Day 3.
Syrian Elite school. Part 1.
On day 3 myself, Matt, Lorraine and Dean from Edinburgh cares / step in my shoes and Rosa, who helps me run help the Syrians in Istanbul, went to Syrian Elite school in Karagunluk, somewhere right in the heart of a poor conservative neighborhood in Fatih, Istanbul. Leaving all health and safety rules back in the UK last week we all piled into a taxi, Lorraine Dean and Matt squashed in the back with me perched on Matt's lap, of course, we took a selfie.
After navigating our way through winding streets, me thinking Id never find this place again, we get out of the taxi and Rosa leads us down a small side alley and up some large steps painted lilac. We walk straight into the schools play ground and meet Mr Khalad, the schools owner/ head master. Straightaway I was surprised, so was Lorraine, we both looked at each other and said, ' wow this is beautiful'
Children of all ages were playing outside on swings, slides, rocking horses and running around a small wishing well. We already loved the place and we had only just set eyes on the garden. Mr Khaled led us into his office and ordered us tea, we were given some weather we wanted some or not.
Mr khalad went onto explain how he had set up this school. He never intended for it to be a school. He opened almost 4 years ago, he opened the school as a safe place for Syrian refugees to stay, a shelter so to say. The children were desperate to learn so a class made its self, consisting of around 10 students. Soon enough more local syrians were hearing of Mr Khalad and this school he had set up, word spread like wild fire, and more kids were turning up daily, now almost 4 years on Mr khalad has almost 400 students.
Only 10 % of his students pay their school fees because the parents just can not afford it. The school costs £24 per month, per child. Nothing really to you and I, but a lot to a family who lost everything in the war and can rarely find work in a new country. Mr khalad desperately needs long term help with funds for the school, he fears he may have to shut down, as he doesnt have the money to keep the school open and keep all the children in education. The teachers, qualified teachers from Syria, are not getting paid, they also need a wage to survive.
Mr khalad explained a lot more ( more to come in following posts, be patient people, my fingers hurt haha) before giving us a little tour of the school. We entered one classroom and all the children stood up, sang us a brief song in arabic, and to be honest, treated us like royalty. They were so respectful, polite, welcoming and happy to see us. I introduced myself in English, then Turkish, asking who spoke turkish, many of them chatted back to me in turkish.
One young boy, probably the cheekiest in the class, caught my attention.
' Abla, neden türkçe biliyor musunuz? ' My big sister, why do you know turkish ?'
'Bodrum öğrenilen nedeni' ' I learnt it in Bodrum'
'Kaç yaşındasınız' I asked him how old he was, he replied telling me he was 11. I asked him how old he thought I was.
Yeah yeah Anastasia, dont ask a kid how old you look.
'30 / 35 yaşında olan' ' Your about 30 or 35'
Great, now I am gonna paint this kids face and send him home covered in glitter.
Part 2 coming soon.
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