Arriving for the first time in Istanbul before three months ago I was “yabancı” and my first destination where I should go was “Balat”. I came in Istanbul as “yabancı”, but since I entered in the narrow streets of this historic İstanbul neighborhood I have experienced some strange feelings of shared energy and identity,… I felt myself like at home…

Together with the other volunteers from the “Mavi Kalem” İ am preparing creative workshops for the children who are living in this neighborhood, helping them to create different types of handicrafts. I am also taking part in one interactive storytelling atelier where children are encouraged to develop their own storytelling talents.