Diyarbakir, Turkey - I flew to southeastern Turkey to meet with GFC grantee partners Umut Işiği (Light of Hope) and ÇAÇA (Çocuklar Ayni Çatinin Altinda Dernegi, or Children Under the Same Roof Association). Both groups are located in Diyarbakir, whose population is primarily Kurdish. This region of Turkey has experienced political difficulties, and many children here are affected by political events happening around them. This has caused an increase in violent behavior, and recently many children were convicted outside of Turkey’s child protection law and sentenced to adult prisons for more than 20 years for “exhibiting terroristic behavior.” In response to the situation in Diyarbakir, ÇAÇA has created a coalition of NGOs and has formally requested action from UNICEF on this issue. The organization has also started a study/research project regarding the child protection law and is working on advocacy as well.

ÇAÇA’s primary initiative is running a center where children learn creative arts such as drawing and painting—an outlet outside of the formal education system. The center is located in an extremely low-income neighborhood in the city. While I was visiting ÇAÇA, the staff told me the story of Mahsun. Mahsun was 12 when he started classes at the center four years ago. At that time, he exhibited violent behavior and was very aggressive toward everyone, including his family. He refused to go to school. Through his courses and the work of the staff at ÇAÇA, Mahsun has learned to “open up” and to communicate his feelings. The staff helped him choose a high school, and he will start attending his choice—a specialized vocational school—in the next few months. The staff see him as a huge success and a motivation to continue their programs.

Mahsun is just one example of the many lives that ÇAÇA is changing with its programs. In many cases, it is just the time that the staff spend one-on-one with the children that changes their lives. ÇAÇA is a great example of how listening to and working with a child from an early age (programs begin at age 4) can change the child’s prospects for the future.