Lale September-October 2013 by MARLET CORPORATE PUBLICATIONS

September - October 2013

MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF ISTANBUL

01 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2013

MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF ISTANBUL

Table of

Contents IWI Board Information Board Letter Letter from the Editor Meet the IWI Board

REGULAR ACTIVITIES 12 Newcomers 13 Neighborhood Coffee Mornings 14 IWI Regular Activities

CALENDAR

32 30

02 03 04 06

PROGRAMS Introduction to Turkish Culture & Breakfast Bosphorus Boat Cruise Turkish Cooking Demonstration Journey with Turkish Wines Hak Art Trip Walking Tour with Istanbul Privé Grand Bazaar Walking Tour

Spring Ball Photo Walk in Old Istanbul Lunch at Kanaat Lokantası Egyptian Spice Market Tour Büyükada Tour

CHARITY 28 Charity Report 29 Yöret Foundation

September - October 2013

32 Learning from the Girls of Hope 36 The Winning Team! 40 All the Same... Just Differently

Sponsored Articles 42 Back-to-School Shopping, Time Out 44 Istanbul in Peril, Cornucopia

HEALTH & FITNESS

MUMS ‘N KIDS

PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES 20 23 24 26 27

FEATURES

16 16 17 17 18 18 19

IPWIN

56 52

16 14 08 02

September / October 2013

46 Fitness by Numbers 48 The Role of Expectations in Community and Friendship 50 Why Practice Altruism?

52 Screen Time 54 Mums ‘n’ Kids Announcements

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS 56 58 60 62 64

Groups & Associations Directory Partner Offers Classified Ads IWI Policies & Advertising

IWI Board Information IWI Office Hours:

Wednesday from 10:30 AM till 1:00 PM Adresi / Address: Adnan Saygun Caddesi, Çamlıtepe Sitesi No:74 Blok C1 / D2 Ulus Ortaköy İstanbul – TURKEY Telephone: 0212 287 35 71 www.iwi-tr.org Dergi Adı / Magazine Name: Lale, Monthly Programme of the International Women of İstanbul

IWI 2013-2014 Board Members Chairwoman

Nilgün Coruk

chairwoman@iwi-tr.org

Vice-Chairwoman

Tammy Ni

vicechairwoman@iwi-tr.org

Treasurer

Nicole Liao

treasury@iwi-tr.org

Secretary

Natalie Vaatz-Deutscher

secretary@iwi-tr.org

Office Manager

Karlygash Omurbayeva

officemanager@iwi-tr.org

Membership Secretary

Ayşe Natalie Akcan

membership@iwi-tr.org

Events Coordinator

Simona Zini

events@iwi-tr.org

Events Coordinator

Marine Boixiere

events@iwi-tr.org

Sponsorship Coordinator

Davina Rodrig

sponsorship@iwi-tr.org

Marketing Manager

Alison Cecil

marketing@iwi-tr.org

IWI International Women of İstanbul, Dernek Kod: 34-64/027

Lale Editor

Laurie Takagaki

lale@iwi-tr.org

Advertising Coordinator

Rishya Mittal

advertising@iwi-tr.org

İrtibat Adresi / Address:

Charity Coordinator

Jo Bradley

charity@iwi-tr.org

Programs Coordinator

Ambili Ramachandran

programs@iwi-tr.org

Neighborhood Coffee Mornings Coordinator

Christina Türk

ncm@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Coordinator (Eur)

Hana Danon

newcomerseurope@iwi-tr.org

Suzanne Bruns Kaluti Adresi / Address: Badur Boğaziçi Evleri No. 3/5 Özden Sokak Nispetiye Caddesi Etiler, İstanbul Tel: 0212 287 45 57

Newcomers Coordinator (Eur)

Camelia Sağisman

newcomerseurope@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Coordinator (Asia)

Petra Gönenç

newcomersasia@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Programs

Ayşe Yücel

newcomersprograms@iwi-tr.org

Mums n´Kids

Maria Petersen Çiftgül

mumsnkids@iwi-tr.org

IPWIN Coordinator

Katharina Omar

ipwin@iwi-tr.org

Sorumlu Yazı İşleri Müdürü / Responsible Editor:

Liaison Officer

Ebru Demirel

liaison@iwi-tr.org

Yayını Yapan / Publisher:

Adnan Saygun Caddesi, Çamlıtepe Sitesi No:74 Blok C1 / D2 Ulus Ortaköy İstanbul – TURKEY

İmtiyaz Sahibi / Licensee:

Laily Neyzi Adresi / Address: Kemerburgaz Mesa Evleri, Lavanta 7, D:9, 34075 Göktürk, İstanbul

Yayın Türü / Issue Type: Yerel Süreli

Tasarım / Design:

Marlet Advertising Studios www.marlet.com.tr +90 216 386 32 16

Matbaa / Printer:

Marlet Print Solutions www.marlet.com.tr +90 216 386 32 16

IWI 2013-2014 Board Assistants Charity

Juliana Elerman

charity@iwi-tr.org

Lale Design Editor

Amy Baja

lale@iwi-tr.org

Website

Esbie van Heerden - Ünsal

esbie@iwi-tr.org

E-Letter Coordinator

Suzy Kaluti

iwieletter@iwi-tr.org

Events

Elena Sklyarskaya

events@iwi-tr.org

Programs

Sujata Das

reservations@iwi-tr.org

NCM

Sadia Zafar

ncm@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Programs

Kim Francis

newcomersprograms@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Programs

Cynthia Hadatoglu

newcomersprograms@iwi-tr.org

Book Club 1

Lesley Tahtakılıç

tahtakilic@superonline.com

Book Club 2

Mary Akgüner

mary.akguner@gmail.com

Istanbul @ Night

Charlotte Hesp

istanbulatnight@iwi-tr.org

Basım Tarihi: 30.08.2013 Sayı: 66

September - October 2013

Board letter

Friendship

Community with IWI

A Warm Welcome from Our New Chairwoman Dear Ladies, Welcome back to the IWI. As the summer season comes to an end, another exciting new IWI season awaits us. I am sure everyone is well-rested and ready for a fun and fulfilling 2013-2014 season. If you don’t know already, I have taken on the role of Chairwoman for the 2013-14 season. Our former chairwoman, Suzy Kaluti, will be truly missed but the good news is that she is still with us and will continue to extend her valuable expertise to our organization. Our theme for this issue is friendship and community, which IWI represents in every way! Many new members join the IWI seeking friendship and wanting to be part of the Istanbul international women’s community. The IWI offers its members a chance to be involved in charity events, social activities, arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations and walking tours, as well as the opportunity to join different clubs. Members can also submit articles for Lale magazine, our bi-monthly publication. We encourage all members, both old and new, to get involved with IWI. Being an active member of the IWI will give you the gift of friendship and interaction with the community and it is a wonderful experience which will be cherished for years to come. This season brings new board members and a dynamic team who are ready to serve and represent the IWI to the best of our abilities in the year ahead. Please remember that we always welcome new volunteers and appreciate applications for the vacant board positions. Please see the “Join the IWI” page in this magazine for more information.

September - October 2013

It’s time to get the 2013-14 season rolling! This edition of Lale magazine has lots of information for you about the IWI regular activities and clubs, as well as the schedule of special programs for September and October. Also, please mark your calendars for our annual IWI Christmas Festival, a fun event for the whole family that will be held on Sunday, December 8th from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taksim. Remember that true friendship can start by being involved in community events and your active participation in the IWI is strongly encouraged. I look forward to meeting you at the IWI Welcome Day on September 19th at the Hilton Hotel in Harbiye.

- Nilgün Çoruk

Lale Editor

From the Desk of the Lale Editor Although I’ve only been a member of IWI since I arrived in Istanbul last year, I’ve been grateful for the diversity of people and activities to which our organization has introduced me. It was through IWI that I met local women at my neighbourhood coffee morning, discovered a book club and a photography club, got reasonably-priced subscriptions to magazines about Istanbul and Turkey, went to Büyükada for the first time, and ultimately found myself on the IWI board as the editor of Lale magazine.

Dear IWI members,

elcome to another year with International Women of Istanbul, and a new season of Lale magazine. Those of you who are returning members may have noticed that our magazine underwent some design changes back in the summer. We hope that old and new members alike will enjoy the fresh, colourful, new look of Lale, courtesy of our design consultant Amy Baja and our hard-working team at Marlet Photography.

Lale magazine is something that all IWI members have in common, whatever our age, nationality, marital status, professional background, or interests. Every two months, Lale magazine provides a physical reminder of all that connects us. We can read feature articles related to everything from Turkish culture to health and fitness. We can enjoy members’ reports of previous IWI activities, complete with photos. We can learn about upcoming programs, from walking tours to IPWIN workshops to the monthly neighbourhood coffee mornings, that may help us to expand our network of friends. We can find out about ways to get involved with charities or to volunteer with IWI in order to feel part of a larger community. Lale magazine is a publication created by and for IWI members, and we rely on your support and involvement. Are you attending an IWI event or participating in one of our programs or regular activities? Contact us to discuss writing about the activity for the magazine. Is there something you’d like to read about in Lale? Get in touch and let’s talk about whether you could write an article, or help us to find writers on various topics of interest. Do you know about events or groups in Istanbul that might be of interest

to IWI members? Tell us more and let’s see if we can spread the word. We welcome any and all feedback on Lale magazine at lale@ iwi-tr.org. The theme of this edition of Lale magazine is “friendship and community,” and one of the best ways to create more of both in your life is to volunteer for a meaningful project. We are in the process of putting together a dynamic and creative team that will oversee the publication of Lale every two months. Are you passionate about communicating, skilled at project management and teamwork, and interested in helping the IWI community stay connected? Would you like to get some Editing & Publishing experience for your CV? We are looking for a new editor as well as for editorial assistants to help with proof reading, sourcing content, and writing articles. Please consider joining us to help serve the IWI community and make Lale magazine the best that it can be. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering with the Lale team, please send an e-mail to lale@iwi-tr.org. I wish you all a fabulous new season with IWI, and I hope to meet many of you at our events, programs, and regular activities. Warmest wishes,

- Laurie Takagaki (Lale Editor) September - October 2013

Meet the IWI Board

Nilgün Çoruk (Chairwoman) Nilgün is a Turkish/American citizen, raised in the USA and residing in Istanbul for 20+ years. She worked professionally for many years in the banking and petroleum sectors. She is married and has one daughter. She is currently the new IWI Chairwoman.

Tammy Ni (Vice-Chairwoman) A native Taiwanese with a Turkish husband and a daughter, Tammy moved from Los Angeles to Istanbul in January 2013. She recently completed her MBA and looks forward to contributing her know-how and 10+ years of US banking experience to the IWI community. She can be reached at vicechairwoman@iwi-tr.org.

Nicole Liao (Treasurer) Nicole is a Taiwanese who lived in the U.S. for 11 years before moving to Istanbul with her Turkish husband in February 2012. She was a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Rocket Internet. Currently she is learning Turkish and is new to the IWI Treasurer role. Please contact her with any questions at treasurer@iwi-tr.org.

Natalie Vaatz-Deutscher (Secretary) Natalie is 31 years old and from Germany. She has been living in Istanbul with her husband and son (and recently their baby daughter) since 2010. Her favorite places in Istanbul are Ortaköy and Çukurcuma. Her background is in textiles, but at the moment she’s a stay-at-home mom and enjoys Turkish hospitality - and the simple things like breakfasts!

Karlygash Omurbayeva (Office Manager) Karlygash is a Kazakh who has been living and working in Istanbul since April 2011. Her background is in International Relations and Business Administration. She works at Air Astana, the national flag carrier of Kazakhstan, and volunteers her time with IWI for office management. She is accessible via officemanager@ iwi-tr.org.

Ayşe Natalie Akcan (Membership Secretary) Half Turkish and half English, Ayşe is happily married to her Turkish husband and has a two-year-old daughter. She is also the owner of Aquababies, Turkey’s first swimming program for babies. She is on hand for all Membership related queries: membership@ iwi-tr.org.

Simona Zini (Events Coordinator) Simona is Italian and has been living in Istanbul for the past two years. She is married and is also the mother of two cool boys! She previously worked as the Channel Digital Product Manager of Virgilio, the first web portal of Telecom Italia.

Marine Boixiere (Events Coordinator) Marine is French, married, and has two cheeky boys! She moved from London in January 2012 and has been enjoying living in Istanbul since then. She has been happily working on the IWI events team since May 2012. She has a background in Art History and Events Management.

Davina Rodrig (Sponsorship Coordinator) Davina describes herself as a person who is always keen to learn something, and who tries to work with honesty and to fulfill all requirements. She finds that accepting new challenges gives her inspiration and good experiences in her life. Her position as Sponsorship Coordinator at IWI gives her a lot of fulfillment and she is glad to work for such a charity and with such a great team.

Alison Cecil (Marketing Manager) Alison is English. She is married with three daughters who live in the UK. She’s lived in Istanbul for eight months, and she has also lived in Copenhagen, Hanoi, and Kuala Lumpur. She was a high school psychology, science, and maths teacher. She will be involved in marketing, events, sponsorship, and activities.

September - October 2013

Laurie Takagaki (Lale Editor) A Canadian with a Japanese husband, Laurie moved from Tokyo to Istanbul in June 2012. Her background is in languages, literature, and intercultural communication. She is filling in as interim editor while actively seeking a replacement and assistants for the Lale team. She welcomes applications from volunteers and feedback on the magazine at lale@iwi-tr.org.

Rishya Mittal (Advertising Co-Ordinator) Rishya is from India, and moved to Istanbul with her family about five years back. Other than volunteering for IWI, she works for her own restaurant named SWAAD - The Taste of India, located in Çemberlitaş near the Grand Bazaar. She always loves to make and meet new friends. You can contact her for all advertising-related inquiries at advertising@iwi-tr.org.

Christina Türk (Neighborhood Coffee Mornings Coordinator) Christina is a German woman with a Turkish husband and a sixyear-old daughter. She has been living in Turkey for more than 20 years and is the Neighborhood Coffee Mornings coordinator for all of IWI as well as for Area Ulus.

Hana Danon (Newcomers Coordinator, Europe) Born in New York to Greek parents, Hana is a graphic designer who speaks seven languages. She has lived in Luxembourg, Peru, and Argentina, but grew up in Brazil until she married in 1988 and moved to Istanbul. She considers herself just Brazilian! She has two grown children and has been involved with the IWI for most of these years.

Ayşe Yücel (Newcomers Programs Coordinator Ayşe is a Turkish/American raised in the United States and relocated from New York to Istanbul in 1981. She is our gourmet guru and has been involved with IWI for over 25 years. This is her second year as the Newcomers Programs and Cooking Demo Coordinator. She is looking forward to another exciting year introducing Turkish culture, customs, and cuisine to all the newcomers.

Maria Petersen Çiftgül (Mums ‘N’ Kids Coordinator) Maria is Danish married to a Turkish man. She has a background in tourism and hotel management and has lived in Istanbul since 2006. Maria has two young children and is the new Mums ‘N’ Kids coordinator. For information on Mums ‘N’ Kids activities please contact: mumsnkids@ iwi-tr.org

September - October 2013

Jo Bradley (Charity Coordinator) Originally from Canada, Jo has been living out of suitcases since 1998. She has followed her husband to Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Bangkok and has called Istanbul home since 2005. It is her second year on the IWI Board. She lives with one and a half cats in Arnavutkoy. Her neighbour feeds the other half.

Ambili Ramachandran (Programs Coordinator) Programs Coordinator and a sometimes harassed mother of twin girls, Ambili moved from her exotic home country of India to equally exotic Istanbul three years back. She loves the city’s vibrant flavour, and notwithstanding her ‘Biraz Turkçe’ counts herself as a true Istanbullu! Write to her with your feedback on IWI programs at programs@iwi-tr.org

Camelia Sağisman (Newcomers Coordinator, Europe) Camelia has been happily married for 26 years to a Turkish gentleman, and they have two children. She and her Newcomers Coordinator partner, Hana, have been welcoming new and old members for the past four years and hope that many of you will come and join them for a friendly chat at Alkent every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

Petra F. Gönenç (Newcomers Coordinator, Asia) Petra is a German from Bavaria who has been living happily in Istanbul with her Turkish husband for the last 25 years. Besides helping Newcomers from the Asian Side to settle in and with their enquiries, she is the manager of an artist and promotes his contemporary artwork. One of her hobbies is also to take care of street animals, mostly cats.

Katharina Omar (IPWIN Coordinator) Katharina is of German nationality and has been living in Istanbul for two years with her husband and their twoyear-old son. Katharina has 11 years of experience in the international hotel industry in Germany, Dubai, and South Africa, and she enjoys contributing her expertise to organising the IPWIN events and workshops.

Ebru Demirel (Liaison Officer) Ebru is Turkish and has been the Liasion Officer since early 2000. She works closely with our legal consultant to make sure that we operate in accordance with Turkish laws. She also manages her family business in moving and relocation services.

Newcomers Are you a Newcomer?

Welcome! The IWI is happy to announce that IWI members Ayşe Yücel and Kim Francis will hold special programs for newcomers each month. Please check the calendar for details & discover all the programs & activities IWI has to offer found right here in the Newcomers section!

European Coffee Mornings Café Meet, Alkent

Our popular bi-weekly meeting spot in Etiler welcomes you anytime between 12 noon and 2 pm for lunch, coffee and a friendly chat. Camellia and Hana, our newcomer coordinators, will be there to greet you with a smile and introduce you to the other members. We look forward to seeing you there!

Date

: See Calendar for details

Time

12 noon -2:00 pm (Every 1st and 3rd : Thursday of the month, beginning on October 3rd)

Venue

: Café Meet (Nunyo Café)

Cost

: Pay as you order

Meeting Place

: Tepecik Yolu, Alken Sitesi, Etiler

Reservations

: Not required

Contact Details

: Camellia Sağışman: (0532) 236 - 9755 Hana Danon: (0532) 213 - 3151

Asian Coffee Mornings Café Cadde, Erenköy

Please note that we now regularly meet at Café Cadde in Erenköy. Meet new members, establish new friendships or renew existing ones in İstanbul. Please note that Cafe Cadde offers 10% discount and free coffee/tea for IWI members!

Date

See Calendar for details

Time

11:00 am -1:30 pm (Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, beginning on September 3rd).

Venue

Cafe Cadde, Erenköy

Cost

Pay as you order

Meeting Place

Bağdat Caddesi, Cafe Cadde, Erenköy

Reservations

Not required

Contact details

Petra Gönenç: (0532) 275 - 4219

September - October 2013

Join the IWI Board & IWI Teams!

• • • • •

Do you want to sharpen your professional skills? Do you want to learn a completely new skill? Do you have some extra time on your hands? Do you have excellent people skills? Do you want to meet people from all over the world and join a fun team?

f you answered yes to any of the questions above we have a place for you on the IWI board. Whether you would like to help a little or would like to play a more professional role, we would like to speak to you! We can offer you support in undertaking a new role and learning new skills. There is no need for you to have a gap in your CV and you can gain valuable experience while you are in İstanbul.

Positions for the 2013/2014 season: Join the Lale Team

Lale Magazine is looking for a new Editor. Are you passionate about communicating, skilled at project management and teamwork, and interested in helping the IWI community stay connected? Would you like to get some Editing & Publishing experience for your CV? The Lale Team is also looking for assistants to help with proof reading, sourcing content, and writing articles. Please contact lale@iwi-tr.org.

Join the IPWIN Team

The IPWIN (International Professional Woman of Istanbul Network) Coordinators Team is looking for some new motivated and enthusiastic team members with good organizational, time management, communication, and networking skills. If you enjoy working in a small team, meeting people, and are committed to dedicating some of your free time to this great network, please contact ipwin@iwi-tr.org.

Please contact chairwoman@iwi-tr.org for more information.

NCM Welcome Letter

Dear IWI members,

man. I have a Turkish husband My name is Christina. I am Ger have been living in Turkey for and a six-year-old daughter. I gained me a lot of experience more than 20 years, which has key. Tur about the habits and rules in as a Neighbourhood Coffee After assisting Nalini for one year taken on this role, which I Morning coordinator, I have now am the NCM coordinator for enjoy a lot. At the same time I k g me and I would like to than Area Ulus. Now Sadia is assistin us. of ad ahe lies year new her for her support. An exciting nings will continue every Our well-established coffee mor th. second Wednesday of the mon is to meet IWI members living The aim of the coffee mornings ted with them. Every month in your district and to get acquain ' houses. This private bers we meet at one of the area mem friends and exchange new find ly easi to atmosphere allows us experiences and ideas. for our first coffee morning on So please mark your calendar r name and contact details of you October 9th. You will find the issue. Area Coordinator in this Lale Warm regards, Christina

September - October 2013

Neighborhood Coffee Mornings AREA

NEIGHBORHOOD

COORDINATOR

PHONE

MAIL

Area A

Etiler

Marilyn Milligan

05386180123

marilyn.milligan@bridge-tci.com

Area B

Tarabya

Debbie Sainte-Rose

05317691368

debbiesainterose@yahoo.com

Area C

Akatlar Ulus

Christina Turk

05322425716

christinaturk@tnn.net

Area D

Arnavutköy Bebek Rumeli Hisarı

Baltalimanı Maslak

Area Coordinator’s Position Vacant.

Area E

Ortaköy Levazım

Balmumcu

Dawn Biyashev

05413023047

dancemachine3@gmail.com

Area F

Beşiktaş Levent

Hana Moualla

05318747479

hanamoualla@hotmail.com

Area G

Nişantaşı Osmanbey Şişli/Fulya Gayretepe

Michele Green-Tas Liliana Lopez

05333055017 05326530105

michelegreentas@gmail.com lililmd@gmail.com

Area H

Yeniköy İstinye

Hanne Knudsen

05337760611

knudsen_hanne@hotmail.com

Area I

Emirgan Sariyer

Dany Bosseler

05335426182

dbosseler@gmail.com

Area J

Zekiriyaköy Kilyos/ Uskumruköy

Julia Gunn

05335272728

juliagunn@hotmail.com

Area K

Kemer Göktürk

Didem Sağıroğlu

05327409950

didemsagiroglu@gmail.com

Area L

Beyoğlu Taksim/Tünel Sultanahmet Harbiye Tepebaşı Fatih

Gümüşsuyu Eyüp Cihangir Topağacı Gaziosmanpaşa Kabataş

Michele Green-Tas Liliana Lopez

05333055017 05326530105

michelegreentas@gmail.com lililmd@gmail.com

Area M

Maltepe Kadiköy Moda Üsküdar Ataşehir

Kartal Ömerli Kandilli Polonezkoy

Lynn Nish Jan Grey

05342558913

lynnish@yahoo.com grays@ttmail.com

Area O

Ümraniye Çekmeköy Beykoz Çengelköy Anadolu Hisarı

Beylerbeyi Kanlıca Küçükyalı Salacak Tuzla

Valerie Çelebi

05322348282

valericelebi@superonline.com

Area P

Büyükçekmece Kücükçekmece Hadımköy Bakırköy Ataköy Yeşilköy Yeşilyurt Bahçeköy

Bahçelievler Güneşli Yenibosna Beylikdüzü Halkali Bahceşehir Bağcılar Esenyurt

Natalie Vaatz Deutscher

05347872788

nvaatz@gmail.com

Area Y

Caddebostan Fenerbahçe Bostancı Erenköy Kalamış Suadiye

Valideçeşme Göztepe Bakkalköy Çiftehavuzlar Şaşkınbakkal Küçük Bakkalköy

These members are requested to attend their Newcomers Coffee mornings in Erenköy at Café Cadde every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. * Note every 3rd Tuesday of the month will be cancelled in June, July & August.

September - October 2013

Esentepe Tepebaşı Teşvikiye/Maçka

Büyükdere

IWI Regular activities

What other activities are going on in IWI?

Look around! If you are interested in coordinating a Movie Club or are interested in forming a new IWI affiliated Club please contact: programs@iwi-tr.org

IPWIN IPWIN (International Professional Women of Istanbul Network) has 450 members of diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. We welcome all women who are currently working, seeking employment, or are unable able to work for legal reasons. Our members meet monthly at our IPWIN First Wednesday, an informal get-together in a relaxed environment, dedicated to a specific topic (i.e. Marketing, Culture, Coaching). We also schedule Special Events throughout the year featuring business-related topics to meet the needs of professional women. Information: Held every first Wednesday of the month at 7pm Venue: Gezi Hotel Bosphorus, Mete Cd. No 34, Taksim – www.gezibosphorus.com Contact: ipwin@iwi-tr.org

Book Club The IWI has 2 Book Clubs running. To become a member of Book Club 2, Contact: Mary Akgüner mary.akguner@gmail.com To become a member of Book Club 1, Contact: Leslie Tahtakılıç Book Club 1 is currently over-subscribed.

Neighborhood Coffee Mornings Everyone is automatically a part of their Neighbourhood Coffee Mornings (NCMs) which meet on the second Wednesday of the month between 10:30 – 12:30. Please be on the lookout for e-mails from your area coordinator for your local NCM meeting Contact: Nalini Narang nalini@iwi-tr.org (0554) 861- 8058

IWI Tennis Club If you enjoy playing tennis please join our group. The IWI Tennis Group is now up and running and takes place at Torch Tennis in Tarabya. Teams are based on skill level and we welcome all players from beginners to intermediate and advanced. Contact:Kenan Dündar kenandundar911@hotmail.com (0535) 390-4983

Photography Club The photo club is a group of international members whose skill levels vary from the very basic to semi-professional, but who all share the desire to capture the world in a photograph and to explore İstanbul while doing so. The group discussion includes all current event information, bi-weekly photo challenges, tips & tricks, and general photography topics. Contact: Fay Magnusson photoclubofistanbul@gmail.com

Iwi Chess Club Once a month, IWI members will get the opportunity to learn to play chess or to improve their chess skills free of charge with Woman Chess Grand Master and 2006 European Champion Ekaterina Atalik. Children from the age of five are welcome. Contact: Ekaterina makacat@yandex.ru (0533) 690- 4782

Istanbul@Night Istanbul@Night offers a regular opportunity for IWI members, their spouses and friends, to get together and enjoy a few drinks in a fun, new and interesting spot in the city. Everyone is welcome for a relaxed and sociable evening to enjoy some of the best Istanbul has to offer! Istanbul@Night takes place on the last Thursday of every month. Look out for more details in the newsletter and on the IWI website. There is no cost to attending, just come and along and pay for what you order. Contact: istanbulatnight@iwi-tr.org

Art Club Experiment with your creativity. Are you an artist or craftsperson? The IWI welcomes workshops held by IWI members. If you would like to share your talents... Contact: Esbie van Heerden Ünsal e sbie@iwi-tr.org

Office Hours The IWI office hours are on Wednesdays from 10:30 -1:00. Our new office is nice and bright and has a lovely garden. Feel free to drop in for a chat or if you have any questions. Address: Ahmet Adnan Saygun Caddesi No 74, Çamlıtepe Sitesi Block C1/D2, Ulus 34347. (0212) 287- 3571 September - October 2013

IWI Book Club News

Book Club I As has become a tradition in Book Club 1, our last meeting of the book club year took place in a Kandilli garden. Having fortified ourselves with homemade lemonade and other refreshments, we all gathered under the shady pergola to discuss Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. Set in Spain during the Civil War, the action of this novel takes place over a mere three days as a small band of anti-Franco guerrillas prepares to blow up a strategic bridge in the mountains. They are joined by a young American volunteer, Robert Jordan, who has been assigned to carry out the dynamiting. As the Spaniards and the American meet and live together in the pine forest, relationships form and fluctuate as tension rises towards the moment when the act of sabotage will be carried out. A love affair flowers between Robert and Maria, a young girl with the guerrillas. Within the framework of one single incident Hemingway provides an insight into the tragedy of the Civil War. This novel has been lauded as ‘the best fictional report on the Civil War that we possess’ (Anthony Burgess) and as Hemingway’s best book. It certainly evoked strong reactions among the book club readers, with some using expressions like ‘mind blowing’ and ‘absolutely wonderful’ while others were embarrassed that they didn’t like it or were even unable to read it. For the latter readers perhaps it was the famous writing style Hemingway is credited with creating, described as ‘lean, hard, athletic narrative prose’, which was the problem. Some were definitely put off by the use of archaic or dialect

September - October 2013

expressions such as ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ in the dialogues throughout the novel. Whatever the reason for these diverse reactions it made for a lively discussion with Amazon-style assessments ranging from 2.5* to 5*, giving a final rating of 4*. Book Club 1 will be able to accept a small number of new members as of October. Registration will be available at the IWI Opening Meeting in September. For further details contact Lesley Tahtakılıç: tahtakilic@superonline.com

Book Club II Do you enjoy reading? Please join the IWI Book Club II, which is open to all. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the House Cafe in the Kanyon shopping center at Levent Metro. Our format is informal. Most read our selected book, and all discuss aspects of the book. The discussion is always interesting, as people from various backgrounds shed interesting light on the topics being discussed. Our selected books for the balance of 2013 are noted below. Books for 2014 will be identified in the fall, so please bring book suggestions along with you. We look forward to seeing you, whether you come for just one or all of the meetings. 17 September - Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres 15 October - The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh 19 November - Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz 17 December - Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama

Calendar

September / Eylül m o n d ay

t u e s d ay

T h u r s d ay

F r i d ay

S at u r d ay

S u n d ay

w e d n e s d ay

Newcomers Coffee Morning (Asian Side)

IWI Opening Meeting at the Hilton Hotel

Book Club II

19 Introduction to Turkish Culture & Breakfast Istanbul@Night

Bosphorus Boat Cruise & Lunch at Anadolu Kavağı - Yoros Castle

September - October 2013

October / Ekim m o n d ay

t u e s d ay Newcomers Coffee Morning (Asian Side)

01 Journey with Turkish Wines

T h u r s d ay

F r i d ay

S at u r d ay

S u n d ay

w e d n e s d ay IPWIN First Wednesday

02 Neighbourhood Coffee Morning

Newcomers Coffee Morning (European Side)

Turkish Cooking Demonstration

Hak Art Trip

Newcomers Coffee Morning (European Side)

Newcomers Coffee Morning (Asian Side) Book Club II

15 Walking Tour with Istanbul Privé

16 IPWIN “All About Virtual Tools”

Grand Bazaar Walking Tour

24 Istanbul@Night

September - October 2013

programs Introduction to Turkish Culture & Breakfast

BOSPHORUS BOAT CRUISE : LUNCH AT ANADOLU KAVAĞI – YOROS CASTLE

A wonderful warm ‘’Welcome” invitation to New Members to join Ayşe Yücel, a member of IWI’s Programs Team, to experience a traditional Turkish breakfast, kahvaltı, at her home in Yeniköy!

How about sharing a wonderful day with other expatriate women on a Full Bosphorus Cruise? The boat leaves from Kabataş at 11:15 and Beşiktaş at 11:30 and journeys up the Bosphorus to Anadolu Kavağı, a little town on the Asian side situated higher up the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea. The tour allows for about three hours of exploring Anadolu Kavağı and Yoros Castle followed by a delicious lunch at Baba’s Fish Restaurant! IWI invites you to join Ayşe on this Full Bosphorus Cruise with a three-hour stopover in an authentic fishing village of the Bosphorus. Anadolu Kavağı is a picturesque, quaint, and peaceful town with its two-storey houses and town square covered with cobblestones where you can find fish restaurants one after another.

We are honoured to have Eda Arduman grace the occasion as our guest speaker, covering Turkish and International Cultural Differences. Many IWI members have already been fortunate to have heard Eda, a very popular speaker, speaking about the Relationship of Brides and their future Mother-in-laws! Eda was so informative, her chat so memorable, that many ladies still talk about her wonderful insights and the impression she had left on them. This is a meeting not to be missed with Eda! This will be a popular event so please book early! Come and meet new friends and ask all those ‘’adjusting to a new country’’ questions in the comfort of Ayşe’s home in Yeniköy, a little town on the European side of the Bosphorus!

We have just over three hours to explore the surrounds and a walk or a taxi can be taken up to the historical Yoros Castle belonging to the Roman period. From the top you get a wonderful bird’s-eye view of breathtaking and panaromic views of the Bosphorus below......don’t forget the cameras, ladies, and good walking shoes for the ones who want to walk! After a wonderfully explorative day the boat will leave Anadolu Kavağı at 4:00 pm. Date

Date

Thursday, 26th September

Time

10:30 am Ayşe Yücel’s home in Yeniköy. Address on Reservation. 35tl cash pp for the Breakfast prepared by Ayşe

Meeting Point Cost

Maximum Participants Reservations Deadline Person to contact Contact Details

Monday, 30th September

Time

Boat leaves from Kabataş at 11:15 am and Beşiktaş at 11:30 am – hop on the boat at either Kabataş or Beşiktaş Dentur Avrasya at the sea port!

Venue

Anadolu Kavağı

Cost

Reservations

15 : :

Online on the website:www.iwi-tr. org or reservation@iwi-tr.org Monday, 23rd September Ayşe Yücel aysegurleryucel@gmail.com

Deadline Person to contact : Contact details

15tl for the boat trip and 45tl for lunch (see below)Baba Restaurant Menu: Calamari, fried Mussels, Salad, French fries, Fish of your choice & what is available, Dessert, 1 glass of Beer, Wine or Soda! Online at www.iwi-tr.org or email programs@iwi-tr.org Thursday, 26th September Ayşe Yücel aysegurleyucel@gmail.com September - October 2013

TURKISH COOKING DEMONSTRATION

JOURNEY WITH TURKISH WINES - A Day Trip out of İstanbul to Gali Winery

While in Istanbul, why not take the time to learn some delicious Turkish recipes which you can share with your friends and family when you return home? IWI’s very own Gourmet Guru, Ayşe Yücel, will once again be giving a Turkish Cooking demo in her inviting kitchen for all those ladies who would like to learn more about Turkish Cuisine flavors! Recipes are provided for you to keep and the group enjoys a delicious meal after watching at the end of the session. Come with your own group or meet new people in the class. The class size, ranging from 10 to 15, allows for each person to actively participate in the food preparation if needed.

Gali Winery and Kavur Vineyards lie on a piece of land where the mainland meets the historic Gallipoli Peninsula. With this event you have an opportunity to visit this beautiful wine farm and taste their award-winning wines. Gali means beautiful and in the Ottoman language Gali stood for precious, valuable, and extending beyond limits. The vineyards are in a protected area, 13 km from Evrese. Overlooking the Gallipoli Peninsula you see the Marmara Sea on the left and the Aegean Sea on the right with vineyards stretching down the hill.

Menu: Turkish Soup Olive Oil Dish Ottoman dish from Kanaat Restaurant made with lamb - Elbason Tave Turkish Rice Çoban salatası Dessert: İrmik Halva Turkish cuisine is a reflection of a rich cultural and historical heritage. With an emphasis on seasonal freshness and delicately flavoring with spices, healthy Turkish food is a feast to all your senses. Join Ayşe in the comfort of her home in Yeniköy, as she shares delicious and easy to prepare Turkish recipes, inspired by her roots.

Nilgün Kavur, owner of Gali Wines, will host us on the farm. She will treat us to an amazing home-cooked meal, a tour of the winery, and a wine tasting. You will get the opportunity to take a walk through the vineyards while harvesting time is in full swing. Maybe help picking some grapes to make wine? Karvur Vineyards is a good example of where wine meets history. The hill overlooking the Gallipoli Peninsula used to be of great military importance and you will still find two interconnecting World War II bunkers in between the vineyards. Please join us for a day out of Istanbul where we will find some peace in the countryside of Turkey with a glass of wine in hand. To read more about Gali Winery and see the beauty of the vineyards, have a look at http://maddiesvine.com/the-beauty-of-gali-wines/ Date

Tuesday, 8th October

Time

7:00 am to 7:00 pm (approximately) 150 TL (transport in mini bus, food and wine included) The payment has to be made before the trip. Details will be shared on registration. 14 Please note this trip can take place only if there are 14 paid registrations. Online on the website:www.iwi-tr.org or reservation@iwi-tr.org Tuesday, 1st October Sujata Das reservations@iwi-tr.org

Date

Friday, 4th October

Time

Cost

Meeting Point

10:30 am Ayşe’s home in Yeniköy. Address on registration.

Cost

75 TL in cash only

Participants Required

Maximum Participants Reservations Deadline Person to contact Contact Details

15 : :

Online on the website:www.iwi-tr. org or reservation@iwi-tr.org Tuesday, 1st October Ayşe Yücel aysegurleryucel@gmail.com

September - October 2013

Reservations Deadline Person to contact Contact details

programs HAK ART TRIP

WALKING TOUR – Walk with Istanbul Privé

Get a chance to get up close and personal with some amazing copper works at the Hak Art Factory. Find out how coppersmiths hammer out beautiful and extraordinary pieces from sheets of metal. Take in the variety of items that showcase the Turkey of Ottoman times and the modern vibrant Turkey of today.

We will start our walking tour in Sirkeci station, the former terminal of the Orient Express and a fine example of European oriental architecture. The building also hosts a small train museum (free entrance). We continue our walk in the backstreets of Eminönü, where we stop at some local shops: the historic lokum shop of Haci Bekir, Turkey’s oldest family enterprise, a spice shop which also produces its own organic pomegranate vinegar (bring an empty 0,5 L water bottle in case you would like to buy some) and a place where you’ll find the best pastırma (dried meat) in town.Next visit is the small Rüstem Paşa Mosque, a hidden gem famous for its magnificent blue İznik tiles. From there we will walk up hill towards the Süleymaniye Mosque, the architectural masterpiece of Mimar Sinan (16th C. architect at the court of Süleyman the Magnificent). We will pass Mimar Sinan’s tomb, an old hamam, soup kitchens, and a secret tea garden. Back towards the Golden Horn, across the Galata Bridge, we will walk through the fish market of Karaköy. Tucked away in the narrow alleys of Karaköy lies the Arab Mosque, a former Dominican monastery and the only remaining gothic religious monument in Istanbul. Before lunch we dive into the old bank safes of the former Ottoman Bank, now the hip cultural venue Salt Galata. Lunch will follow in the artsy-bohemian part of Karaköy with its art galleries, trendy cafés, and restaurants. Natalie is a Belgian journalist and copywriter, former editor-in-chief of two travel magazines, and she also used to work for a cooking programme on Flemish TV. She has been living in Istanbul for more than four years. Through the private walks at Istanbul Privé (https://www.facebook.com/İstanbulPrive), she takes tourists to her favourite places in İstanbul, away from Sultanahmet. When she is not ‘walking’, she is writing, producing ceramics in a ceramics studio in Arnavutköy where she lives, or playing the cello. She also organizes activities for the Belgian Friends of Istanbul of which she is the president. Natalie also has a passion for photography, so you’ll often find her walking with her camera in the

Many different copper and brass items are produced by Hak Art. Used antique copper items are collected from Anatolia and painstakingly restored. In addition to old copperware they also produce new decorative pieces, garden furniture, tableware, copper kitchenware, hand tin-lined heavy duty copper for gourmet cooking from solid copper, brass disks, and plates. A family-owned company in existence in Istanbul since 1965, all of Hak Art’s products are crafted by hand. With over 2,500 product models, you are sure to find something to decorate your home, be it an exquisite coffee table, a unique umbrella stand, a decorative vase, or an ornamental lamp. A very popular program with our members; be sure to grab your seat early!

Date

Thursday, 10th October

Time

9:30 am to 2:00 pm Parking lot at Alkent. Transport will be provided to Hak Art and back.

Meeting Point

Cost

Maximum Participants Reservations Deadline Person to contact Contact Details

Free. 15

: :

Online on the website:www.iwi-tr. org or reservation@iwi-tr.org Thursday, 3rd October Ambili Ramachandran programs@iwi-tr.org

Date

Tuesday, 22nd October

Time

9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Meeting Point

At Sirkeci station in Eminönü. Tramway line Kabataş-Bağcılar, stop at ‘Sirkeci’ right in front of the station (orange building).

Cost

55 TL. To be paid in cash on the day. Refreshments are a personal cost.

Maximum Participants

Reservations

Deadline Person to contact Contact details

Online at www.iwi-tr.org or email programs@iwi-tr.org Tuesday, 15th October Ambili Ramachandran programs@iwi-tr.org September - October 2013

Grand Bazaar Walking Tour The Labyrinthine Kapalıçarşı:

No visit to İstanbul would be complete without a stop here, at the Grand Bazaar! The Grand Bazaar began many years ago as a small masonry bedesten (covered market), built during the time of Mehmet the Conqueror. The bazaar grew to cover a vast area as neighbouring shopkeepers put up roofs and porches, so that commerce could be done comfortably in all weather. Finally, a system of locked gates and doors was provided so that the entire mini-city could be closed up tight at the end of the business day. Today, the bazaar has 16 hans (caravanserais), 64 lanes, mosques, banks, a police station, restaurants, workshops, and more than 2,000 shops, making it a world within itself! IWI member Ayşe Yücel invites newcomers to Istanbul and new members of IWI on a walking tour of the wonderful Grand Bazaar with a stop for lunch to recharge! This is fun with Ayşe and very popular so please book early to get to experience the Turkish way of shopping! Newcomers and Everyone welcome!!!!

Date

Thursday, 24th October

Time

Meeting Point

10:30 am Çemberlitaş Tram Station (near the Burnt Column)

Cost

Maximum Participants

10 tl + lunch at own expense 15

Reservations

Deadline Person to contact Contact Details

Online on the website:www.iwi-tr. org or reservation@iwi-tr.org Monday, 21st October Ayşe Yücel aysegurleryucel@gmail.com

September - October 2013

NEWS FOR SCHOOLS: We are partners with the world famous:

• No customs problems for you! • Encourage children to read great English books! • Build your classroom and library resources: 20% in FREE books! To join this exciting program: Tel: 0216 550 4961 mail: info@greenhousekitap.info 19

previous A ctivities

SPRING BALL

IWI welcomed guests On May 4, 2013 the the enjoy our gala event, from 28 countries to ld he s Ball, which wa annual Spring Charity ur Seasons Hotel in Fo ing inn -w at the award val me this year was Carni Sultanahmet. The the t ou ing th a tag line of 'br in Constantinople, wi m fro g gin you' and jud the carnival colors in ce re delighted to embra we s est gu s, oto these ph our message.

th a welcome drink The evening started wi apĂŠs and was followed can s ou served with delici in ee-course dinner held by a Latin-themed thr by lit tly sof re we s ble Ta the elegant Ballroom. a place seating holding candelabra with each d. en gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nin eve me at the special gift to take ho

September - October 2013

During dinner, guests were entertained with a romantic tango followed by a liv e auction of three of ou r fantastic donated prizes. The IW I wishes to thank all of our sponsors for their gen erosity and ongoing co mmitment to supporting our chose n charities. We can’t do it without them and loo k forward to working together again during our 2013 - 2014 season.

n vided by none other tha Entertainment was pro l. bu an Ist in nd ba st Latin La Descarga, the hotte ed and the floor was pack top n-s no s wa Dancing ım dır g by Gülseren Yıl for every jazzy song sun Gomez.

The Spring B all is the mai n fundraiser sponsored ch for IWIarities and th is is done by auction. We means of a si thank all our lent guests for thei when biddin r generosity g this year an d know they ar their winnin e happy with gs. Member Pervin Leenh Martijn, hold outs husband s the honor of , being this ye generous bid ar’s most der and judgi ng from his ph look pleased! oto, he does

We would also like to thank the Spring Ball ing Committee for their tireless commitment to ensur was Ball g Sprin year’s This the evening’s success. completely sold out, which is a testament to their professionalism and ongoing dedication to making the IWI a fun place to meet friends old and new.

If you wish to volunteer some time and also have loads of fun along the way, please send us an email at events@iwi-tr.org. Jo Bradley

September - October 2013

A Walk through Time-

Photo walk in Old Istanbul

we had made good time and had enthusiasm and energy in abundance, Monica suggested a boat trip from Balat to Eyüp. Not your regular ferry, but a small fishing boat. The area of Eyüp has been used as a place of burial; there are Christian cemeteries, as well as a large Muslim cemetery. It is also known for its Pierre Loti Café, which has a great view of the Golden Horn, and is named after the 19th-century French writer Pierre Loti who wrote two novels based on his stay in Istanbul.

t was a dreary, cloudy day. Definitely not a good day for a walk, much less a Photo Walk, especially for a person as camera challenged as I am. All those talks about pixels and correct angles tend to wear me out, but Monica, the lovely lady with whom the Programs Team had organised this event, had said that the only thing needed was an eye for curiosity. So armed with my curious eyes and my iPhone (which is a later model than my camera), I reached the starting point at Eminönü. We were a motley group of 15 ladies. Our first stop on the walking tour was Fener. Fener is a neighbourhood midway up the Golden Horn and was home to many Greeks after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. As a result, our walk yielded many historical mansions, synagogues, and churches. The Patriarchate of Constantinople, or the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate as it is popularly known, is still located here. We visited the Mother Church and though it was a weekday, there were still many people visiting. With 300 million followers worldwide, I guess that should be expected. The current holder of the Greek Patriarch office is Bartholomew I, the 270th holder of the title! The church, dedicated to the Christian martyr Saint George, is the site of numerous important services. The grounds also contain the office complex and library of the Patriarchate. The church itself was beautiful but it was the interiors that took our breath away! The huge chandeliers and gold carvings September - October 2013

are all done in a bold and opulent style. The stained glass windows merely added to the dazzling atmosphere within. In the same area, we came across a beautiful and big classical building of red sandstone. Monica explained that it is a Greek school with a grand total of 30 students. Talk about individual attention! We then visited the Church of St. Mary of the Mongols, the only Byzantine church never to have been converted to a mosque! The story goes that Fatih Sultan Mehmet was pleased with the Greek architect who built his mosque. In appreciation, he declared that their Greek church shall always remain a church and signed an official declaration to that effect. The three-page official firman signed by the Sultan still hangs on the wall of the church. The caretaker also showed us a passage that is believed to be the entrance to a 5 km tunnel leading straight to Hagia Sophia. The adventurous amongst us quickly clambered down, bending double to explore the passageway. Of course with Istanbul’s legendary traffic, it never hurts to know of a few hidden tunnels! Unfortunately, we came to a dead end straightaway and were told that though it exists, it has been closed up. We satisfied ourselves with some good shots of the passageway. The secret passages could come in handy for author Dan Brown if he wants to write a sequel to his book Inferno! We then walked from the Fener neigbourhood into Balat, passing by what is the oldest Jewish synagogue in Istanbul. Since

But our destination at Eyüp was the famous Eyüp Mosque, the first mosque built by the Ottomans after the conquest of Constantinople. It is built next to where Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the standard-bearer of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is said to have been buried in 670. It is therefore a very sacred place and venerated by Muslims all over the world. The mosque itself was striking in its elegance and simplicity, and we were lucky to enter at the time of the afternoon call for prayer. After clicking some great shots, we were set to return home.

What had looked to be a dreary day, weatherwise, turned out to be a wonderful day with this great group of 15 enthusiastic women! What’s more, we were each loaded with good pictures, great photo tips from Monica, and memories of an Istanbul we would otherwise never have had an opportunity to see!

- Ambili Ramachandran

previous A ctivities

TANTALIZING TURKISH TEMPTATION

Kanaat Lokantası in Üsküdar has the attraction of being a truly Turkish temptation for the locals of Üsküdar, business men and women, tourists, and of course truly tempting for the members of IWI. Kanaat Lokantası is a short walk from the Üsküdar ferry terminal and the restaurant is an oasis of calm and tranquility amongst the hustling bustling shopping area of Üsküdar. Kanaat Lokantası has built up its reputation from the giddy days of the 1930s. Its lasting success is due to using fresh food, vegetables, meat, and fish, all bought locally in the Üsküdar market. This family restaurant has always had their own style of preparing, where possible, all their own ingredients.

Kanaat Lokantası is run and owned by the third generation of the family. The present grandson gave us a wonderful insight into the formation and building up of this wonderful Ottoman style of cuisine. It started with an immigrant ice cream seller, who sold his ice cream from a container hung from his shoulder as he walked the streets of Üsküdar. That simple start led the ice cream vendor to buy an ice cream van, the ice cream van was then turned into a shop that sold ice cream, then the ice cream dream was turned into a café selling ice cream that then became the present restaurant offering the mouthwatering, luscious food that is made daily on the premises. Kanaat Lokantası claims proudly that it makes over one hundred different dishes a day. Twelve chefs and a total of 60 staff members look after and prepare the sumptuous food for their many many customers every day. The restaurant seats 200 people, which is stretched to 400 people during the month of Ramadan. Whilst the restaurant itself does not have the grandeur of the Ottoman period, it is extremely comfortable and the service is excellent. Ice cream is still the crème de la crème at Kanaat Lokantası. It is and has always been made with sheep’s milk rather than cow’s milk. The sheep’s milk is then mixed with mashed orchid roots - sahlep - to give the ice cream a unique flavour. Between normal meal times the restaurant will be packed with customers enjoying their ice cream comes, such is the restaurant’s fame.

stuffed vine leaves, the rolled cabbage, the liver, and the lamb and on it went. With one hundred different dishes a day it is impossible to explain all the scrumptious smells and tastes that were put before us for our delight. Mezzes and main courses led onto the multiple types of dessert. The homemade ice cream, the mouth-watering sorbets, the homemade yoghurt, the İrmik Helvası and the Serde Revani were the finishing acclaim to the delectable meal we ate, followed of course by the local tea or coffee. It was not so easy to move away from the table once we had eaten our fill, and our fill was eaten. The absolute crowning glory of the feast was the cost of TL 30 per person. Kanaat Lokantası has achieved such a reputation that they are perpetually being requested to expand to other premises in Anatolia, or to franchise their operation. The family members are determined that they will only have the one restaurant that will produce excellent food and give outstanding service and they will not allow their standards to drop by expanding. The Ladies Who Lunched were thrilled with the experience of eating in a ‘local’ Üsküdar restaurant, and I am sure that they will be heading back for ‘seconds’.

- Anna Lancaster

The Ottoman style of mezze food does rely on olive oil dishes, which once again are unique to Kanaat. To the delight of the IWI ladies, tasting portions were served to us that seemed to arrive constantly. Amongst the many dishes were Elbasan Taya, Çiğer Sarma, Patlıcan Beğendi, İmam Bayıldı, Kuru Fasulye, and Hünkar Beğendi, all tasty and succulent. Garlic, onions, tomatoes, and olive oil leapt onto your taste buds through the

September - October 2013

Thanks to our S PONSORS

Pla

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Gold

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Silv

previous A ctivities

Egyptian Spice Market or

'Mısır Çarşısı'

hen the IWI program says that there is something that Ayşe Yücel is organizing.... GO! You will be rewarded, not only by her kind, warm personality, but also with the great culinary delights she introduces to us and the stories she tells about this enchanting city we call home for now. The 17th-century Eminönü Egyptian Spice Market, with its shelves and buckets full of spices, is a place that you may have walked through a few times. However, with this tour with Ayşe, we had the chance to enter a spice shop run by one of the only women in the Spice Market. Bilge Kadıoğlu of Ucuzcular is the 5th generation running the shop and it is refreshing to see a woman among all

the men. She was funny and entertaining and made this spice tasting tour a delight. I would suggest that all of you to pop into Shop 51 at the Spice Market and give your taste buds this experience. You will look at the Spice Market in a new way and your cupboards will be filled with delightful treats. Before moving on, we popped into Sufi, Shop Number 45. This exquisite shop sells an interesting jewelry collection by local designers inspired by Istanbul and Turkeyrelated themes. Here you will find beautiful, unique pieces that you won't see in the rest of Istanbul. Ayşe showed us her secret spots, such as where to buy nuts from a shop that's been there for 150 years. Malatya Pazarı is a little

empire of dried fruits and nuts and related products. Down past the legendary Turkish coffee shop, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, we walked into Eminönü's heart to discover the baking supply shops. To top this amazing day with a wonderful group of women, was lunch at Hamdi. Well, what a view! Spectacular, overlooking the Galata bridge, the Yeni Camii and the Goldern Horn. I have to say that one of the best things about the IWI events is the people you meet. They enrich your life and they always put a smile on my face. Şerefe to another wonderful trip with Ayşe!

- Maddie Hugo www.maddiesvine.com September - October 2013

A D A K Ü Y Ü B R U O T

group of us met up at the largest island Büyükada (Great Island) ferry station on May 25th. It was a great day for an outing and for escaping from the jam-packed city. Most of us took the motor boat from Kabataş, but it was quite a journey and took us more than an hour after making two other stops along the way to get there. Luckily, we had a great crowd on board, so getting acquainted and entertaining each other made our day trip fun and easy. Since there are no personal vehicles allowed on the island, we caught horse-drawn carriages for the ride to Luna Park, and walked up to the Greek Monastery of St. George at the top of the hill. Like many September - October 2013

visitors in the past, some of us tied strings and bows to the trees along the road up for sending out good wishes. The Monastery is very interesting and ancient, but the view of the Marmara Sea is really breathtaking. Finally, as we descended the hill, I paid more attention to those nice wooden buildings and some cows being herded along the way. A nice lunch near the clock tower square was the perfect conclusion to our trip. Needless to say, there is more to explore on the island and maybe next time I will rent a bike or catch a donkey ride to immerse myself in a stream of inspiring sights.

- Tammy Ni

C harity

CHARITY REPORT

Do you know what I like best about being a woman? After lipstick, which is my most favorite thing, I like that women get stuff done. Give us problem and we'll find a way to solve it. Put us together in a group and we'll find a way to work together that highlights our individual strengths without compromising the integrity of the group’s goal. That is why I choose to volunteer my time with IWI. As this year’s Charity Coordinator, it gives me great privilege to represent IWI when visiting our sponsored charities. As the year continues, I hope to be able to share my personal experience of meeting with each of these charities and to offer our members an overview of all the good work being done around town. I will share this responsibility with Juliana Elerman, a long-time IWI member and resident of Turkey. As this is the first issue of Lale for the 2013-14 season I thought giving an overview of the charities IWI supported last season would be of interest to our readers: Europa Donna ED is an independent, non-profit organization whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe. The coalition works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilize the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment, and increased funding for research. EUROPA DONNA represents the interests, of European women regarding breast cancer, to local and national authorities as well as to institutions of the European Union. (Credit: Europa Donna website: www.europadonna.org) IWI supported an ED breast cancer awareness project aimed at high school students throughout Turkey. The project goal was to give these students information to take home with them that they would pass along to their mothers and other female relatives. Another dimension to the project was for ED to visit ten universities in the Anatolia region and for these students to nominate the most effective way of creating breast cancer awareness in Turkey.

Little Sisters of the Poor / Bomonti Run by a group of dedicated, hard-working nuns, this home for the elderly has been operating in the Bomonti area of Istanbul since 1904. Over the past several years the building has undergone a massive

renovation to upgrade the accommodations to European standards as required by the Turkish government. This past year, the IWI supported the renovation and modernizing of the kitchen and also replaced old windows and blinds for twenty of the bedrooms.

Pink Angels The IWI volunteers continue to run a play area in the SSK Okmeydanı Hospital for children suffering from leukemia. Puzzles, coloring, and other arts and craft projects are shared with the children to give them a welcome break from their illness. Craft supplies, when needed, are sponsored by the IWI.

IZEV (Istanbul Foundation of Education and Solidarity for the Mentally Disabled) IZEV was founded as a society in 1989 by trustees with mentally disabled children. It gained charitable foundation status in 1997. IZEV is the founder of Saadet Elementary and Vocational School, in operation since 2000, which provides rehabilitation, therapy, elementary and secondary education as well as professional education services to mentally disabled children up to 35 years of age. IWI supports IZEV’s goal of improving the lives of mentally challenged children through education and therapy thereby helping them integrate into the larger society.

Mavi Kalem Established in 2000 after the earthquake of 1999, Mavi Kalem is located in the Fatih/ Fener-Balat area of Istanbul and their primary target groups are children, teens and women. Mavi Kalem’s focus areas are on children’s rights and education, the empowerment and civil participation of youth, disaster relief methods and education, and women’s rights and women’s health rights education. The IWI supported two projects this year: the first is a psychological support unit for children whose aim is to increase social interaction and self-expression skills. Since 2007 Mavi Kalem has published Zühre, which is a periodic women's health and health rights magazine published six times annually, and they are now including a "chat" section which will lend a voice to local participants. For each issue meetings will be held with women from different areas of Istanbul to discuss health or rights issues and we are also offering support in this area. We welcome your comments and input regarding IWI-supported charities. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact charities@iwi-tr.org.

- Jo Bradley September - October 2013

YÖRET FOUNDATION IWI as a partial supporter since its inception. Open to children ages 8-14, the project aims to introduce these children to many forms of art and have them enjoy social and cultural activities that they would otherwise not have a chance to experience. This project is one that is among the accepted interventions towards violence reduction in the Ministry of Education Violence Prevention Action Plan.

he YÖRET Foundation is a non governmental, non profit organization that has been operating in Istanbul since 1972. Its mission statement reads "to contribute to the advancement of society by empowering counselors through education and service projects enhancing the development of children and youth". I hope to give you an overview of the YÖRET Foundation and IWI’s involvement with its work. The summer recess in Turkey is very long. Children, especially those living on the outskirts of the city, don't have an opportunity to use summer leisure time constructively. Many families, having ties to other cities, send their children away to their extended families living in rural areas. Children who are considered a little older are expected to do apprentice work for low pay or are sent to religious summer schools. With not much else available for these children, they are more likely to get into trouble with their peers or damage properties in their neighbourhood or sometimes get in conflict with the law. The YÖRET Foundation, recognizing this void, started the SMART (Summer Arts Project for Children at Risk) in 2006 with September - October 2013

The project begins every year in March, when the school district to benefit from this program is selected and when a team of educators begin the preparations, which include putting together the training program for up to 20 university students already in the process of training to become school counsellors. Once selected, these university students take additional training in June as YoYo SMART Project Leaders. They need to complete six days of leadership and art skills training before joining the YoYo SMART summer program. During the program, these future Project Leaders learn about classroom management and develop leadership skills taking a step towards their future professional activities. These young leaders are supervised throughout the process and the results of their work are evaluated.

open to everyone and we saw many parents enjoying the festivities and watching their children perform before the live audience. On behalf of IWI, I was honoured to receive a Certificate of Appreciation for our support of the YoYo SMART Summer Program. IWI is privileged to have the opportunity to assist the YÖRET Foundation with its YoYo SMART program. Please direct any comments or questions to www.iwi-charities. tr.org.

- Jo Bradley

Working this past summer in cooperation with Ataşehir Municipality Community Centers, the YoYo SMART project operated twice for three-week sessions reaching close to 200 children per session. The program has a deep and positive impact on the children, many of whom experience an environment of supervised play and arts for the first time in their lives. They get involved in team activities as well as expressive activities such as drama and storytelling, one program being to make puppets and create stories around these puppets. In addition to the children, the parents receive benefits from the YoYo SMART program as they are invited for lectures and sharing at least once a week during the program operation. Here, they are free to share their concerns about family life and child development with professionals who answer questions and help to guide them. Juliana and I were invited to the closing ceremony on July 18th, where we were entertained with music, drama, and dance programs led by the Project Leaders with the children performing. The ceremony was

ipwin Istanbul is such an exciting city, but sometimes it is a little bit too exciting! Regrettably, we had to cancel our June IPWIN meetings due to safety concerns over transportation in the evenings. Unfortunately, these would have been the last events and opportunities to see you all before IPWIN goes on summer break (July - September). However, here is a summary of some of our previous and upcoming programs: IPWIN in May "How to Befriend Conflict" was the subject intensively discussed during our workshop on May 27th. Our members learned and practiced simple tools for turning everyday conflict into opportunities for personal growth and better relationships.

IWI Opening Meeting in September Our 2013-2014 season will kick off with the IWI Opening Meeting September 19th at the Hilton Hotel. Just like every other year, IPWIN will have a table to provide information and answer any questions about our professional network. We welcome all new and returning members from different backgrounds to sign up, whether you are currently working or not. The professional expertise of our long-term members is very wide, and includes areas like teaching, healthcare, owning a business, sales, human resources, journalism, finance, design, IT, hospitality, and tourism. We look forward to seeing you and appreciate all new information, new ideas, and valuable feedback. Please stop by to say hi!

October Events Our IPWIN Season Opening event will take place in October at the “Palais de Belgique” in the Belgium Consulate, where in a splendid environment we will share our ideas

and plans for the upcoming season. Date and time to be announced. Are you interested in or busy with establishing your own business or initiating something you want to work on while in Istanbul? Are you thinking about/writing on/ working on the idea of starting your own business or are you in a state of having the need to start doing something in this city? Then JOIN US on October 2nd for our first event of the season. Andrea Röpke Tutkan - who is planning to open her own business, a dealer/consultant office for international contemporary art - will talk about how the challenges of staying focused and efficient and the benefits of having a network of people with whom to discuss ideas and share information. On October 23rd we have re-scheduled one of our cancelled events from June. Please join us when Jade DePalacios will share her expertise in “All about virtual tools”. Please look out for our emails with further details about our upcoming events, or contact us with any questions at ipwin@ iwi-tr.org.

Why and How to Join IPWIN IPWIN provides a platform for women of diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. This includes women currently working, seeking employment, or women who do not work or are not able to work for legal reasons. However, what unites us all is our interest in job-related topics and the wish to network with other women. So we invite all women and we are also open to guests and non-IWI members, as our main aim is to enable networking. IPWIN organizes regular meetings such as the First Wednesday of each month get together and special events and workshops throughout the year featuring businessrelated topics. You may either sign up on the IWI website, www.iwi-tr.org or send an email to ipwin@ iwi-tr.org or join us on LinkedIn, where you can not only view our upcoming events or activities, you may also find services (seminars, workshops, etc.) or business details of our members.

Feedback and Experts We are always open to and appreciate your feedback, ideas or recommendations for future events. If you have an area of expertise which you would be willing to share with our IPWIN members through formal or informal

meetings / training or workshops, please do let us know. THANK YOU AND GOOD BYE TO LAVINIA! This is unfortunately the last Lale article with Lavinia as IPWIN Coordinator. She will move back to Germany at the end of the summer. We wish her all the best and a BIG THANK YOU for all the work she has contributed to the IPWIN network over the past year. The IPWIN team is now looking for some more motivated and enthusiastic team members with good organizational, time management, communication, and networking skills. If you enjoy working in a small team, meeting people, and are committed to dedicating some free time to this great network, please contact ipwin@ iwi-tr.org. Wishing you all a great start to this new IWI season. Warm regards,

- Katharina & Lavinia IPWIN Coordinators

September - October 2013

Features

LEARNING FROM THE GIRLS OF HOPE

lliteracy...it is easy for us to be disconnected from this social blight, like so many issues that are bandied about in the public and in the media and which register only on the periphery of our busy personal lives. However, for approximately 15% of women living in Turkey – and up to 45% in certain areas – illiteracy is a reality that colors and defines their lives, both present and future. It is a reality that Ayşegül Selenga Taşkent and Delizia Flaccavento powerfully bring to life for all of us through their film, Girls of Hope, and the documentary book of photos, Thanks to My Mother. Like many nations, Turkey faces a gap between educational aspirations and reality, a reality that can be impacted by one’s geographical location, economic status, and sociocultural situation. While eight years of education is compulsory in Turkey, in certain areas of the country girls face a sobering reality where education is neither guaranteed nor, as with high school, sometimes even an option. This is especially true for girls

in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey. With limited or no ability to read or write their futures are bleak and they are often destined to a life of hardship.

brought to life by Ayşegül Selenga Taşkent in the film, Girls of Hope, and Delizia Flaccavento in the book, Thanks to My Mother.

Education provides these girls with hope for the chance of a better future. One nongovernmental organization (NGO), the Association in Support of Contemporary Living (ÇYDD), funded by individual and institutional donations, offers hope via educational scholarships. Schooling itself is free in Turkey and the scholarships cover basic expenses such as school supplies, transportation (where available), living and food, all of which enables and encourages families to allow girls to continue their education. Unfortunately, even with the scholarship, the promise of continued education is not a given. Barriers in the form of traditional attitudes, as well as practical challenges, can stand between a girl and the dreams that a scholarship could afford her to realize. It is these obstacles and, especially, the hope, courage, and perseverance with which the girls face these obstacles that are

The film, Girls of Hope, follows five girls’ journeys as each faces tangible and intangible obstacles to achieving their educational dreams. Vivid cinematography conveys sobering realities where things which are taken for granted by us - like a desk and a dedicated, heated study space - are an absolute luxury. Viewers feel the heartbreak and frustration of one girl who is lucky enough to win a scholarship only to have her aspirations cut short by a brother whose traditional attitude and absolute rule forbids her to attend school. We share in the relief and celebration of another who, due to the combination of support and scholarship from ÇYDD, and the girl’s sheer determination to continue her education, escapes an unwanted, early marriage, at age 14, to a first cousin. More than anything, though, one feels the desire and determination that the girls have for an education and for a future. September - October 2013

done, and will continue to do, to further their project and the cause for addressing the female illiteracy issue in Turkey. Female illiteracy is only one of the important social issues that each woman has brought to light with her respective work in film and photography. Ayşegül Selenga Taşkent is currently an Assistant Professor at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul. Born in Ankara and passionate about cinema from an early age, she earned a BA in American Literature and later got an MA in Media Studies in England and an MFA degree in Media Arts Production at SUNY, Buffalo, USA. Armed with her desire to make the world a better place, she has used her cinematographical expertise to focus attention on social and political dynamics and problems within specific communities.

The book, Thanks to My Mother, weaves the stories of 43 girls through powerful photographs and the girls’ own touching letters written to ÇYDD in hope of receiving a scholarship. Printed in both Turkish and English, the words of each girl will move and inspire the reader. “This is the story of a heart living for its dreams, holding hope in its tiny hands...,” writes one applicant. Another writes, “I’ve got a personality that makes me follow my dreams and work very hard to make my dreams come true.” Education offers a lifeline not only to the girls, but to their families, who the girls are committed to helping: “...my biggest dream is to study and learn a profession, so that I can financially support my family...” In fact, the wish to give back extends not only to the girls’ families but also to their communities and other girls, like them, who are in need: “I want to be a literature teacher and give a hand to the young people whose economic status is not good enough to get an education. I would like to give them both financial and moral support because they fully deserve it.”

the wind, learn to use your sails.’ But my sails are in your hands.” In the end, the message is one of hope and resolution, the certainty that positive change is not only possible, but, with a little effort and modest generosity, an achievable promise.

An Interview with Ayşegül and Delizia I met with Ayşegül and Delizia recently to find out more about the Girls of Hope / Thanks to My Mother project and the creators behind it. I had met both women at a showing of the film and the book hosted by the Photo Club of Istanbul. Like many other people in the room that day, I was touched by the girls’ stories that were so movingly depicted in the film and in the book and I wanted to learn more. We met at the photo exhibition of Thanks to My Mother that had just opened in the Tepe Nautilus Mall on the Asian side. The exhibition was just one of many exhibitions and screenings that Ayşegül and Delizia have

Delizia Flaccavento is a documentary photographer and photojournalist presently teaching photography at Yeditepe University in Istanbul and she also works freelance. She studied Philosophy in her native country of Italy and then continued her studies in the U.S. and England, focusing on photojournalism. Delizia’s work, which has been published and exhibited internationally, gives visual voice to social issues and ethnic minorities. Her documentary work includes coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics, the Iraqi refugees stranded in Turkey and the Istanbul Leprosy Hospital.

Q: How did you first think of this project? A: My (Ayşe’s) job is to make social documentaries and I was in the U.S. working on my first documentary on schizophrenia, which my brother suffers from. I was thinking of my second project and always had in the back of my mind the high illiteracy rate among females in Turkey. Afterwards I read from UNICEF more about the illiteracy rate in Turkey and I was shocked. (Illiteracy was 20% in the 2000

The film and book also remind us how the capricious quirk of circumstance - whether by fate or chance - can bestow so much to one while withholding from another, something that is easily forgotten when one is on the receiving end. More than anything, though, the film and book are testaments to the astounding drive and commitment the girls - and their supporters, like their mothers - have to realize their dream of getting an education, no matter what. In the words of one young student: “Winters in our town are very cold. My school is 6 km from my house, but we cannot afford the school bus. So I walk and walk until my feet freeze...in the winter my eyelashes freeze. The snow is more than half meter high. But I don’t give up. As the poet Mumin Sekman says: ‘Stop blaming September - October 2013

Features

census, but the current rate is around 1516%...not a huge improvement.) I wanted to understand what was going on. A secondary theme I hoped to explore was the honor killings. When I lived in the U.S. and the UK, I would hear news about honor killings taking place in Turkey and I wanted to know what was happening. When I arrived back in Turkey in 2008, Delizia and I decided to pursue the project. Delizia, at the time, was working in Turkey on a project about leprosy. She was working with the Turkish Association for the Fight Against Leprosy, which is connected to ÇYDD, on that project. The woman spearheading the leprosy effort, Professor Türkan Saylan, in her work with leprosy stumbled across the illiteracy problem and as a result, she founded the ÇYDD literacy organization.

highest illiteracy rate among woman (45%) in Turkey. The highest is Şirnak where it’s 55%, but ÇYDD, Turkey’s largest educational NGO, doesn’t have a branch there. Also it was not advisable to film there. With the help of ÇYDD, for nine months we researched the individual letters that scholarship applicants had written to ÇYDD. The girls find out about ÇYDD scholarships through their local teachers or school principal, or ÇYDD reaches out to schools. The main source are the teachers, who notice that a girl really should study but, for economic reasons, cannot. Sometimes, as well, access to school is impractical and if there is no high school in the village then a girl must travel up to 20

Q: Tell me a bit about the process of making your project a reality.

A: We focused on areas with the highest illiteracy rate, of course. Van has the second

A: During the production of the film, it was seeing that nothing has changed for these girls. Like the brother who refused to let the girl go to school, along with the general attitude and carelessness. It was frustrating to not see a solution for this specific case from an institutional sense. We were so easily allowed to go in and film and interview people but, in the case of the girl whose brother forbid her to use the scholarship, it was more lip service as opposed to actually seeing a change.

Q: When you started the project, you probably had certain assumptions or expectations about it. Was there anything that took you by surprise, that you weren’t expecting? A: The actual personal response of people who watched the film or read the book – that people were very touched and wanted to know what they could do to help – was wonderful. It was amazing to see how the project inspired and motivated people.

A: The initial goal was to tell a story, to be a voice for the girls and, by highlighting the problem, create a solution for it. We also wanted to understand what was going on. What was the reason this right to education was being taken away from these girls?

A: It took 3 years. The documentary film cost $20,000 and the biggest funding came from the Cultural Ministry’s Cinema Support Fund. The funds covered travel expenses, lodging, and food. Funding for the book came from ÇYDD and the publishing company, Can Publishing, which printed 1000 copies. Distribution has been totally through private effort.

Q: What were the biggest challenges and obstacles you encountered?

Also, funding was a challenge. It would have been great to have more funding in order to have made this a bigger project. The film was not screened at many festivals in Turkey and also the book never made it to bookstores, which would have been good.

Q: What was the goal of the project when you started?

Q: How long did the project take and how much did it cost?

and the driver (whom without we couldn’t have reached some of these remote places; he was even able to get us to villages where there were no roads).

miles each day, which isn’t practical. Another option is for her to stay in a dorm, however, that is generally not socially accepted. There are shuttle buses available to some villages but if there are too few girls attending school the shuttle won’t come. There need to be at least 5 or 10 girls. After reading the letters, we narrowed them down to five girls for the film and 43 for the book. It was actually while reading the letters, that I (Delizia) had the idea to make a book where other people could also read the letters and to give a face to the letters with portraits. The team was the two of us, a ÇYDD worker,

Also, the attitude of the girls who, despite being the underdog in a country where there are many ethnic backgrounds and where many women are repressed, were so outspoken and so open about the situation. It was inspiring to see that the girls were so brave – their individual courage, individual bravery. Plus, all the girls want to go back and help their community. They have such a strong will to share. Their greatest hope is that the film and book will help others. In addition, the transparency of the NGO was pleasantly surprising, as well as our accessibility to the communities. The NGO was incredibly helpful and the communities were very welcoming. They trusted us and cooperated with us.

September - October 2013

Q: Tell us more about ÇYDD and the scholarships they provide. A: The scholarship is 650TL annually for high school and 1000TL annually for university. A bank account is opened in the girl’s name and she gets an ATM card. The money is deposited there throughout the academic year. The money covers school supplies, siblings’ school supplies, transportation (if available), dorm (if the girls are allowed; this is a social issue and many girls aren’t allowed to go and live away from home), food at school, heating money for their homes and, sometimes, also rent and other basic expenses. So the money doesn’t just cover schooling, per se, it also covers expenses for the family so they can afford to have the girl not working at home but instead, studying at school.

Q: How does ÇYDD make sure that the girl goes to school and the money isn’t used for something else and the girl not educated? A: The ÇYDD has controls in place to check that the girl is actually in school. In addition, if the girl is taken out of school or does not pass her classes then the money is cut. In fact, because the ÇYDD is so well-established and good about managing the scholarship process and funds, many corporations go through ÇYDD to provide funding.

Q: What are your next plans for the project, the next steps?

September - October 2013

A: We will continue to do screenings and exhibitions, working to get the word out. If we can make a DVD and distribute it - present a package of the film and book together – it would be very effective. To do this, however, we need an executive producer to provide funding, create the package and to distribute it. Distribution, at this point, is all by private effort.

Q: How can people help? What can they do to make the greatest impact? A: People can help by funding a girl’s education. They need to understand, though, that it is a commitment to fund the girl’s entire education, not just one year. Once a girl is given a scholarship her high school and university education, as long as she maintains her attendance and grades, are guaranteed. When you fund a girl’s education you can also get to stay in touch with the girls, which can be extremely rewarding, to see and hear how your help makes a difference in their lives. In order to bring about a bigger change the project needs to go into the hands of someone who can make a greater difference. Wider distribution of the film and book are needed to make a larger impact. We believe that individual contributions and the independent efforts of people - people reading the book, seeing the film, sharing the information with each other - is how a real impact can be made. In addition, to help with getting the word

out, we would like to make a DVD of the film. However, to do this, we need funding. If anyone is willing to be a private donor, we would be happy to make the DVDs.

Q: How can people see the film or host a screening of the film? How can people buy and/or exhibit the book? A: People can contact us by email at girlsofhope2012@gmail.com and we can organize private showings. The film is the dramatic side and the book is a complement to the films’ success stories. The film is more tragic while in the book you see what is happening and what can be achieved with a bit of economic help. Girls of Hope has been screened internationally and has received national and international recognition including the following: • Finalist in the 23rd Film Festival Ankara • Special Mention in the 2012 Rome Independent Film Festival • Adana Turkey Altin Koza • Finalist in Datça Golden Almond Film Festival

- Darcy Holmer

B.S. Finance / M.S. Public Health / M.B.A. Certified TEFL Teacher / Personal Trainer

Photos by Delizia Flaccavento

Features

Turkish Wheelchair Tennis Players and IB Students:

The Winning Team!

It started with the search for an opportunity to fulfill a three-month period of social service hours. What kind of charity work can a 16-year-old boy, who barely speaks any Turkish, do in the big city of Istanbul? Especially when you are looking for something more interesting and more meaningful for yourself than reading books with preschool kids or washing cars to earn some money for any kind of charity... Being sporty yourself, wouldn’t it be great to create the possibility for someone else to enjoy sports as well? But where to find this opportunity? Where does the English-speaking society of Istanbul meet and come together? Indeed, at IWI, the starting point for a search. Lale magazine publishes all the groups of women who spend so much of their time to improve living conditions or offer mental support for those in need. One of these ladies, with just a

three-line notice in Lale magazine, is Marina Baumeister. For the past ten years, Marina has been active in setting up and guiding wheelchair tennis in Turkey, not only in Istanbul but in cities all over Turkey. Over the years, wheelchair tennis became a recognized sport by the Spinal Cord Paralytics Association of Turkey (Türkiye Omurilik Felçlileri Derneği or TOFD) and wheelchair tennis tournaments were organized. One Turkish player even joined the Paralympics in China and at this moment there are four ladies who are internationally ranked! The aim is to get them to Rio in 2016. With the help of IWI and many other sponsors, it was possible to increase the number of players in Turkey. Special sport wheelchairs, transportation to the tennis court, and coaches are needed, which is quite a financial burden for most disabled

people. However it doesn’t stop with just financial aid. How to get from a car into your wheelchair, take the obstacles from the car to the tennis court, and even enter the gates around tennis courts in your wheelchair? Simple things an able-bodied person will never think about but which make the difference between being able to play or not when you are depending on a wheelchair. This is where the 16-year-old boys came in. Marina asked them to assist one particular player, Abdullah. Abdullah is a 32-year-old man who had polio in his first year, causing complete paralysis in both his legs. One of his arms is also affected by the polio. Having two disabilities means that Abdullah is qualified as a Quad player. There are only few Quad players in the world as wheelchair tennis is quite a demanding sport. Abdullah loves tennis and he goes twice a week to fitness to strengthen his arms in order to get the best out of himself.

September - October 2013

At the first tennis lesson, Abdullah came with his brother. Two very friendly people welcomed them and the boys were there to learn their future tasks. Maybe they were a bit disappointed; there was so little for them to do. Ten minutes before and after the lesson… that was all. Picking up the balls from the court at the end of the lesson was maybe the most demanding task they had. It took them until after the first time they carried out the tasks by themselves that they started to realize what a difference they could make. How to get out of your car if no one would carry you? If no one takes that wheelchair from the boot of your car? Have you ever realized how many sidewalks Istanbul has that are not accessible at all with a wheelchair? How to open a gate where the handle is too high to reach from a sitting position? How many frustrating situations a person with disabilities has to face, day in and day out!

It’s especially frustrating when you try so hard to live an (as much as possible) independent life like Abdullah does. He drives his own car, has his own full-time job, and works hard to get his body in shape for his beloved sport. Yet there is never a sign of frustration on his face. No irritation about the things he cannot do. How jealous could he be, seeing these young and strong boys who can do all the things he had to miss

The aim is to get them to Rio in 2016.

when he was their age? It is amazing how well Abdullah takes his situation! The boys start to realize this. They start to appreciate their own privileged situation. They start to enjoy working with Abdullah. Although their Turkish is not good enough

September - October 2013

to have a proper conversation with him, they clearly have fun together! And even more: they see his abilities. Maybe even better than the adults around them. When urged by one of the adults at the side of the court to help Abdullah by getting him some water during the training, the reaction is: “Why should I do that? Abdullah can perfectly do this himself. I would hate it if people did things for me I can do by myself!” How true! How clearly observed by a 16-year-old boy! They see Abdullah’s progress, they cheer for his

Features no matter who they are, where they’re from, which background they have…. or whatever sad story there might be behind the reason why they play their sport in a wheelchair. In sports everyone can enjoy themselves, make progress, feel proud, cheer for successes, share disappointments, and celebrate victories. How important it is that disabled people can continue to do sports like anybody else.

great smashes, they laugh when he tries to save the ball with a funny movement of his chair, and just misses the ball… In an exciting development, Abdullah joins the Hulya Cup tennis tournament, where for three days in a row Turkish wheelchair tennis players compete in mixed-double teams. Will Abdullah make it through the first round with his still limited experience and a long winter break in which he was not able to play, simply because there was no funding for a coach? He proves to be very lucky with his partner: one of the internationally ranked ladies, Ebru! What an exciting match! And what a long and tiring match as well! It took over 1,5 hours, but with a more than satisfying result: They won the first round!! The atmosphere during the competition was excellent. Players from all over Turkey met. As there are still a limited amount of Turkish wheelchair tennis players, they all know each other from former matches. A lot of laughter, joking, and stories were exchanged.

Everywhere in the world we see the growing awareness of governments, schools, and parents about how important sports are for the youth, for our health, and for our future! Unfortunately, how unknown are most of the sports for people with disabilities. How many people have ever heard about wheelchair tennis in Turkey? This is not because there are no people who would love to play wheelchair tennis, but only because of low awareness, little publicity and no big sponsors. A stable sponsor or a group of sponsors who feel attracted to spend just a tiny part of their yearly budgets on this sport would make such a difference in the lives of those people who love to play but who do not have the funds to reach that high, international level. The challenge is where to find these sponsors, how to persuade them. To show these big brands as well as the smaller companies how cool it is to sponsor wheelchair tennis in Turkey! Here lies a new challenge for the 16-yearold boys and their fellow students. The IB

Program of their school requires the students to complete community service hours. This is time which they can spend on writing a sponsor plan, contacting companies, and making deals. Using their creativity to convince them. Using their imagination to consider what it would be like if they were depending on a wheelchair themselves.

Wouldn’t it be great to find sufficient financial means to support many more young people in Turkey, who are depending on a wheelchair, to join a sport? What about the other support they need? There are enough young, healthy students in Turkey to assist them. A win-win situation for both parties! And Abdullah? He will continue his training. He will become stronger and better, will celebrate more victories… Who knows? 2016 is still some years ahead… For more information about how to sponsor a wheelchair athlete, volunteer your time as a tennis coach or tennis partner, or help purchase tennis wheelchairs for the athletes, please contact Marina Baumeister at marina. tennis@gmail.com.

- by Judith Kuiper Photos by Delizia Flaccavento and Judith Kuiper

On the second day, the other team proved to be a stronger combination than Ebru and Abdullah. It was a nice and sportive match to watch with a fair result. How exciting did the matches get! The third day everyone turned up again to watch the finals all together. What an experience to see how disabilities seem to disappear while playing sports together. This is what sport does to people: they feel connected, equal in competition,

September - October 2013

Features

All the Same…Just Differently

or this fall issue of Lale, dedicated to friendship and community and the opening of the 2013-2014 season, we jumped at the opportunity to pursue our presentation of ANEKDOTA to the IWI members. The ANEKDOTA project aims precisely to enter the intimacy of a culture, and to us, that means providing the tools for cross-cultural friendships and community as well as creating a community of contributors, readers, and sponsors interested in sharing and debating cultural anecdotes. To communicate more about how friendship and community form part of the fabric of our discussions at ANEKDOTA, we have compiled an interview with one of our most prolific and qualified contributors, Belle-Isle. Belle-Isle was previously introduced in the summer issue as a former consultant gone to sail the world with his wife. You can find out more about their travels from http://journal. belle-isle.eu/english/ and http://photos.belleisle.eu/. Belle-Isle kindly agreed to answer some of our questions and we are honored to share with you here his experience of ANEKDOTA: What would you like to discover, learn, or understand thanks to the ANEKDOTA community (readers and contributors)? To better understand others, their contradictions, their motivations, their fears, what makes them different in the end... and sometimes, when we don't leave our comfort zone, we end up not understanding others but mostly interpreting their behaviors incorrectly.

What anecdote(s) would you like to share with the ANEKDOTA community?

How did you enter the intimacy of a culture other than your own?

Hmmm, let me see, I often have a hard time thinking of an anecdote to share, but I always manage to whip up something! (To discover the anecdotes that Belle-Isle has shared, check out an example: http:// www.shareyouranecdote.com/anecdote/afishermans-dinner/).

By going to meet others but it's really hard to fully enter another culture, most of all, if it's so different. People open up to a certain point and then they put up barriers that are unbreakable in some cases. It doesn't always work, but the best key to open up that door is a smile. Maybe that could be a theme: a smile, joy, humor or laughter? Or again by differentiating: with misunderstandings, that teach us how we failed to enter a culture. But we learn by trying.

According to you, what is your culture's main characteristic? In your own words, what is this culture? I can't reply other than by differentiating. One of the things that one realizes when traveling is that almost systematically, and to each in his or her language, people call themselves “the people” (in other words, “us”), and name others “the others” (and that's the first meaning of “barbarians”). Undoubtedly, the same rule applies to me: in the end my culture is a little bit “my people” and it’s defined by not being “the others”. We can add on traditions, history, religion, language, art, but we each have our own in a way. We are all the same, just differently! Ideally, what would a cultural anecdote look like on the ANEKDOTA website: a few lines, a drawing, an essay, a video, a photo, etc.? Most likely a few lines first because that's the easiest to share, but an image is worth a thousand words; a video could be worth it too, even though it might prove harder to bring about a subject. Ultimately, a little bit of each.

We thank you, Belle-isle, for providing our readers with such a simple and honest account of your experience with different cultures and ANEKDOTA. At IWI, we are all from different cultures, living in or with a different culture, so join this community through our website www.shareyouranecdote. com and our Facebook page, and come share your cultural anecdotes. Our upcoming theme is “Superstitions” and Turkish culture seems like a great place to start. Happy sharing!

- Eleonore Remy ANEKDOTA Co-Founder www.shareyouranecdote.com Write to us on eleonore@shareyouranecdote.com

September - October 2013

Sponsored Article

September - October 2013

Health & Fitness

FITNESS BY NUMBERS:

THE BENEFITS OF GROUP EXERCISE

e all know that regular exercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. However, fitting exercise into our busy schedules – and finding the motivation to exercise – can be a challenge. This is especially the case if sweating it out alone doesn’t exactly appeal to us. One solution to the fitness doldrums is exercising with others. Exercising with others offers a variety of benefits:

Staves off boredom:

Exercising alone, especially if you are a people-person, may bore you to pieces. Exercising with others makes fitness time more interesting, and you may find that time is flying by (or, at least, not passing by in torturously slow motion)!

Satisfies our ‘misery loves company’ tendency:

Well, not misery exactly, but if you are trying to establish a fitness regimen, you may find exercise to be challenging. The path to becoming physically fit is not without some discomfort. It helps if others are going through the motions with you. This is the case even if you are already pretty fit or working to amp up your fitness level.

Helps with teeter-totter motivation:

Some days are harder than others when it comes to finding motivation to get up and move. If you exercise alone, lack of motivation can stall your great fitness intentions. However, group fitness works like a teeter-totter of motivation: whether you have a workout buddy or attend a group fitness class, when your motivation level is down, the energy of the other person, or persons, can help lift you up and get you (or keep you) going. In fact, you may find that you push yourself that much harder when working out with a partner or in a class environment.

Provides that much-needed spice of life, also called “variety”:

Variety is not just the spice of life; it’s also the spice of exercise. Repeating anything over and over is not only boring, it is also unlikely to yield great gains in your fitness level due to the body’s amazing ability to adapt. However, it can be intimidating to try new things when we’re alone. It’s easy to stick with what we know, but this can put us in a fitness rut. Working out with a buddy or joining group fitness activities offer opportunities to try new things and expand our September - October 2013

work out with someone with whom you would enjoy spending time. Make sure you schedule your workout time as you would schedule a doctor’s appointment or work, and stick to it! The same considerations apply to joining a specific sports-focused social group. If you are going to make the time commitment, then you want to make sure that the group’s goals and overall characteristics complement yours.

exercise horizons with social support.

Allows for social time:

Finally, exercising in a group is a great opportunity to socialize. You can burn calories and, at the same time, catch up with a close friend, get to know someone better, or make new acquaintances. (Group fitness can also provide a much-needed mood boost, especially in winter when the weather can be less than uplifting and you have spent too much time cooped up indoors.) Group fitness can take different forms. With a buddy (or group of buddies) you can exercise either within a formal fitness setting, like a gym or specific sports-focused facility, or outside of one, like in a park or at someone’s home. You can also join social groups that are focused on a specific kind of physical activity. Working out with others, especially with a buddy, helps ensure that you make it to that two o’clock appointment to walk or to that five o’clock fitness class. (Just joining a gym or class and the related financial commitment can also positively impact your commitment and follow-through to exercise regularly.) Working out with your life partner has added benefits. While it can’t guarantee “happily ever after,” studies have shown that exercising together reinforces a couple’s connection. Working out together also offers a guilt-free solution to the exercise and time quandary by allowing you to exercise and share quality time with your partner at the same time, as opposed to having to sacrifice one for the other. Combined workouts can even add a bit of fun, a competitive edge that can spark some fire between you. Plus, just feeling physically better and more confident about the way you look doesn’t hurt you or your relationship.

The opportunities for group fitness in Istanbul are wide and varied. The following are just a few of these opportunities, a list of resources and links to help get you started. Please note that the inclusion of the following is not an endorsement or advertisement of their services. It is, instead, only a starting point for you to use, if desired, when you are researching different group fitness solutions. Finally, keep in mind the following quote: “There are really only two requirements when it comes to exercise. One is that you do it. The other is that you continue to do it.” Group fitness activities can help you with both. RESOURCES:

Gyms There are many fitness clubs and gyms that offer annual memberships for a fee. Some alternatives include Club Sporium (Beşiktaş), Essporto (Levent and Kadıköy), Hillside (Etiler and Istinye), Mars Athletic Clubs (Beşiktaş, Levent and Maçka), Mayadrom Sport Center (Çekmeköy), and Sports International (Şişli, Ataköy and Kadıköy), more: http://www.theguideistanbul.com, Skiing Club (look under National Activities)., and Associations pages in Lale magazine. Sports-Specific Studios Check out the The Guide Istanbul for a good selection of opportunities for dance, golf, gyms, Pilates, tennis, yoga (including Bikram – or hot yoga) and more: http://www.theguideistanbul.com. Active Social Groups Search online for more information about the following groups, or any other social sports activities that interest you: Bisikletliler Derneği (Cyclists’ Association), Yeşil Bisiklet (Green Bicycle Group), YMCA International - YCF Skiing Club (look under National Activities). Expatriate social organizations are another great way to find out about active social (i.e. exercise-focused) groups. Many of these are listed in the Groups & Associations pages in Lale magazine.

- Darcy Holmer Certified Personal Trainer MS Public Health / MBA 1Brand-Miller, J; Foster-Powell, K; Colagiuri, S. and Barclay, Alan W (2007). The New Glucose Revolution for Diabetes. New York City. Marlow & Company.

When looking for the exercise environment that fits you best, take the following factors into consideration: location, quality of equipment and class offerings, schedule, cost, cleanliness, friendliness of staff, compatible clientele (this will be more of a gut feeling, based on how you feel when you are at the gym: do you feel comfortable, motivated, and want to come back and work out, or do you feel intimidated or uninspired?). Also, make sure that the gym isn’t overly crowded, especially during the times that you would be there. The gym may have great equipment, classes, and atmosphere, but if you can’t take a group class without bumping into your neighbor or can’t get access to the machine you want to use, you may need to reconsider. Similarly, if you think an exercise buddy would suit you, make sure that your buddy’s level of commitment is the same as yours. You want someone who is going to be a positive influence and not a drag on your motivation. Look for someone who has a similar energy and fitness level. While you and your partner don’t have to have the exact same level – and, in fact, if you work out with someone who is a bit fitter, it can be a great source of motivation and inspiration – if your levels are too different, then both people will likely end up frustrated. Your buddy doesn’t have to be a best friend (sometimes it is better not to work out with your best friend for risk of spending more time working your mouths than your bodies!) but you should, of course, September - October 2013

Health & Fitness

The Role of Expectations in Community and Friendship Life Coach Derryn Snowdon takes a look through the window of emotional competence to explain how our expectations affect our relationships and our enjoyment of life.

The Subtler Presence of Emotions

Ask anyone for a few examples of emotions, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably name some of the following: love, hate, anger, happiness, sadness, fear, anxiety, excitement, and, depending on their life experiences thus far, grief. Yet, although we know the names of the basic emotions, we are not always so good at managing them. In fact, many people feel they have no control over their emotions and find that their emotions more often than not rule their feelings and, thus, their experience of life. Being a victim of your own emotions can play havoc with your stress levels and with your relationships, too â&#x20AC;&#x201C; be they romantic relationships or relationships with friends.

How may your expectations negatively affect your life experience?

As social creatures we are all hard wired to seek and develop relationships with other humans. Our relationships provide us with many elements essential for a rich and contented life. Among those elements are: love, companionship, support, intimacy, sharing, and belonging. When we enjoy these qualities in our relationships,

everything goes swimmingly well. However, when these qualities become worn down or diminished, we feel the weakening of the relationship bond. The uplift we normally get from being with friends or in a community setting can become a downward spiral that leaves us getting sucked into negative emotions.

So what is it that starts the upset that leads to negative emotions?

It may be due to a number of reasons, but one common catalyst to a downward shift in a relationship - albeit short-lived - is often the expectations that we hold. When our expectations are not met, we can easily slide into a place of frustration, sadness, disappointment, or even anger. To people around us, this emotional reaction may come as a surprise or a shock. Our behaviour may seem irrational and may easily provoke a reaction in others, leading to miscommunication and relationship breakdown. Take a moment or two to remember a time when you felt either let down by someone or disappointed in them. If you look a bit deeper at September - October 2013

the situation, you’ll see that prior to the event you had probably built up a range of expectations that were then not realised, and, as a result, you felt let down. Having expectations of others creates a situation where we are primed for disappointment because, more often than not, we have built those expectations from our own experiences and according to our own values, needs, and wants (not to mention according to our own conditioning!).

How do expectations affect both friendships and relationships in the wider community?

From one perspective, creating or having expectations is a way of preparing for what we want from life, events, and from relationships. For example, if we feel anxious about a future event, we may rehearse in our minds what we think the event or meeting will be like, and, in doing so, we may find some satisfaction in the “feeling of knowing” what we think the future holds for us. This is one way we create expectations. Once we have the picture in our heads about the event or meeting, we tend to hold onto that and become comfortable and identify with it. So, when the event or meeting actually happens, and if it turns out differently from our vision or story of the expectations that we have created, then we may feel disappointed, let down, or just unhappy in some way. Having this reaction to unmet expectations leaves us in a place where we cannot enjoy the event or meeting as we had hoped. Our disappointment may even affect how our partners and friends enjoy the event. Having expectations of a person can also result in upsets, problems and other negative outcomes. Sometimes we build up expectations of another person in the hope that we can get our needs met. Our needs may have to do with companionship, getting a feeling of being loved and appreciated, or something else. When expectations are generated by us about what someone else should be doing or giving us, then, once again, we are setting the scene for discord and failure. If the mismatch between reality and our expectations is even greater, then we may have more extreme emotional reactions, such as anger, sadness, or, if the situation continues, even depression.

How would life be different without expectations?

We are all in the habit of creating expectations. We have been doing so since we were children. Our parents and other adults around us encouraged it. Within IWI, we generate many new friendships and develop our international IWI community with shared activities, supportive peer groups, engaging in work within the local community, and many more events. Relationships, whether within a community group or between two people, thrive when there are shared values, beliefs, attitudes, interests, and/or purpose. Emotional reactions and expectations also affect these relationships. Especially at a time when we are thrown out of our normal living environment, we may feel less secure. As mentioned above, we have a tendency to create expectations to get some semblance of control or safety in our life. However, more often than not we end up disappointed. Something you can try out is to allow yourself to “simply be present” to circumstances as they unfold without creating expectations of how you’d like events or people to show up. Try this and see what happens. You may discover that what ends up happening may be far more magical and rewarding than anything you could ever make up in your mind. Footnote: This article was stimulated by Derryn’s recent training in ‘Human Software Engineering’ on Emotional Competence with the company ‘Evolve’. She plans to give IWI members a chance to experience this new work first hand in our IWI autumn programs.

- Derryn Snowdon - Life Coaching for Healthy Living www.dsilifecoaching.com derryn@dsilifecoaching.com

September - October 2013

Health & Fitness

WHY PRACTICE ALTRUISM?

To be cute? Out of a sense of duty? To be a good human being? For glory? demonstrates that the act of helping others activates exactly the same pleasure centers in the brain as narcotics do. What a wonderful virtue! Like savoring a piece of our favourite chocolate without gaining weight! The compensation is embedded within the act itself. Both the subject and the agent of the act become happy and, furthermore, who knows what other rewards are possibly awaiting the altruist in the spiritual dimension? And yet in reality, we are not frequently burning to serve others; as Claude BG explains it: “We are overcome by a form of inertia” that can give us cold feet when it comes to practicing altruistic acts. It requires an effort - to go against our comfort - for example, by giving up our break to listen to a friend, foregoing sleep on a Saturday morning for a family member, or something as simple as reaching for a tissue in our bag for someone who needs it. Those for whom altruism is second nature do not need any motivation, for they have been practicing long enough to acquire the benefits of the virtue. We can recognize them when we see them; they bear a kind of lightness and compassion even if their acts of kindness are not valued as expected. Nevertheless, they move on.

hose intrigued by the question, which include scientists, physicians, philosophers, and ordinary people alike, have come up with some commonalities in their answers. Stefan Einhorn, an oncologist at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm sees it as an ethical quality and a form of intelligence,

a product of common sense rather than stupidity. In his practice, he is convinced that “no one can help another person sincerely and not help themselves: it is one of the most beautiful compensations in life.” Scientific evidence provided by numerous MRI and scanning techniques clearly

Whereas those who are not spontaneously altruistic need sources of motivation to acquire this quality. Where do we find this motivation? Here are some tips shared by Claude BG in an online article based on experience, experiments, and research derived from the field of Psychology: Practicing altruism makes you feel happier.

September - October 2013

Remember the moments when you helped someone and had the feeling of joy and pride in your heart, the feeling of having done the right thing. That’s the chocolate cake! The good news from research shows that people who have received help give help automatically when a situation arises. The more we help - as we can, of course - the more the effects spread and we can become a source of goodness. As a consequence, we can live in a more positive and gentle community. It gives an opportunity to work on one’s weaknesses - selfishness and pride, in particular. Claude BG states that for every altruistic action there is an egotistic counter-impulse against which struggle is necessary, and if we can overcome this counter state by acting in a good way, we gain personal benefits. The positive powers that govern us increase and we grow. According to S. Einhorn, every good deed leads to change in the destiny of the doer and even in society at large. It moves like a wave. The second point of weakness to struggle against might be pride. The quick acid test for our pride is when the person we helped neither recognizes what we have done nor expresses any form of gratitude. The test is for us to reduce our expectations in return, to detach from the outcome and be ready for our next scenario, while reminding ourselves that we do good for our own duty and benefit. Our ultimate goal is to add a positive quality to our character. It gives an opportunity to sharpen one’s thought. In each scenario of our daily life, big or small, we make a decision. Setting up our mind to practice altruism gives us a chance to reflect on the given scenario, the rights of the people involved, and to determine what would be the “right” thing to do for oneself and for the other, while balancing conditions such that we are not being taken advantage of. It is a delicate lesson through which we can refine our reasoning and act more intelligently.

So simple but true, isn’t it? People from different walks of life who have been regularly practicing altruism, be it in their close circles or in their community, share that keeping a logbook and reflecting on how they did on one or more occasions every day brings a good amount of insight and inspiration. And this exercise based on action sets the stage for the next one in everyday life. They unanimously report having experienced the following: -- heart of joy -- pure conscience -- stronger willpower -- lucidity -- attraction of more grace in their lives The good thing is that we do not need to be privileged to try it out. Anyone can verify through experiment and practice. One little step, every little effort counts to make a good deed and when it is done, we would have done it.

- Duygu Müderrisoğlu Bruce, Certified Professional Coach duygubruce@gmail.com References: TEDxStockholm- Stefan Einhorn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWfSvtK-upo Altruism: finding sources of motivation, Claude BG www.e-ostadelahi.com/eoe-en/altruism-finding-sources-of-motivation/ Altruism: an interview with Bahram Elahi, M.D. www.e-ostadelahi.com/eoe-en/altruism-an-interview-with-bahram-elahi-m-d/

In an interview with B. Elahi, MD, pediatrician and scholar, when asked the question: “On a practical level, how does one engage in altruism?”, he replies that helping others often occurs through very simple acts like lending an attentive ear, paying a sincere compliment, making a friendly gesture or any other sign of support. He clarifies the following points for our altruistic acts to have an optimal effect: • try to dismiss any intentions of gaining profit or benefit • behave in a contextually appropriate and balanced manner, taking into account the means at our disposal and not infringing on the rights of the others involved • except in cases of absolute necessity, we should not impose our help but offer instead, while respecting the dignity and freedom of others B. Elahi emphasizes the necessity of including the practice of altruism in one’s daily life for those who care about their spiritual growth. In Vivo Altruism A friend, Parpar, recounts this heart-warming story from her personal experience: One day Parpar goes to her bakery to buy her bread as usual. Inside the busy bakery, she queues up and then notices the girl behind the counter looking grim and just doing her job with a sullen expression, repeatedly giving out bread. When her turn comes, Parpar approaches her with a warm smile, and sincerely asks her how she is. The girl’s face softens and lightens up just a little, and after few moments of conversation she tells Parpar that she really made her day.

September - October 2013

mums ‘n kids

Screen Time How much time should your child spend on the iPad?

ecently, a mother of one of the toddlers who attends our Little Genius classes told me that her toddler spends five hours a day using an iPad. The little girl never sees other kids, so her mother decided to bring her child to Little Genius. The mother also shared that her toddler has learned to count and to identify the colors and shapes with the iPad. My initial reaction was one of shock. I feel that five hours a day is an excessive amount of time spent on the iPad and that human interaction is more important for a two-yearold. I was also intrigued by the fact that she had learnt so much on the iPad. We know that all new knowledge must connect to existing knowledge in order for it to make sense. By this I mean that if your child learned shapes on the iPad, they must now transfer that knowledge into their everyday world and learn to identify those shapes all around them. It is great that your child can learn to tell the colors with the help of an iPad, but then you must walk with the child in a park and say: “Show me the yellow flowers,” or “What colors are the trees?” I also know that concentrating on a screen in front of you does not teach you to concentrate in a group, with other people, nor does it teach focusing on the activity at hand, whilst you wait for your turn. So, will concentrating in a classroom be an issue later on? Parents have told me that play-dates are not what they use to be. Their child gets invited to the home of a playmate only to sit at their friend’s house playing computer games for hours. After going online to see what other experts have to say, I found the following research results and opinions: Ann Densmore, Ed.D, an expert in speech and language development and co-author of Your Successful Preschooler, offers some practical advice for parents: “Screen time is here to stay for young children and we can’t stop it,” she says. “The world is now inescapably online and digital. Even schools are replacing textbooks with iPads and digital texts. So moms and dads really need to figure

out what’s right for their families.” Information on the risks and benefits of screen time are both limited and conflicting. A small study published in 2010 in the journal Pediatrics suggests that children who spend two or more hours a day watching TV or on the computer are more prone to psychological difficulties. In contrast, iPad apps and games designed for preschoolers seem to offer opportunities for learning. A report published in The New York Times by the Millennium Cohort Study, a long-term study group in Britain that has been following 19,000 children born in 2000 and 2001, found that those who watched more than three hours of television, videos, or DVDs a day had a higher chance of conduct problems, emotional symptoms, and relationship problems by the time they were seven years old than children who did not. The study, of a sample of 11,000 children, found that children who played video games - often age-appropriate games - for the same amount of time did not show any signs of negative behavioral changes by the same age. However, experts agree pretty unanimously that, at least at the dinner table, talking (or even drawing with crayons) is better than zoning out over an electronic device, both for developing social skills and even learning to cope with, or grow from, boredom. After reading many articles, to see if I am just old fashioned, I discovered that I am not. It would certainly not be a good idea to use your iPad as a babysitting device in order to get your child to zone out (a new term I learned whilst doing this research). Human interaction and learning to act appropriately, whilst mom or dad is talking to somebody else, or whilst we wait for our food in a restaurant, is more important.

even if they are getting an appropriate amount of exercise. Last, but not least, I want to touch on how your child will not develop their gross motor skills whilst sitting in front of a computer. Running around, playing with educational toys, and time outdoors in nature are vital for developing the body and the brain. I have found, over the past two years, that the students I work with at my learning center have great trouble thinking creatively when doing essay writing, which can be ascribed to the fact that they are not exposed to imaginary play as much as they were before the advent of iPads. Ultimately, the iPad is here to stay, so it is up to the parents to see that there is a healthy balance in their children’s lives. The iPad positives are: it can teach your child through good educational applications, and it is a very useful tool to help with organizational skills, when used at school. The negatives still outweigh the positives, however; your child needs human interaction, gross motor and social skills development, to read good books, and to learn through discovering the world around them. All of which the iPad cannot provide. - Carol Crous LEARNING SPECIALIST www.thelearningcenteristanbul.com

No research to date shows that letting your child sit for hours in front of a screen is good. Yes, it shows that educational apps are indeed useful and that children are learning from them; however, there is too much research that shows that children who have more than two hours of any screen time per day, are more likely to have psychological difficulties, September - October 2013

mums ‘n kids announcements

IWI Mums ‘N Kids Meetings & Playgroups

Please contact Coordinator Maria Petersen Ciftgül if you have any questions at mariabwp@hotmail.com or telephone at 0533 317 3894. Mums ‘N’ Kids does not mean that it is for mums only- Dads ‘N’ Kids are just as welcome! At present time we have two playgroups running on the European side of Istanbul and one playgroup on the Asian side. This is an opportunity to meet other pregnant ladies and moms of infants or toddlers, as well as share the joys and trials of motherhood while creating a support network. Please note the we have also added a mother’s coffee morning for those of you that would like to make a connection with other mother’s whose children are already of school age. * * PLEASE NOTE * * As the children are growing and moving play groups, we have changed the coordinators as the previous coordinators have moved away from İstanbul or have moved up in the play groups. On behalf of the IWI Mums-N-Kids group we thank those that have volunteered their time in making these play groups happen. We have also added a 2+ play group. If you are interested in joining this play group please email the coordinator listed below. A big thank you goes out to Dawn Biyashev for volunteering to make this group happen.

European Side of İstanbul

Multilingual Playgroup Zekeriyaköy

The weekly multilingual playgroup in Zekeriyakoy comes together each Friday. Parents of infants (0-2 years old) and pregnant women who want to come can email teike.asselbergs@gmail.com . There are no costs to join the playgroup. It is required that parents (to-be) speak at least 2 languages (For example Turkish and English or two foreign languages). Older siblings and nannies can come along as long as there is at least one adult relative of the infant present as well. The reason for this is that the playgroup is as much for the parents as for the infants. The playgroup will sometimes come together on other days of the week(end), so that working parents can also connect with other parents in the neighbourhood. The playgroup is hosted at the homes of a different member each time.

European Coffee Mornings for Moms

This is an opportunity for those of you with children in pre-school or primary school to meet up with other moms should you not be able to join one of our playgroups. When: Monthly Time: 10:30am-12pm Location: Starbucks at Istinye Park (note: location may vary) Cost: FREE Please contact Susanne at camandsuus@gmail.com to be added to this group.

Pregnant & Infants (0-12 months) When: Every Tuesday Time: 11am-13pm Location: Rotating turns at mums’ homes and pre-arranged places. Cost: FREE Please contact Jodie Mise at jodiemise@gmail.com or Andrea Roepke at roepke.a@googlemail.com

Asian Side of İstanbul

Walkers-Younger Toddlers (1-2,5 years of age) When: Every Tuesday Time: 10am-12pm Location: Rotating turns at mums’ homes and pre-arranged places. Cost: FREE Please contact Susanne Smith at camandsuus@gmail.com or telephone at 0549 723 9593.

Toddlers (1-4 years of age) When: Every Wednesday Time: 10:30am-12pm Location: Rotating turns at mums’ homes and pre-arranged places. Cost: FREE Please Contact: Victoria Chyba at victoriachyba@gmx.de Telephone at 0535-030-5576 to be added to this group.

Toddlers (2,5 +) When: Every Tuesday Time: 10am-12pm Location: Rotating turns at mums’ homes and pre-arranged places. Cost: FREE Please contact Dawn Biyashev at dancemachine3@gmail.com or telephone at 0541 302 3047.

International Pre-Schools & Centers Playgroups:

*Please Note: IWI’s Mums ‘n Kids Team organizes activities for you and your children to enjoy. We remind you that you are responsible for your child’s safety at all times. IWI cannot take responsibility for injury and extra cost incurred during any activity.

Pregnant & Infants (0-2 years of age) When: Varies Location: Rotating turns at mums’ homes and pre-arranged places. Cost: FREE Please contact Åsa Samuelsson at: asa.v.m.samuelsson@gmail.com to be added to this group.

Bosphorus International Pre-School (BIP), Emirgan www.bipschool.net Teacher organized activity, song & circle time, garden play (weatherpermitting). Coffee, tea, milk and cookies provided. When: Tuesdays Time: 10am-11:30 am Cost: FREE Age Group: 0-3 years of age Please contact Ms. Collette Laffan-Persembe at cpersembe@ bipschool.net or telephone at 0212-277-8444. *Note- please call on Mondays to reserve. There are only 10 openings every week. Please only ONE known adult per child.

September - October 2013

British International School (BIS) Zekeriyakoy, Etiler www.bis.k12.tr

Indoor and outdoor play (weather-permitting), followed by snack and music time. Known adult to stay and supervise child. Days and locations: Tuesdays and Thursdays in Zekeriyakoy; Wednesdays and Fridays in Etiler. Time: 9am-11am (both campuses) Cost: 10TL per session Age Group: 0-2 ½ years of age Please contact Mrs. Amanda Ilhan, Preschool and Primary Deputy Director at amandailhan@bis.k12.tr or telephone at 0212-202-7027 ext. 116

Elite Celebrations by Woodsview International Nursery & Pre-School, Tarabya www.woodsviewpreschool.com

This is an international English-speaking playgroup. Each session includes a simple craft activity, refreshments (tea and coffee for the parents, fruit and cake) and music time. There’s a large selection of toys to play with each week. It’s a great place for babies, young children and their mothers, fathers and caregivers to get to know each other. Come along and join in the fun! When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday & Fridays Time: 10:30am-12:30 pm Cost: 480TL Age Group: 0-5 years of age Please contact Sharon Harding at Sharon@woodsviewpreschool.com or telephone at 0212-299-3906(-6765).

LOLA (Lots of Lovely Art) www.lotsoflovelyart.com

After-school workshops, Toddler art, Kinder art, Weekend workshops, holiday camps, themed birthday parties. There is a FREE English library, books and DVD’s that is available to the public every day EXCEPT for Sunday from 3pm-6pm. Weekly Schedule: Mondays: Toddler Art (2+) at 4pm. Wednesdays: Toddler Art (18months+) at 10 am & Art Workshops at 4pm. Thursdays: Toddler Art (18+ months) at 10 am; Kinderart (2+) at 4 pm. Fridays: Fine Art Workshops (age 7+) Saturdays: Themed Workshops

Play&Learn Level 3(10-16 months) : 09.00 - 09.45 Play&Learn Level 5 (22-28 months) :11.15 – 12.00 International Play & Learn classes every Friday: Play&Learn Level 4 (16-22 months) :10.00 - 10.45 Cost: 800 TL for 12 classes (IWI discount included) Gymboree members can also enjoy complimentary free-play times during the week. Non Gymboree members cost 30TL per hour. School Skills program (drop off) for the 2-3 year olds or 3-4 year olds. 10% discount on full year School skills program for IWI members. Music and Art classes are also available. Please contact : Esra Taşar, email: esratasar@gymboreeturkey.com or on 212-275-87-87

NEW! Full Circle Healing Doula List

Doulas who have completed the İçsel Doğum Doula Training: European Side: Dilek Özkan dilekozkan@outlook.com Oya Kürüm evaluna60@gmail.com Sibel Gözübüyük yogakidz@gmail.com Sima İbrahimiye simaibrahimiye@gmail.com Şaylan Yılmaz saylan.yilmaz@gmail.com Vera Anahmias vanahmias@gmail.com Asian Side: Damla Çeliktaban celikdamla@gmail.com Esra Demiröz esraedemiroz@gmail.com Zeynep Birinci Güler zbguler@gmail.com Doulas may be willing to travel to your location. For more detailed information about each doula, and on how a doula can support you, visit www.fullcirclehealing.org

IWI’s Mums ‘n’ Kids Team organizes activities for you and your children to enjoy. We remind you that you are responsible for your child’s safety at all times. IWI cannot take responsibility for injury and extra cost incurred during an activity.

Kindermusik at Play to Learn Pre-School www.playtolearn.com.tr

In Akatlar and Nişantaşı, offering different music classes. Village Program: 0-18months My Time Program: 18/30months Music & Me Program: 2-4 years of age Please contact Ms. Ozlem Hun at info@playtolearn.com.tr or telephone at 0212-352-3031 or 0532-237-2272.

GYMBOREE Play & Music 10% Discount for IWI member on Play & Learn classes in Ulus, Ortaköy branch. Please present your IWI membership card to claim your discount. www.gymboreeturkey.com Gymboree Play & Music has been fostering creativity and confidence in children ages 0-5 for over 30 years. Today there are over 550 locations in 30 countries, making us the global leader in early childhood development programs. Designed by experts, our age-appropriate activities help develop the cognitive, physical and social skills of children as they play. Our programs are also recognized for their unique approach to parent involvement—which encourages participation in and understanding of each child’s development International Play & Learn classes every Thursday: September - October 2013

groups & associations Alcoholics Anonymous / Al-Anon

Open AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings in English are held in the Union Han building on Istiklal Caddesi, Tünel, next to the Swedish Consulate at 6:45 every Monday, Wednesday, Friday (contact 0531 927 84 73). There is an Alanon meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursdays in the same location. On Sundays, there is an open AA meeting at 4:15 pm in Harbiye (contact 0539 606 0123). On the Asian side in Kadikoy, there are meetings at 6:00 pm on Thursdays and at 5:30 pm on Saturdays (contact 0537 433 8368). A full listing of all English-speaking AA meetings in Turkey with local contacts can be found on the AA Europe website: www.aa-europe.net

Asian Ladies of İstanbul

The Asian Ladies of İstanbul is a non-profit social group established over 20 years ago where ladies from East Asia living in İstanbul get together for various events and can feel at home while far from their original home. A members-only Facebook page is available for them where they can keep track of the latest monthly luncheons, news, events, photographs and relevant information pertaining to daily life in İstanbul, Turkey. Please contact the group leader, Kim Cakirkaya at kim.cakirkaya@gmail.com or 0533 463 6930 for further information.

ARIT (American Research Institute of Turkey)

The Friends of ARIT İstanbul, with branches in North America and Ankara, was established to support the ARIT in Turkey and carry out its scholarly activities. The İstanbul Friends run a year-round program of tours and lectures for members and guests. Membership is open to all interested residents of İstanbul. For further information: 0212 257 81 11.

AWl (American Women of İstanbul)

The AWI is a social network open to Americans, Canadians and spouses of U.S. or Canadian citizens living in İstanbul. The AWI provides social programs ranging from special interest groups to charities. If you’re a newcomer to İstanbul please contact our newcomers committee so you can start to feel at home in your new country. Contact: Robi Olsun (ozgunduz@ usa.net) or Linda Caldwell (linda@delikiz.com) or please contact us at awiistanbul@gmail.com

Belgian Friends of İstanbul

The Belgian Friends of İstanbul help Belgian newcomers to feel at home and make friends quickly. We gather together on a regular basis during a dinner, drink, day at the beach or at the museum, and try to keep our traditions alive like the annual St. Nicholas party for the kids, New Year’s Dinner, Easter brunch. We have our own Facebook page on which members exchange useful info about job opportunities, housing, babysitting, Belgian cultural events in İstanbul, etc.Contact Nathalie Bevernaegie, bfistanbul@gmail.com, www. bfistanbul.be

British Community Council

The British Community council (founded 1942) supports ten pensioners and local charities by its fundraising events. Helpers and new members of the BCC always welcome. www.bccistanbul.org, email: chairman©bccistanbul. org or phone 0212 293 59 22 or 0533 217 12 45.

Boy Scouts I Cub Scouts

The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America is a youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. All boys in grades I - 5 (ages 6 -10) holding a foreign passport are welcome to join Cub Scouts. Older boys (ages II - 18), with foreign passports are welcome to join Boy Scouts. Activities include hiking and camping. Contact: Patricia Lasonde 0216 539 0682, email: plasonde@superonline.com or Vicki Gunay 0216 371 00 71, email: vgunay@superonline.com or mekumcu©superonline. com. www.scouting.org

Bridge Group - All Levels

Our bridge group meets on Fridays at 11a.m. All levels of bridge players are welcome. Please contact Sandra at (212) 257-9781 or 0532-483--5319

CHICAS -Spanish Speaking Women of İstanbul

A group open to all ladies who speak our language, or would like to practice it. We have lots of fun, hilarious Latin parties, and last but not least, cultural venues. Come on, jump on in, you wonâ€™t regret it! Contact: Ninoska Gutierrez Sierra 0533 651 35 81 , Norma Maranges 0532 314 29 34, Lorena Martinez 0533 388 63 09 e-mail: chicasestambul@yahoo.com.mx It has also an own blog: http://chicasestambul.blogspot.com/ and it's in Facebook under "Chicas Estambul".

Circolo Roma

The Italian Association organizes several activities, such as rithmic gymnastic for girls, cooking classes, drawing and painting, yoga, salsa dance, Italian and Turkish conversation, sale of Italian Books,Italian Cinema and more and more. The wonderfull liberty hall can be used for private parties and conferences upon contribution. Please contact info@circoloroma.com

Comunita Italiana

For information contact: Armanda Campaner armandacampaner@ttnet. net.tr (0212) 232 13 51, Beatrice Ghianda 05322118033 or Paola Maresia 05322118033

Die Bruecke

DIE BRUECKE ("THE BRIDGE") is a platform for the German speaking community. It was founded in 1989 to serve the needs of a steadily growing community. It is not a German club; it is open for everybody who speaks German. DIE BRUECKE issues a monthly newsletter. Different gatherings, charities, information concerning everyday life, bi-national education, help with bureaucracy and immigration laws in Turkey are covered as well as assistance to newcomers. Contact:. Tel. +90 212 458 9850. Web-page: www. bruecke-istanbul.org, email: info@bruecke-istanbul.org

NVI- Dutch speaking people in İstanbul

The Dutch Club İstanbul is a group of people who like to keep typical Dutch festivities alive, for people who have connection to Holland, who like to meet up with Dutch speaking people. On a monthly basis we organize a get together. Among the festivitieswe do the typical celebrations like Sinterklass (5 December) and Koninginnedag (Queens day). For further information and detailscheck our website www.nv-istanbul.org or contact: secretariaat@ nv-istanbul.org Mariska Steenkamer 0530 828 65 65.

DNSI - The Dutch School of Istanbul

At The Dutch School of Istanbul we give Dutch language and cultural lessons to students who have at least one parent with a Dutch nationality. The students from 4 to 18 years old are being taught primary and secondary education. For further information please check our website: www. nlschoolistanbul.org, or contact nlschool@gmail.com

Fransız Fakirhanesi - Little Sisters of the Poor Contact: Mother Mary psdptr@gmaıl.com 0212 296 46 08.

FOCI (Friends of Contemporary İstanbul)

Working with the international community in promoting the growth and development of contemporary art, the Friends of Contemporary İstanbul aim to enrich the rising art scent in Turkey and to contribute to the cultural life of İstanbul. For further information, please contact jasmine.taranto@ gmail.com TeI:+90 532 687 78 99

September - October 2013

Friends of India Association (FOIA)

The Friends of India Association ( FOIA) is a registered group formed to facilitate Indians in İstanbul to connect through various social events. Our aim is to keep the spirit of India and Indian culture alive by organising various festivals and activities through the year. If you are a newcomer to İstanbul and would like to know more andjoin the association, please contact any of the following: Jugnu Saglik jugnusaglik@yahoo.com, Ambili ramachandran.ambili@gmail.com, Diya khera.diya@gmail.com or Gayatri at chopra.gayatri@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook as İstanbul Indian community (FOIA).

Girls Scouts I Brownies I Daises

The Girls Scouts of the USA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to helping all girls everywhere build character and gain skills for success in the real world. In an accepting and nurturing environment, and in partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop strong values, leadership skills, social conscience and conviction about their own potential and selfworth. Daisies (ages 5 - 6), Brownies (ages 6-8) and Juniors (ages 8 and above). THE IWI IS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THIS GROUP “ please email website@iwi-tr.org to update this group.

InterNations

InterNations is an organization where global minded people have the opportunity to network and exchange valuable tips and topics regarding expatriate subjects. Twice a month we organize events and provide our members to meet and network. For further information, please check our website http://www.internations.org

İstanbul Accueil

Welcomes French speaking newcomers in İstanbul. We publish a monthly newsletter with many activity groups (scrabble, bridge, baby groups, cooking, etc.) Our common language is French and all French speaking women are welcome! www.istanbulaccueil.org, e-mail: istaccueil@gmail. com

Scrabble Group

The scrabble Group has been meeting fortnightly on Tuesdays for the past 25 years. Members take turns at hosting events at their home, providing light refreshments for the group. Newcomers are welcome. No specific knowledge or skill is required, besides an interest in the game and in meeting new people. Contact Waltraud Erkut 0212 265 0700 for all things Turkey. Here you can find a lively group of people who discuss everything about Turkey, network and organize social events.

SED (Society for the Education of Social Responsibilities)

SED was founded 2001 to make a change in the way animals are treated in Turkey. SED’s mission is the enlightenment of humans for the protection of other living beings. SED has been a pioneer in Turkey in developing a program for the adoption of Street animals and cooperates with municipalities in order to promote humane treatment of animals. Contact Big Dog Yuli 0532 3148238, Kit Kat Rob 0542 423 0633, or Cat Lady Leyla 0555 404 3113; email: sahiplenelim@sed-tr.org or on the web at www. sed-tr org

South Africans in İstanbul

Please contact esbie@hotmail.com if you are interested in joining an informal group of expatriate South-Africans.

Speech Bubbles

Is an international group aiming to perform high-quality Is an international group aiming to perform high-quality musical theater and donating the income to NGO’s supporting children and education. Speech Bubbles is composed of amateur and professional dancers, singers and musicians from II countries. Contact Tom Godfrey 0532 736 7702; www. speechbubbles.org

Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Luso Brasileiro

Looking for the support of other parents of children with special needs and additional resources for your child? Please contact Carol Crous for more information on 0533 730 7148 or 0212 2239700.

The İstanbul Ottomans Rugby Club

SWEA (Swedish Women Educational Association)

Portuguese speaking group. Contact : lsabel ponte Gulpan 0212 669 4943 or 0532 274 1653. Practice every Saturday afternoon at the Dikilitaş Spor Kulübü in Beşiktaş (directions available at www.ottomansrugby.com).Players of all ages (14+) and levels of fitness welcome, including ladies for our newly formed Ottomans Women Rugby Club. Please contact Özer Önkal at +90 533 482 6262 or email: ozer.ali.onkal@ottomansrugby.com or ozer212@yahoo. com

Patchwork Group

Contact Cynthia Royce 0536 348 4086,cynthroyce@hotmail.com

PAWI

The Professional American Women of İstanbul, is a network of American/ Canadian women and spouses of Americans/Canadians living in İstanbul. PAWI strives to empower and support members by promoting professional and personal growth. Members inspire each other to achieve and share success. PAWI meetings are held the second Saturday of each month. Each meeting features a guest speaker, and locations alternate between the European and Asian sides. Contact info@pawistanbul.com or visit www. pawistanbul.com

Photo Club of İstanbul

The Photo Club of İstanbul organizes photography classes and workshops, monthly photo treks, and other activities for photographers of all levels of experience. Membership is free and is open to anyone with an interest in photography. Beginners are welcome. Please send an e-mail to photoclubofistanbul@gmail.com to request an application form.

Scouts of America in Istanbul

Boy Scouts of America in Istanbul - Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts offer a wide range of activities including hiking, camping, physical fitness, citizenship, collecting and much more. Cub Scouts for boys ages 7 (first grade) to 11 (fifth grade) please contact Corrie Haxton for more information at haxton@cameronhaxton.com. Boy Scouts for boys ages 11 to 18, please contact troop1453@hotmail.com. The troop 1453 website is at troop1453. ScoutLander.com. A good informational website about the Scouting Program can be found at beascout.scouting.org

September - October 2013

A world-wide network for Swedish or Swedish-speaking women with a chapter in İstanbul. Contact jessica.lundgren@jlu-prod.com

IWI Tennis Group

If you enjoy playing tennis...get ready! The IWI Tennis Group is now forming and times and days have yet to be scheduled but play will take place at Torch Tennis in Tarabya. If you are interested in joining please contact Kenan Dündar at kenandundar911@hotmail.com or (0535) 390-4983 with your name, telephone number and email address. Teams will be based on skill level and we welcome all players from beginners to intermediate and advanced.

Toastmasters International-İstanbul Chapter

The English speaking İstanbul Toastmasters club is the only local branch of Toastmasters International, an organization that helps its members improve their communication and leadership skills in a supportive environment. ITM meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 19:3021:30 at the Metro Park Hotel in Taksim. Guests are welcome to attend two meetings free of charge. For further information contact: Madeleine Pelletier, Vice-President Education 0535 227 1074 (vp- education@ istanbultoastmasters.org) or Alper Rozanes, Vice-President Membership, 0532 243 3753 (vpmembership@istanbultoastmasters. org).

Union Church of Istanbul

Is an international, inter-denominational church that offers services in English. Please contact Elaine Van Rensburg 0212 244 5763 * Please check our website www.iwi-tr.org for updates to this page. If you represent a group and want your group updated or listed on these pages, e-mail website@iwi-tr.org. These pages are for your information only; the IWI does not accept any responsibility regarding these groups or their activities.

IWI