charlotte Heslouin ------------------- We give voice to migration… Data for SES-ÇIK ‘Don’t Problem, Control It’ is being updated. Başak Culture and Art Foundation updates the data of one of the first studies in Turkey on effects of forced migration on children and young people, which was conducted in 2004, in 2010. The objective of Başak Culture and Art Foundation has been to protect children and young people from the negative impact of migration and poverty ever since its establishment. Başak Culture and Art Foundation in affiliation with the Center for Migration Research, which has significant studies on migration started the project, namely “You have a choice, hear the voice”, which is financed by the Human Rights Fund of Consulate General of Netherlands. The project, “You have a choice, hear the voice”, aims at updating the data obtained from the project, SES-ÇIK ‘Don’t Problem, Control It’, supported within the scope of Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey and Turkey 2001 Programme of European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. The project will be eventuated in December 2009 – September 2010. A questionnaire will be carried out with the people previously interviewed within the scope of the project SES-ÇIK project in the districts of Istanbul Asia, namely Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Ümraniye, Beykoz, Maltepe, Kartal, Pendik, Sultanbeyli, and Tuzla. The aim is to reach 500 families, 1000 children, and young people with the questionnaire. The data of the project SES-ÇIK needs to be updated since the project put forth the dramatic results of the problems carried to the cities with forced migration. The project team started a field study to find out the changes in the lives of sufferers from forced migration in six years. All the data obtained at the end of the project will become a publication and the visual materials will be prepared and sent to academicians, universities, local governments, public institutions,the Parliament, Non-governmental organizations and all the relevant shareholders. We believe that our project, which is a first in its field with the comparative data update, will contribute to the solution of the problem by making the problem of forced migration visible in public and raising the awareness on the issue. The research will be shared with the public with a press conference held at a date, which will be announced later, after the end of the research. February 19th, 2010. Respectfully; Başak Culture and Art Foundation -------------- COLOURS AND VOICES FROM BAŞAK CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION “Colours and voices from Başak Children” Photograph Exhibition met with lovers of art on January 9th, 2010 at the New Kadıköy Dock. The exhibition which will continue between January 9th and 14th at the Kadıköy IDO exhibition hall was opened. The opening cocktail was made with the violin concert of 10-year-old student Ronahi Dölek at January 9th. IDO exhibition hall contributing to the art and culture to the city provided an opportunity, probably for the first time, for the Other children of the city to meet with their pieces of art. Besides children from two banks of Istanbul, who does not have the opportunity to go out of their street, met with their own art. The exhibition hall witnessed the heart beat and enthusiasm of its little guests against the view of the sea, ship, sea gulls and Leander's Tower. The enthusiasm created by the future artist Ronahi was another flavour to the exhibition and he was appreciated by the volunteers of the foundation, trainees, instructors, representatives of the NGO’s and the families. After these the cinevision show prepared by the art consultant Işıl Aydın and will be played at the hall during the day was began to be shown. The products of the painting and ceramic ateliers by Aude Scahaftingen and David Greco who has been working in the Başak Culture and Art Foundation as a painter and sculptor within the scope of the European Voluntary Service with children were watched with interest. The chair of the Foundation Şahhanım Kanat, stated that the exhibition includes the results of the 5 different artistic studies (Başak Mobile Street Art Atelier, plays and dance shows, the project “Have a Nice Trip”, My World Atelier, Make Your Own Toy) conducted in the districts that the target group commonly live and the exhibition has 70 photographs. Şahhanım Kanat continued: Başak Culture and Art Foundation is an organization with the objective to help children and young people who are poor, disadvantaged and the victims of forced migration handle their problems with art, express themselves freely and become self-sufficient people. Becoming the 2010 European Capital of Culture has increased our responsibilities and we will continue our works on streets by expanding the borders. Şahhanım Kanat also explained that the cost-free activity locations are important for these kinds of organizations. She also thanked IDO which opened the exhibition hall to the “Colours and Voices from Başak Children” Photograph Exhibition and contributed to the exhibition, and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Department which provide service for the transportation of the children from districts to the exhibition hall and Kanat stated that the exhibition will continue up to January 14th. January 12th, 2010. ------------------ We left behind another week in Başak Street League. This is September 6th. Our children played the games of the 4th week. This is a “gigantic” league in itself with 80 children and other children who still want to enrol. All children who are a part of the league are very excited. This week’s games will also be contentious. This week we will see “pleasant games with intense struggles. We also get excited with the desire of the children to play and win even before they are on the field. Before the game the last strategies are talked, on the one hand. And on the other hand, substitutes are stretching. Goal keeper, defence, midfielder, striker, referee, and the coach. We found everything (!) and established our own league. Like children, we also smile when we see the balls and uniforms taken from Istanbul Department of Youth and Sport and the vests, goal keeper gloves, and balls from the “Football for Everyone” authorities of the TFF. The amateur spirit in the football is finally with us. This is what makes us go forward. We took our places on the field close to the starting of the game. While Joris and I took photos, Aydın was the assisting referee. The referee was Recep. Sometimes we frowned and at those times Aydın and Recep intervened. Sometimes we took Aydın from the game and I worked as the assisting referee. He took photos. Recep was self-confident in every position. Fortunately we don’t have a situation that needs a card. The first game is very important. The winner would be in the first position in the league; this was just like a derby. Nihat Sokak, in which our foundation was established, vs. Şenol Sokak. The game finished as four to one. The winners were the children form Şenol Sokak. Anyway they all are our children. The second match was between Nurettin Sokak and Ceylan Sokak. The score was again four to one. Nurettin Sokak was also ambitious. Lower places in the league are also struggling, you know. All plans were for the next week. Congratulations to our little players who struggle not only against each other but also against dust, ground, and the heat for their play. I request them to take part in every cultural and sport activities they believe that they will be successful as their older brother. If you want to watch the next week’s games and contribute financially or emotionally to our children you can contact with us through www.basaksanatvakfi.org.tr or tel. 0-216-420-49-68. Nurettin wins four to one against Ceylan, and lost to Şenol four to one. Traces of Crampons on the Ground! The mobile street art atelier of the Başak Culture and Art Foundation went and continue to go to a number of streets from the suburban districts of Istanbul.We went to Beyoğlu-Tünel with children living in the periphery to the city in order to participate in the Street Festival of the Hangar Art. What about the children of our street? Of course we did not leave them alone. They have been playing football on weekends for two weeks. Summer holidays are periods where children do not know where to spend their energy. There is something we know from our experience that boys spend all day out by walking from one part of the street to another. And of course this cannot be solution to what they can do with their energy. Their request for this, which we delay most of the time, was accepted this time. They were very excited, they undertook the most duties of the organization and there was not much left for us to do. Board member and coach of the Kayışdağı Sport Club Kazım Yaman let us use the ground field on Sundays between 13:00 - 19:00 temporarily. 60 boys between the ages 12 and 16 were immediately organized and came to us. How? They formed 6 teams (Nihat Sokak, Nurettin Sokak, Şenol Sokak, Bülent Sokak, Gülçin Sokak, Ercan Sokak) and prepared their health reports and id photocopies and started practices and then the games. Unfortunately everything is not perfect. They wait for a coach to lead them now. We said it in the title as traces of crampon, but we just wished they had crampons. Kayışdağı is windy today, it is sometimes impossible for children to see each other on the ground field. But the excitement of the children does not stop. The only thing that stops them is a kite and this makes them laugh even more because they try to catch it. We see what we saw before; they come together, talk and agree with each other, and decide. They organize themselves and play games according to the list they prepared. They have the opportunity to get to know other children form other streets. Sport is a good instrument for our children to do all these. We are content with this, but it would be better if this ground was not all around their eyes and noses. We wished they were in the fields of the Fenerbahçe Koleji just next to their field. Or it would be better if Ataşehir Municipality could help our children leaving their excuses aside. Our volunteer from Italy, Joris, is also with them today. As the referee in the first game was one of them, they were not content with this and requested an impartial referee. And Joris left his camera aside and goes into field with a whistle. The boys who don’t know our foundation much also come. They ask us how they can join to these games. And we say a health report and a copy of the id are sufficient. We invite and go back to the foundation while Joris is on the field for the second half of the game.Children come to the foundation and do not avoid saying hello to us with their smiling faces after they finished the game and left all their anger and violence on the field. The number of children appears to be increased. We want to express our expectations in terms of field and coach from Istanbul Youth and Sport Department, Ataşehir Municipality, Provincial Directorate for National Education, and sport clubs in Istanbul, and all organizations and institutions that have fields close to Kayışdağı in order to help our children express themselves via football. Besides children need 3 and 5 footballs (30), shorts, T-shirts, vest, stockings (athletic socks), and sport shoes. We look forward hearing from those who want to contribute. ----------------- ( Radikal & Etraf News ) ISTANBUL – As we ascend the slope, the voices of children mixed with music come closer. The children that gathered in the park first listen to the young people with curious eyes, then they start to play games. They are jumping over an imaginary rope or try to “understand” their friends who stand still like a sculpture. As time passes, their shy attitude is replaced by their imagination. Then they start to do painting. Colors and shapes get mixed with each other…
These pictures are from the fourth street where Başak Culture and Art Foundation let the children of the suburbs meet with art and creativity. The children in Gülensu Street of Maltepe performed drama activities for three days. They learned that art can be performed under every condition using the waste papers, cartoons, bottles and paints held in a case for yoghurt.
Carrying out activities with people who are victims of forced migration, Başak Culture and Art Foundation started off to meet poor and disadvantaged children of the suburbs with art. Başak Mobile Street Art Atelier set off on the 4th of July.
In three days, the foundation realized painting, sculpture, ceramic, puppet and drama activities with the children in Kayışdağı, Zeytinburnu and Gaziosmanpaşa Gazi Streets. The fourth stop of the mobile street atelier was Gülensu Street.
The volunteers of Başak Culture and Art Foundation, Tülin Dağ, Mustafa Korkmaz, Birgül Gülen, Işıl Aydın Gündoğdu, Nurten Demirbaş, Ayten Demirbaş were getting ready in the park of the street for the four-hour activity while the children were gathering around them.
The music was playing on the laptop when we started with the games. While two children were holding an imaginary rope, the others were jumping over it one by one. Then they divided into two groups as apples and melons.
One of the children in the group started to move until the “don” sound came from the volunteers. Then another child came up and did some thing to resume his/her friend’s move and stopped with the “don” sound. About four children did different moves like this and then stood one next to each other. The other group tried to guess what picture they tried to create.
As the games went on, the residents of the street were more interested. The mothers came with curious eyes and watched their children. Our aim was to help the children reveal what is inside and give them a chance to use their imagination through drama.
‘We wish it could be more often’
After the games, we started to prepare the materials for painting. We revealed the white cartoons, watercolors in cases of yoghurt, the used pastel paints. The children began to draw what was in their mind and imaginary world. Meanwhile, our EVS volunteer, Italian Joris Iaccarino shot the pictures of the children.
While we allowed the paintings to dry on the grass, we started a new drama activity inspired by the drawings.
We asked the children what they tried to express with their drawings. Each child stated their inner world orally. At the end of the day, the children had a large smile on their faces. While the 3rd grade student Mesut Taşhan said, “I enjoyed it a lot. I wish it was more often”, his cousin Ramazan Taşhan, who was going to 6th grade, said, "I saw that art is very good." The 5th grade student Ceren Baysal expressed her happiness by saying, “This is the first time we do something like this here, it is very nice.”
Our coordinator Tülin Dağ said, “We want to show the children living far from the city center that art is involved in our daily lives; therefore, we are using waste cartoons, boxes and bottles. We are making dolls from plastic bags and sculptures from woods. We want to show them both the environmental sensitivity and that they can reveal their creativity with everything around them.”
And Nurten Demirbaş said, “We see the influence of art at the end of the day. We are picking the fruits of the drama activities. We want them to express their inner worlds.” Başak Mobile Street Art Atelier will continue until September. Sultanbeyli, Sultançiftliği, Ümraniye... There are plenty of children to meet with art. After the atelier, there will be a two-day festival where all the works of the children will be exhibited. Our mobile art atelier is open to everyone who wants to support it as voluntary trainer or supplying materials to us. --------------------- Etraf News : Title: Volunteer artists of the forced migrationSpot: The activities of Başak Culture and Art Foundation for bringing together art and children, the victims of the forced migration, continue through the summer. Now it is the end of activities and we decided to visit the street artists in Balat, where the last activities are carried out.Etraf(14) Children Activities. 28 August 2009Esra Karataş esrakaratas I am in the streets of Balat, which look like the narrow streets of our childhood covered with cobbles.. When I see the street decorated with flags, I understand that I am in the right place. The women are sitting on one side while we hear the sound of music and children from the other side. Yes, I am at the right place. There are plastic bags, threads, adhesives on the ground. The children are making dolls guided by the volunteer trainers. Some of them are not interested in what is happening around while the others are listening to the trainers and learning how to make dolls. Some of them are showing their dolls to their friends or taking their work of art to their homes. I wonder what this doll will remind them of in the future. Başak Culture and Art Foundation is performing this activity in cooperation with Mavi Kalem, Social Assistance and Solidarity Association. They are announcing their visit with leaflets and fliers. They will carry out a three-hour activity. This is the second day of the activity. The children seem more familiar. They are wandering around the six volunteer trainers. Some of them are trying to decide what to do with their elder brothers and sisters while the others are waiting for the next game with excitement. Başak Culture and Art Foundation has been founded to give support to the families and children that came to Istanbul due to forced migration. They are performing activities of dance, drama, folk dances and painting. They are also giving support with their lessons during the educational season. After searching for support through various municipalities, they could finally have the support of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The vehicle allocated by the municipality takes them from the foundation to the street they will work and then takes them back after they finish the activity. Up to date, the Mobile Art Team has visited Ataşehir, Maltepe, Zeytinburnu and Sultançiftliği (social center) and Üsküdar streets as well as attending a street festival in Beyoğlu. Their last stop will be the streets of Kartal. LET’S PLAY ALL THE TIME!For the project, Işıl Aydın Gündoğdu, Ayten Demirbaş, Nurten Demirbaş, Fidan Eroğlu, Mustafa Korkmaz, Mehmet Ceber and Tülin Dağ are working voluntarily. And Italian volunteer Joris Jaccarino is taking the photos of the children.The children are making a big circle. Then the trainers ask them about the last book they read: Alaaddin’in Sihirli Lambası, Selena (it is already within the list of the books to be read) Pamuk Prenses, Ali Baba ve Kırk Haramiler... Now they will perform a creative drama activity together. In every corner, a group of children start to work. (Meanwhile Alaaddin’s mother calls Alaaddin but he refuses to go because art can not wait). I am listening to them carefully. The group that will play Pamuk Prenses is having some difficulty because they all want to be the princess. When a little, dark girl misses the chance to be the princess, she settles for being the prince. I ask her how the day was for her, she says, "It was very nice, I became the prince, I made a doll from plastic bag, do you want me to bring it?"Ömer Kavak (10) says, “While painting, I looked like a real painter, I liked it a lot, but we could also paint a man like the Africans, because they are painting their faces white, that could be good”.Gamze Yıldırım (13) says, “I was very excited about explaining peace to my friends during the drama. I enjoyed a lot. Then I made dolls from plastic bags. It was a very nice day.”Uğur Selim Çalık (7) says, “We played games and I became the Magical Lamp of Alaaddin during the drama activity. I liked drama a lot.”Gamze points at the device in my hand and asks, “Is it recording?” Then she starts to talk, “I liked Işıl, Tülin and everyone and you a lot, come and let's play games all the time.” I ask Tülin Dağ, one of the volunteers, how the children are influenced by the activities. Dağ says, “We want to show them that art is not far or inaccessible for them.” Finally, the works will be collected in a catalogue. On the 26-27th of September, their works will be exhibited. The Foundation is open to every kind of support during this time. 1 ) 04-05 July Ataşehir / Kayisdagi 2 ) 13-14 July Zeytinburnu Community Center 3 ) 20-21-22 July Gazi Community Center 4 ) 31 July - 01-02 August 2009 Maltepe 5 ) 7-8-9 August Uskudar - Kirazlitepe - Yavuzturk 6 ) 14-15-16 August 2009 Beyoglu - The Festival On The Street 7 ) 21-22-23 August 2009 Fatih - Fener Kirachanesi Street 8 ) 28 August 2009 Sultanbeyli - Orhangazi Street 9 ) 29 August Kayisdagi - Guler Street |
