Anneme Beyaz Elbiseler Giydireceğim - Türkiye İş Kurumu

T.C. 

ÇALIŞMA VE SOSYAL GÜVENLİK BAKANLIĞI 

TÜRKİYE İŞ KURUMU GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ 

DEZAVANTAJLI GRUPLARIN 

‹ST‹HDAMA G‹R‹fi H‹ZMETLER‹N‹ GEL‹fiT‹RME 

P‹LOT PROJES‹ 

KATILIMCILAR KONUfiUYOR: 

““AANNNNEEMMEE BBEEYYAAZZ EELLBB‹‹SSEELLEERR 

GG‹‹YYDD‹‹RREECCEE⁄⁄‹‹MM……”” 

‹lknur ÜSTÜN 

S.Nazik IfiIK 

Türkiye ‹fl Kurumu Genel Müdürlü¤ü (‹fiKUR) 

Avrupa E¤itim Vakf› (AEV) 

Ankara, Mart 2006 

K–Q 

TSE - ISO - EN 

9000

Kurum Yay›n No : 334 

Bas›m Tarihi : Mart 2006 

Bask› ve Renk Ayr›m› : An›l Matbaac›l›k Ltd. fiti. (0.312) 229 37 41 - 42 

www.anilmatbaacilik.com

ÖNSÖZ 

Kurumumuz taraf›ndan, Avrupa ‹stihdam Stratejisi hedefleri do¤rultusunda, istihdam 

politikalar›n›n güçlendirilmesi amac›yla, 2006 y›l› için dezavantajl› hedef gruplara yönelik olarak 

Avrupa Komisyonundan talep edilmifl olan "Aktif ‹stihdam Tedbirleri ve Yerel Düzeyde ‹fiKUR’a Teknik 

Destek Projesi" ne destek olmak üzere, Avrupa E¤itim Vakf›’na önerilen Projenin, kal›c› ve referans 

niteli¤inde olmas›n› hedefledi¤imiz iki kitab›n› sizlere sunuyoruz. 

Bu Projede, dezavantajl› gruplar›n iflgücü piyasas›na kazand›r›lmas›na yönelik ulusal istihdam 

politikalar› ve eylem planlar›n›n gelifltirilmesine örnek olacak bir çal›flma yöntemi uyguland›. Proje 

yararlan›c›s› olarak seçilen grubun birden çok dezavantaj› bünyesinde tafl›mas›, Kurumumuzun 

öncelikle Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu ve Milli E¤itim Bakanl›¤›yla politika oluflturma 

düzeyinde iflbirli¤i yapmas›na neden oldu. Di¤er yandan kamu kurumu olarak sivil toplum kurulufllar› 

ile birlikte çal›flman›n bir örne¤i verildi. 

Projenin Kurumumuzun yeni bir dezavantajl› grup ile tan›flmas›n› sa¤lamas› yan›nda, verilen 

e¤itimlerin, kad›nlar›n iflgücü piyasas›nda daha fazla ve güçlü olarak yer almalar›n› sa¤layacak meslek 

e¤itimi ile birlikte, ifl ve meslek dan›flmanl›¤›ndan toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine uzanan bir e¤itim 

program›n› kapsamas› bundan sonra bu tür gruplar için yap›lacak çal›flmalara yeni bir ufuk açm›flt›r. 

Di¤er yandan, elinizde bulunan "Kat›l›mc›lar Konufluyor" kitab›n› Projenin di¤er ç›kt›s› olan "Proje 

El Kitab›"yla birlikte incelemek, dezavantajl› gruplara neden farkl› yaklafl›mlar göstermemiz gerekti¤ini 

ve bu fark› yok etmek için gerekli ipuçlar›n› grubun kendi sözcükleri içinde verecektir. 

Projemize kat›lan gençlerimize, Avrupa E¤itim Vakf›’na ve çal›flman›n yürütülmesinde eme¤i geçen 

kurum, kurulufl, sivil toplum örgütü ve kiflilere ‹fiKUR ad›na teflekkür ediyorum. Yap›lan çal›flmalar›n 

bundan sonra yap›lacak benzer çal›flmalar için yararl› bir örnek oluflturmas›n› diliyorum. 

III 

Nam›k ATA 

Genel Müdür V.

ÖNSÖZ 

2006 y›l› için Avrupa Komisyonundan talep edilmesi tasarlanan bir destek önerisine 

haz›rl›k amac›yla, ‹fiKUR, 2005 y›l›nda, Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu 

yurtlar›nda yetifltirilmifl bir grup k›z ö¤rencinin rehberlik, dan›flmanl›k ve e¤itim gibi aktif 

istihdam tedbirlerinden yararlanmas›na yönelik bir proje haz›rlam›fl ve projenin uygulamas›na 

geçmek için Avrupa E¤itim Vakf›n›n yard›m›n› istemifltir. 

Projenin hedefi ‹fiKUR ve personelinin asa¤›daki konularda kurumsal yap›lanma 

kapasitesini güçlendirmektir: 

- ‹fiKUR’un kurumlararas› iflbirli¤i ve politika üretme yetene¤ini güçlendirmek; 

- Belirli dezavantajl› gruplara hedeflendirilmifl hizmetleri gelifltirmek; 

- Özel hedef guruplar› için aktif iflgücü piyasas› önlemlerini kolaylaflt›rmak ve 

de¤erlendirmek. 

Projenin nihai hedefi politika ö¤renimini kolaylaflt›rmak ve bu pilot giriflimden ö¤renilen 

dersleri di¤er hedef gruplara yönelik faaliyetlere ve (Avrupa Komisyonuna 2006 y›l›nda 

önerilecek olan) daha büyük ölçekli programlara aktarmakt›r. 

Bu proje, 2004 y›l›nda AEV deste¤i ile Konya’da yürütülen, iflgücü piyasas›n›n taleplerini 

analiz eden projenin deneyimleri üzerine infla edilmifl, mesleki rehberlik ve e¤itimi içermifl ve 

sosyal taraflar›n yak›n iflbirli¤i ile yürütülmüfltür. 

Elinizdeki kitap proje kat›l›mc›lar›n›n bak›fl› aç›s›ndan projenin etkilerini de¤erlendirmeyi 

amaçlamaktad›r. 

IV 

Avrupa E¤itim Vakf› (AEV)

‹Ç‹NDEK‹LER 

G‹R‹fi ............................................................................................................................................VII 

B‹R‹NC‹ BÖLÜM....................................................................................................................................11 

YYookkssuull ÇÇooccuukkllaarr››,, YYuurrtt ÇÇooccuukkllaarr››,, KK››zz ÇÇooccuukkllaarr›› 

YYookkssuull ÇÇooccuukkllaarr›› 

- Önce yoksulluk… 

- Çözülmüfl ya da pamuk ipli¤iyle ba¤l› aile ba¤lar› 

- Yoksul do¤dun yoksul mu öleceksin? 

YYuurrtt ÇÇooccuukkllaarr›› 

- Herkes kendi yolundan yürüyüp gelir… 

• Her yaflta gelen var… 

• Nedenler… 

• Yönlendirenler: Ö¤retmen, müdür, imam, muhtar… 

• Nas›l geldi¤ini bilen de var, bilmeyen de… 

- Aileden kopman›n ac›s›: Al›flmak zaman ister… 

- Yurt çocu¤u “devletin çocu¤u”, aileyse “hayali ve s›cak bir yuva” 

- Herkesin aile iliflkisi kendine… 

- ‹kame duygular: “Kimsesizlik ve sahipsizlik” yerine “birbirine sahip ç›kma”… 

- Toplumla iliflkiler sanc›l›, ac›l›, s›n›rl›… 

- “Yurt çocu¤u” s›fat›n›n yükünü kim kald›racak? 

- K›zlar için yurdun alternatifi: okulsuzluk, erken evlenme,çok çocuk… 

- Yurdun imkanlar› aileninkilerden hayal kadar uzakta… 

- Yurt mücadeleci yapar, ama ekme¤in fiyat›n› ö¤retmez… 

- ‹yi ya da kötü iz b›rakanlar: Yurt çal›flanlar› 

KK››zz ÇÇooccuukkllaarr›› 

- K›z olmak, hep kontrol alt›nda olmak… 

- fiiddet, her yerde fliddet… 

- “Çal›flmak kad›na güvence ve güç sa¤lar” inanc› 

‹K‹NC‹ BÖLÜM......................................................................................................................................27 

‹‹ssttiihhddaamm:: UUmmuuttllaarr,, BBeekklleennttiilleerr,, SSoorruunnllaarr…… 

NNeeddeenn ççaall››flflmmaakk iissttiiyyoorrllaarr?? 

- Çal›flmak, kendin için, bilmek için, deneyim için… 

- Kendisi ve ailesi için çal›flmak isteyenler 

- Devlete ve Kurum’a katk›da bulunmak isteyenler… 

V

NNeerreeddee,, nnaass››ll ççaall››flflmmaakk iissttiiyyoorrllaarr?? 

Hayal ettikleri ifller hizmet sektöründe… 

MMeevvccuutt iiflfl ddeenneeyyiimmlleerrii,, eennffoorrmmaall sseekkttöörr aa¤¤››rrll››kkll›› 

- Çal›flma alanlar› çeflitli 

- Genellikle yasal standartlar›n d›fl›nda çal›flm›fllar… 

• Kurals›zl›k esas: Düflük ve düzensiz ücret, sigorta ve güvence yok… 

• Cinsel taciz ve taciz tehdidi alt›nda olmak 

• ‹flyerinde cinsel taciz çok flikayet imkan› ise az… 

• Müflteriye cinsel içerikli mesaj vermek… 

- ‹yi iflveren “bana iyi davranan iflveren”dir… 

OOnnllaarr›› ddeezzaavvaannttaajjll›› kk››llaann nnee?? 

- Kurumsal ifl arama kanallar›n› bilmiyor, kullanam›yorlar… 

- Güvenceli ifllere eriflememek: “Arkam yok” 

- Meslek dan›flmanl›¤› hizmetlerinden yararlanmam›fl olmak… 

- Rekabette avantaj önemli: “Herkes lise mezunu, herkes…” 

- “Erkek olsayd›n, al›rd›k.” 

- Yine yurt çocuklu¤u, yine önyarg›lar, yine sahipsizlik, tacize aç›kl›k 

- Çal›flma hayat›n› ve haklar›n› bilmemek… 

ÜÇÜNCÜ BÖLÜM ................................................................................................................................39 

PPrroojjeeyyee ‹‹lliiflflkkiinn BBeekklleennttiilleerr,, PPrroojjee’’ddeenn EEllddee EEddiilleennlleerr 

‹‹fifiKKUURR’’llaa bbuu PPrroojjee ssaayyeessiinnddee ttaann››flfltt››llaarr…… 

PPrroojjee’’ddeenn nnaass››ll hhaabbeerrddaarr oolldduullaarr?? 

YYeerreell ttooppllaanntt››llaarrddaa ttaann››flfltt››kk…… 

SSoonnrraa,, uummuutt kk››rraann,, uuzzuunn bbeekklleeyyiiflfl…… 

NNeeddeenn kkaatt››lldd››llaarr?? 

NNaass››ll ggeellddiilleerr?? 

KKeennddiinniizzii nnaass››ll öözzeell hhiisssseeddeerrssiinniizz?? 

““BBiirrbbiirriimmiizzii aannllaadd››kk,, aayynn›› yyeerrddeenn ggeellmmiiflfliizz”” 

VVee ee¤¤iittiimmlleerr…… 

““HHeerr ggeennçç iiflfl hhaayyaatt››nnaa aatt››llmmaaddaann öönnccee ggüüççlleennmmee ee¤¤iittiimmiinnddeenn ggeeççmmeellii”” 

fifiiimmddii hhaayyaattaa ddaahhaa bbiirr hhaazz››rrllaarr…… 

VI

G‹R‹fi 

“…Onlar›n bilmesini istemiyoruz ve hala da bilmiyorlar. Biz yurtta yat›l› kald›k, 

öyle... Asl›nda ben bunu söylemek de isterim. Hiç kimse bunun tam anlam›yla 

neden, yani yetifltirme yurtlar›nda kimler kal›yor, neden kal›yor, niçin, ne amaçla 

kald›klar›n› bilmiyor. Erzincan’da bile “özel mi oras›, para m› ödüyorsunuz”, öyle 

tuhaf tuhaf sorular soruyorlard›. Veya “yok kimsesizler kal›yor”, deniyordu. 

Söylemek... ‹flte: “Yurtta kald›n, nerede kald›n?”; “Erzincan’da.” “Yetifltirme 

yurdunda kald›m”, diyemedim ve her seferinde biri bunu sordu¤unda kalbim küt 

küt at›yor, s›rt›mdan kaynar sular dökülüyor ve hemen ne söyleyece¤imi flafl›r›yordum 

yani. Benim için hiçbir sak›ncas› yok. Bunu söylerim, anlat›r›m, ama hiç kimse 

bunu tam anlam›yla anlam›yor, farkl› gözle bak›yorlar...” 

Yurt çocu¤u olmay› saklamak zorunda kalman›n s›k›nt›s›n› bu cümlelerle anlat›yor bir kat›l›mc›m›z. Onun 

gibi yetifltirme yurtlar›nda büyümüfl 70 genç k›z ile e¤itim döneminde yapt›¤›m›z yüzyüze görüflmelerde 

yoksullu¤un, yurtta büyümenin, genç k›zl›¤›n hayatta ve iflgücü piyasas›nda nas›l, hangi dezavantajlar› yaratt›¤›n› 

arad›k. Zaten zor olan hayat›n bu dezavantajlarla nas›l daha da zorlaflt›¤›n› duyduk, gördük. Biz, Proje sayesinde 

gördüklerimizi ilgililere de gösterelim istedik. Ve bu kitapla, kendi anlatt›klar›yla yoksul, yurtta büyümüfl bir genç 

k›z olman›n ne demek oldu¤unu, iflgücü piyasas›na giriflte ne gibi sorunlarla karfl› karfl›ya b›rakt›¤›n› göstermeye 

çal›flt›k. Çünkü, bu kitap flu soruya aç›klama getirmeyi amaçl›yor: NNeeddeenn ddeezzaavvaannttaajjll›› ggrruuppllaarraa ffaarrkkll›› yyaakkllaaflfl››mmllaarr 

ggeelliiflflttiirrmmeekk ggeerreekkiirr?? 

Projenin iki temel kavram› vard›: DDeezzaavvaannttaajjll›› oollmmaakk ve iissttiihhddaamm. 

Cinsiyet eflitli¤i ve dezavantajl› gruplar›n iflgücü piyasas›na girifllerine yönelik aktif istihdam tedbirleri amaçl› 

bu Proje ile ‹fiKUR, özellikle kamu kurum ve kurulufllar›, sosyal taraflar ve sivil toplum kurulufllar› ve yerel 

iflverenlerle kurumlar aras› iflbirli¤ini art›rmay›, tan›mlanm›fl dezavantajl› gruplara odaklanm›fl özel amaçl› hizmet 

sa¤lamay› ve gelifltirmeyi, hedef gruba yönelik aktif istihdam önlemlerini tasarlamay›, denemeyi ve ilk sonuçlar›n› 

de¤erlendirmeyi ve baflka gruplara da uygulanabilir niteliklerde bir istihdam hizmetlerini gelifltirme önerisini 

ortaya ç›karmay› hedeflemektedir. Bu Proje, biri ‹fiKUR’dan (Ayflen KARAKULAK) di¤eri sivil toplumdan (S.Nazik 

IfiIK) iki kad›n›n, hayallerin gerçe¤e dönüflebilece¤i inanc›yla ç›kt›klar› yolun ürünü. 

Projeler, uygulayan teknik ekibi, hedef ald›¤› kitle ile insanlar için ve insanlarla bafllar. Eksi¤i veya fazlas›, 

yanl›fllar› ve do¤rular› ile bir flekilde tamamlan›rlar. Bu kitab›, bu Proje içinde karfl›laflt›¤›m›z insan hikayelerinin 

unutulmamas›, Proje’nin amac› ile yo¤rulmas› ve Proje’nin bu insanlar için oldu¤unun vurgulanmas› için 

tasarlad›k, haz›rlad›k. Bu Proje bafl›ndan itibaren gerek ‹fiKUR, Milli E¤itim Bakanl›¤› ve SHÇEK’ten gerekse sivil 

toplumdan uzman kiflilerin çeflitli biçim ve düzeylerde katk›lar›yla yürüdü. Bu kitap da bu katk›lardan pay›n› ald›. 

Çal›flma Grubu olarak Proje boyunca yapt›¤›m›z de¤erlendirme toplant›lar›ndaki tart›flmalar›m›z da kitaba ›fl›k 

tuttu. Kitab›m›z Proje sürecinin görünmeyen arka plan›ndan kesitler sunmay›, insan hayat›na nas›l, ne kadar 

dokundu¤unu kat›l›mc›lar›n anlat›lar›ndan bir ölçüde de olsa göstermeyi amaçl›yor. Ayn› zamanda, kat›l›mc›lar›n 

Proje’ye nas›l bir anlam yükledi¤ini, beklenti ve umutlar›n›n, kayg›lar›n›n neler oldu¤unu görmeye, bak›fl 

aç›lar›n›n ve yaklafl›mlar›n›n kendi geçmifllerinden ve içinde yer ald›klar› sosyal ortamdan nas›l etkilendi¤ini anlamaya 

çal›fl›yor. 

Yöntemimiz, yar› yap›land›r›lm›fl görüflme formu ile yüzyüze görüflmeydi. Genel çerçevemize ba¤l› kalmakla 

birlikte, konuflman›n yönünü görüfltü¤ümüz kiflinin anlat›lar›na göre belirledik. 

VII

Kitaba temel oluflturan yüzyüze görüflmeler, Proje’nin Çal›flma Grubu’nda da yer alan üç uzman/dan›flman 

kad›n (‹lknur ÜSTÜN, Gül ERDOST ve S.Nazik IfiIK) taraf›ndan, kat›l›mc›lar›m›z›n kald›¤› otelde gerçeklefltirildi. 

Proje’nin kat›l›mc›lar› olan, Sosyal Hizmetler ve Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu’nda (SHÇEK) yetifltirme 

yurtlar›nda büyümüfl, 17-29 yafl aras›nda, baz›s› hala yurtlarda kalmakta baz›s› ayr›lm›fl toplam 70 genç k›zla 

derinlemesine görüflmeler yapt›k. Kat›l›mc›lardan e¤itimi tamamlamadan ayr›lan ikisiyle görüflme yap›lamad›. 

Görüflme formumuz befl ana bölümden olufluyordu: Kiflisel bilgiler, yurt dönemine iliflkin bilgiler, istihdama 

iliflkin bilgiler, Proje serüveni ve son de¤erlendirmeler. Böylece, hem kendileri, aileleri, yurt yaflam›, çal›flma 

yaflam› ve buna iliflkin bilgileri, Proje ile iliflkileri ve de¤erlendirmeleri hakk›nda, hem de k›z çocu¤u olman›n, yurt 

çocu¤u olman›n ne oldu¤u, ücretli çal›flman›n kendisi için ne anlama geldi¤i, k›z çocu¤u olmakla yaflad›klar› 

aras›nda nas›l bir iliflki kurduklar› hakk›nda bilgi edindik. Yaflam öykülerini dinlemek genellikle kald›r›lmas› güç 

bir a¤›rl›k iken, Proje serüvenleri heyecanl› bir umuttu. 

Görüflmelerin tamam›, Proje’de, ard arda Haziran-A¤ustos 2005 döneminde üç ayr› grup halinde Ankara’da 

gerçeklefltirilen e¤itim dönemlerinde gerçeklefltirildi. Her dönemde çeflitli illerden gelen kat›l›mc›lar›n Ankara’daki 

ilk haftas›n› bizlerle tan›fl›p, yak›nlaflabilmeye ve belirli bir düzeyde güven iliflkisi kurmaya b›rakt›k. Bu nedenle, 

bu kitaba esas olan görüflmelere e¤itim döneminin ikinci haftas›ndan önce bafllamad›k. 

Her görüflme 40 dakika ile 3 saat aras›nda de¤iflen sürelerde oldu. Ço¤unlu¤u ortalama 1-1,5 saat sürdü. 

Görüflmelerin, 47’sinde ses kay›t cihaz› kulland›k, 23’ünde sadece not tutabildik. Ses kay›t cihaz›, baz› 

görüflmecilerde bafllang›çta s›k›nt› yaratt›; fakat, görüflmenin ilerleyen dakikalar›nda bu s›k›nt›y› att›klar›n› ve 

rahatl›kla birçok fleyi konuflabildiklerini gördük. 2-3 görüflmeci kay›t cihaz›ndan ötürü rahat konuflamad›klar›n› 

söylediyse de, cihaz› kapatmam›z› da istemedi. Görüflmelerin ço¤unda kayda girmesini istemedikleri çok özel 

aç›klamalar s›ras›nda kay›t cihaz›n› kapatt›k. Özellikle yurda verilifl hikayeleri anlat›l›rken ve ailelerden söz 

edilirken yaflanan duygusal anlar, görüflmelerin kesintiye u¤rad›¤› zamanlar oldu. Bizim için de hiç kolay olmad›, 

hala da de¤il. 

Kat›l›mc›m›z genç k›zlara bu kitapta isimlerinin ve resimlerinin yer almas›n› nas›l karfl›layacaklar›n› hep 

sorduk. 1-2 kifli d›fl›nda hiçbiri s›cak bakmad›. Bu konuda çok temkinliydiler; çünkü, geçmifl yaflant›lar› yeterince 

rahats›z edici deneyimle doluydu. Kendileri için olmasa bile “d›flar›da bir hayat kurmufl abla, a¤abeylerinin 

hayat›n›n bundan etkilenmesi”nden kayg›lan›yorlard›. Yurt çocu¤u olman›n nas›l bir d›fllanma yaratabildi¤ine dair 

gözlemlerimiz biriktikçe, hakl› olduklar›na inand›k. Bu nedenle, bu kitapta görüfltü¤ümüz 70 k›z›n ad›na yer vermedik. 

Ama, biliyoruz ki, onlar bu kitab› okuduklar›nda, kendilerini bulacak, tan›yacaklard›r. 

Görüflmeler, e¤itimlerden kalan zamanlarda, kat›l›mc›lar›m›z için uygun olan saatlerde, önceden randevular 

belirlenerek ve bafl bafla yap›ld›. Böylece baz› görüflmeler sabah›n erken saatlerinde baz›s› gece mesailerinde 

gerçeklefltirilmifl oldu. Görüflmeler s›ras›nda kat›l›mc›lar, sadece sözlü ifadeyle de¤il beden diliyle de çok fley 

anlatt›lar; üzüldükleri, heyecanland›klar›, sevindikleri fleyler gibi, anlatmakta zorland›klar›, söylemek 

istemediklerini de elleri-kollar›, durufllar›, yüz ifadeleriyle anlatt›lar. Biz, gördüklerimizin çok az›n› bu kitaba 

yans›tabildik. 

Görüflmelerin çözümü (deflifresi), meflakkatli bir iflti. Çok uzun zaman ald›. Kat›l›mc›lar, onlara gizlilik 

kural›na uyaca¤›m›za söz verdi¤imiz için çok özel fleyler de anlatm›fllard›. Biz de, kaset çözümlerinde de gizlilik 

kural›ndan hiçbir flekilde taviz vermedik. ‹fiKUR’un bu konudaki hassasiyetine gerçekten teflekkür borçluyuz. 

Kitapta, bize az söz düfltü; çünkü esas olan kat›l›mc›lar›n kendi anlat›mlar› olsun istedik. Kitab›n ad›, bu 

nedenle ““KKaatt››ll››mmcc››llaarr KKoonnuuflfluuyyoorr:: AAnnnneemmee BBeeyyaazz EEllbbiisseelleerr GGiiyyddiirreeccee¤¤iimm”” . 

Görüflmelerin de¤erlendirilmesinde, önceden belirledi¤imiz yurt yaflam›, genç k›zl›k, çal›flma yaflam› temel 

izleklerimiz oldu. Kifliye özel tek tek durumlar› de¤il ortak sorun ve ihtiyaçlar› dikkate ald›k. Böylece, ilk 

bölümünde, “yoksul olmak, yurt çocu¤u olmak, k›z çocu¤u olmak”tan söz etmemiz gerekti. Çünkü, 

VIII

kat›l›mc›lar›m›z›n anlat›mlar› yoksulluk, genç olman›n deneyimsizli¤i, kurumda yetiflmifl olmak, k›z olmak gibi 

çefli tli dezavantajlara ve bunlarla iç içe geçmifl toplumsal d›fllanmaya ortak meseleler olarak vurgu yap›yordu. 

‹stihdama yönelik olan ikinci bölümde mevcut deneyimlerini, dezavantajlar›n›, ihtiyaçlar›n› göstermeye çal›flt›k. 

Üçüncü ve son bölümde ise, Proje serüvenlerine yer verdik. 

Proje’nin istihdam hedefine iliflkin sonuçlar›n› ne yaz›k ki bu kitaba yans›tamad›k. E¤itim dönemleri 

tamamland›ktan sonraki iliflkilerden, kamu sektöründeki ifl s›navlar›nda ve çeflitli ifl baflvurular›nda Proje 

kapsam›nda tüm bilgi ve deneyimlerden, özellikle de güçlenme e¤itiminden çok yararland›klar›n› ö¤rendik. 

‹llerde, ‹fiKUR ‹l Müdürlükleri ile iliflkilerinde neler yaflad›klar›n› ise ne yaz›k ki çok az izleyebildik. Gerek ‹l 

Müdürlüklerinin gerekse kat›l›mc›lar›m›z›n bu deneyimlerini izlemek ve de¤erlendirmek, eminiz ki çok ö¤retici, 

çok yararl› olacakt›. 

Sonuç olarak, bu kitapta amac›m›z, genellemeler yapmak de¤il, farkl›lara standart d›fl› araçlarla de¤mek 

gerekti¤ini görünür k›lmakt›. Kat›l›mc›lar›n kendi anlat›mlar›yla, dezavantajl› gruplara yönelik pilot bir istihdam 

projesinin s›n›rl› alan›nda projenin dokundu¤u insan› ve o insanla birlikte projenin kazand›¤› anlam›n› ortaya 

koymakt›. Çünkü projelerde özellikle de kamu projelerinde kat›l›mc›lar, bir noktadan sonra, genellikle, adeta 

görünmezleflirler. Oysa insanla iliflkili her fleyde, de¤di¤imiz insan›, ona de¤di¤imiz yeri, de¤me araçlar›m›z›, 

biçimimizi bilmek ve sorgulamak, yap›lan çal›flman›n benzer konularda çal›flanlara yol göstermesi aç›s›ndan önem 

tafl›r. Biz de, iinnssaann›› bbüüttüünnllüükk iiççiinnddee kkuuccaakkllaayyaann iissttiihhddaamm hhiizzmmeettlleerriinnii ttaarrtt››flflmmaayyaa bbiirr kkaapp›› aaççmmaakk istedik. Umar›z, 

küçük de olsa bu yönde bir katk› yapm›fl›zd›r. Çünkü bu kitap, kat›l›mc›lar›n Proje’nin öngördü¤ünden daha fazla 

psikolojik deste¤e ihtiyaçlar› oldu¤unu aç›kça ortaya koyuyor; ayn› zamanda da bu Proje’de yarat›lan atmosferin, 

yaklafl›m biçiminin, kendi bafl›na ne kadar de¤erli oldu¤unu gösteriyor. 

Biz iki kad›n el ele verdik, bu kitab› haz›rlad›k. Bu süreçte projenin çal›flma grubundaki arkadafllar›m›z›n 

hepsinden ilgi, destek, dostluk gördük. En çok da kat›l›mc›lar›m›zdan, görüflmelerde bizimle çal›flan Gül 

Erdost’tan ve her aflamada derdimize ortak olan Ayflen Karakulak’tan destek ald›k. Kat›l›mc›lar›m›z ne 

yapt›¤›m›z›, sayg›l› ve içten oldu¤umuzu alg›lad›lar, yapmaya çal›flt›¤›m›z›n hem kendilerine ve kendi kuflaklar›na 

hem de bundan sonra da yetifltirme yurtlar›ndan yetifleceklere yararl› olacak bir bafllang›ç olabilece¤ine 

inand›lar. Özüm Dinçer, görüflme kasetlerimizi h›zla ve özenle çözdü, zamanla yar›fl›m›zda bize yard›mc› oldu. 

Projede dinlediklerimizin yükünü üstümüzden alacak bir yöntem öngörülmemiflti. Bu nedenle bu yüke en yak›n 

çevremiz tan›k oldular, yani öncelikle ailelerimiz, efllerimiz ve çocuklar›m›z, sonra yak›n dostlar›m›z. Biz çok 

insana teflekkür borçluyuz. Yazd›klar›m›z› okuyup görüfllerini bizimle paylaflan ve metni biçimlendirmemizde 

katk›s›n› esirgemeyen ‹. Tayfun Üstün’ü, düflüncelerimizi ve gidifl yolumuzu paylafl›p ak›llar›ndan 

yararland›¤›m›z dostlar›m›z Serpil Sancar ve Aksu Bora’y› da burada anmak isteriz. 

IX 

‹lknur ÜSTÜN - S.Nazik IfiIK 

Ankara, Kas›m 2005

B‹R‹NC‹ BÖLÜM 

YYookkssuull ÇÇooccuukkllaarr››,, 

YYuurrtt ÇÇooccuukkllaarr››,, 


““……BBuurraaddaa kkeennddiimmii ççookk ggüüvveennddee hhiisssseeddiiyyoorruumm.. EEvviimmiizz yyookkttuu.. 66--77 yyaaflflllaarr››nnddaa eerrkkeekk 

kk››ll››¤¤››nnaa ggiirriipp dduuvvaarr ddiipplleerriinnddee yyaaflfl››yyoorrdduumm.. AAiilleemmiinn yyaann››nnaa aarraaddaa bbiirr ggiiddiiyyoorrdduumm.. BBaabbaamm 

ffeellççlliiyyddii.. BBiirr yy››ll öönnccee ööllddüü.. AAnnnneemm aakk››llddaann yyookkssuunn.. 33 eerrkkeekk,, 33 kk››zz kkaarrddeeflfliizz.. 33 ççooccuukk dd››flfl››nnddaa 

hheeppssii eennggeellllii.. YYuurrddaa 1133 yyaaflfl››nnddaa bbaaflflvvuurrdduumm.. EErrkkeekk yyuurrdduunnuunn yyaann››nnddaann ggeeççeerrkkeenn öö¤¤rreennddiimm.. 

SSHHÇÇEEKK ‹‹ll MMüüddüürrllüü¤¤üünnee ggiittttiimm vvee bbaaflflvvuurrdduumm;; iikkii yy››ll ssoonnrraa kkaabbuull eeddiillddiimm.. KKaabbuull eeddiillddii¤¤iimmddee 

mmuuttlluu oolldduumm.. GGüüvveennllii bbiirr yyeerrddee,, ss››ccaakk bbiirr yyuuvvaa vvee ss››ccaakk yyeemmeekk bbeennii mmuuttlluu eettttii.. OOkkuullaa 1100 

yyaaflfl››nnddaa bbaaflflllaadd››mm.. fifiiimmddii oorrttaa 33’’ee ggeeççttiimm.. ÇÇeekkttii¤¤iimm aacc››llaarr›› aannllaattmmaamm mmüümmkküünn ddee¤¤iill.. AAiilleemmii 

yyaann››mmaa aall››pp ss››ccaakk yyeemmeekklleerr yyaappaaccaa¤¤››mm.. ÖÖzzeelllliikkllee aannnneemmee bbeeyyaazz eellbbiisseelleerr ggiiyyddiirreeccee¤¤iimm.. HHeepp 

bbuunnuu hhaayyaall eeddiiyyoorruumm……””

12 

YYookkssuull ÇÇooccuukkllaarr›› 

Anneme Beyaz Elbiseler Giydirece¤im 

Yoksul çocu¤u olmak, yurt çocu¤u olmak ve k›z çocu¤u olmak üç kere dezavantajl› k›lm›fl onlar›. 

An›msayabilecek yaflta yurda gelenler, zor ve s›k›nt›l› al›flma günlerinden söz ediyorlar. Ama anlat›lar› 

“iyi ki yurda verilmiflim, yoksa …” biçiminde devam ediyor; “Yoksa, okuyamazd›m.”, “Yoksa çoktan 

evlenmifl, çoluk çocu¤a kar›flm›flt›m.”… Birkaç örnek d›fl›nda tüm hikayelerin ortak yan› yoksullukla 

bafllamas›. Onlar›n hayat çizgileri önce yoksullukla k›r›lm›fl. Birer ““yyuurrtt ççooccuu¤¤uu oollmmaa”n›n en önemli 

nedeni yoksul ailelerin çocuklar› olarak dünyaya gelmifl olmalar›. 

“Yoksul çocuklu¤u” bir gerçektir ama farkl› gerçekler de vard›r. Örne¤in, onlar›n geldi¤i yerde 

çocuklar›n› yurda vermemifl, yoksullu¤unu çocuklar›yla birlikte yaflam›fl aileler de vard›r. Onlar›n 

gerçe¤inde yoksullu¤un yan› s›ra “e¤itimsizlik”, “sosyal yap›n›n, geleneksel de¤erlerin çözülmesi”, “ana 

ya da babadan birini kaybetmifl olmak” da vard›r. Ço¤u kez boflanma/ayr›lma ya da ebeveynlerden 

birinin ölümüyle bafllayan ailenin parçalanmas›, baflka baflka parçalanmalarla devam etmifltir. Akrabal›k 

iliflkileri pamuk ipli¤inde, bir var bir yoktur. Yani bizim Projemizdeki genç k›zlar, hem yoksul, hem de 

akrabalar›ndan ve toplumdan ihtiyaç duyduklar› destekleri genellikle bulamam›fl, ço¤u zaman 

yoksullararas› dayan›flmadan da yoksun kalm›fllard›r. Bu onlar›n hikayelerinde sadece yurda gidifl 

yolunda de¤il, yurt y›llar›nda ve yurttan sonraki hayatlar›nda da derin izler b›rakm›flt›r. 

-- ÖÖnnccee yyookkssuulllluukk…… 

“…Bizim aile durumumuz hiç iyi de¤ildi, bir masam›z bile yoktu. Bu grubun içinde en kötü 

durumda olan benim. Yurtta da aile durumu en kötü olan bendim zaten, benim arkadafllar›m bilir. … 

flimdi kaç arkadafl›m›n evine gittiysem, en kötü durumdaki bizimkiydi…” 

“…Babam yeni ölmüfltü, maddi durumumuz iyi de¤ildi. ‹lk öldü¤ü zaman, insan kendini bofllukta 

hisseder, insan›n kafas› yerinde olmaz. Bir de bizim gelece¤imizi düflündüler. Babam yeni ölmüfltü, 

annem gençti, kardefllerim daha küçüktü, biz de küçüktük, ilkokul 3’e gidiyorduk. 3 ay sonra enifltem 

öldü. Onun için, mecburen bizi yuvaya vermek zorunda kald›lar ve 5,5 y›l orada kald›k…” 

“…a¤abeyim, O ‹stanbul’da kal›yor Gençlik Evi’nde. Bir tane kardeflim var, okuyor. … Evde 5-6 

kifli kal›yoruz. Annemle beraber sekiz kifli oluyoruz da yedi kardefl, bir annem, sekiz. A¤abeyim var. O 

böyle bir firmada çal›fl›yor muavin olarak. Bir tane ablam var. Tekstil’de çal›fl›yordu O da, paras›n› 

vermiyorlard›, ç›kt›, gitmedi. Bu yaz ç›kt›. Bir tane daha a¤abeyim var. O da ifl ar›yor, ama bulam›yor. 

…Geçimimizi Belediye Baflkan› falan. Ara s›ra komflular yard›m ediyor, öyle. Bir de kardeflim eve geldi 

ya ayni-nakdi yard›m ile, o var. O da dört ayda, üç ayda bir geliyor. …” 

“…Biz yurttayken annemin geçimi, yatalak bir kad›na bakt› uzun süre, alt› ay kadar... Daha sonra 

doktorun çocu¤una bakt›. Daha sonra tekstil iflinde ifl buldu. Bir sürü ifl yapt›; bulafl›kç›l›k yapt›, 

merdiven y›kad›, çocuk bak›c›l›¤› yapt›, sekreterlik yapt›… Her fleyi yapt›. Ama tabi dul bir kad›n, … ” 

-- PPaammuukk iippllii¤¤iiyyllee bbaa¤¤ll›› aakkrraabbaall››kk iilliiflflkkiilleerrii 

“… Aileden, ne amcadan, ne dededen, hiç kimseden bir destek alamad›k. Yani, bize destek flu ana 

kadar kimse ç›kmad›. Arkam›zda, bizim ailemizde, bir tek annem vard›…”


“…üniversiteye (gitmeyi) çok istiyordum ama imkanlar›m yoktu. Yani elimi tutan olmasa bile, 

arkam... Gerçi yok da... ... Mesela, yurtd›fl›nda, Almanya’da, orada burada çok akrabalar›m var; 

day›lar›m, halalar›m, amcalar›m... Ama hiçbiri elimizi tutmuyor. Mesela her yaz tatilinde gelirler 

tatillerini yaparlar, ç›k›p giderler. Bize gelirler, ç›k›p giderler. Yani, hiç sormuyorlar bu çocuklar yurtta, 

bu çocuklar›n ne ihtiyac› var, bu zavall› kad›n yedi çocu¤a nas›l bak›yor?” 

“… Babam, flofördü, …l›lar›n hepsi tan›rd›. Durumumuz iyiydi. Sonra rahats›z olmaya bafllad›, aya¤› 

filan a¤r›maya bafllad›, yata¤a düfltü. … hastaneye gitti, orada iki ay kald›. Doktor, “Bunu götürün” dedi. 

Amcam›n çocu¤u da vard›, doktordu, yard›mc› oldu. Ama akraban›n insana ne faydas› var? Örne¤in, 

amcam›n durumu çok iyi. Bir o¤lu doktor, bir o¤lu ö¤retmen, bir o¤lu memur; ama sonuçta, ben bu 

yafl›ma gelmiflim, evini bile görmemiflim, ailesini bile görmemiflim. Örne¤in, bir tane amcam var, harita 

mühendisi. Ama bana ne faydas› var? Bence, insan kendi ç›karlar› için yafl›yor. Babam öldükten sonra 

iliflkilerimiz kesildi. Biz de gidip gelmedik…” 

“…Bakamad›¤› için, yani maddi imkâns›zl›k… Aile, babaanne, anneye hiçbir flekilde yard›mc› 

olmuyor. Mal varl›¤›n› hiçbir flekilde vermemek... Zaten her gün kavgalar. Zaten ben ilkokul ikiye 

gitti¤imden beri her gün kavga duydum. Kaynana-gelin hiçbir zaman anlaflamad›. Halalar›mla da 

anlaflam›yorlard›. Yani bir flekilde d›fll›yorlard›, anneme göre, halalar›ma göre de annem suçluydu. …. 

Babam dedemin ilk o¤lu oldu¤u için, en çok babama ve dolay›s›yla bizlere önem verirdi. Bence bir 

k›skançl›k krizine kap›ld›lar. … K›skançl›k bir sürü çirkin olaylara meydan veriyor. Ondan sonra 

anneme flu lâf› ettiler, çok iyi hat›rl›yorum o konuyu: “Öküzümüz öldü, ortakl›k bitti, defol git!” Yedi 

çocu¤un var... Daha sonra annem çocuklar›n›n ikisini … Yetifltirme Yurdu’na veriyor. … bir y›l sonra, 

befl kardeflimizi... Bize soruyor, gitmek ister misiniz, diye. … Biz (köy)deyiz... Bir tane ev var... fiu var 

ya, bunun kadar (oday› gösterir), iflte bu kadar bir alanda befl çocuk kal›yoruz. Tuvalet, banyo d›flar›da. 

…” 

- YYookkssuull ddoo¤¤dduunn yyookkssuull mmuu öölleecceekkssiinn?? 

“… o zaman, askeriyenin s›navlar›n› kazanm›flt›m. O çok umutland›rd› beni, hepsinden birinci 

olmufltum çünkü. Binbafl› dedi ki, “seni kesin al›yoruz” dedi. … ama olmad›, o da paras›zl›ktan olmad›. 

… fiöyle: Ben kazand›m s›navlar›, belgem eksikti, onlar› yapabilmek için de paraya ihtiyac›m vard›, yani 

nas›l desem, sicil kay›tlar›, …, muhtarl›¤a gittim, 10 milyon istedi art› 2 milyon istedi. Bende 500 bin 

lira bile yoktu belki. Ben bunu belirttim yani. “Ben yuvadan geldim” dedim, anlatt›m durumumu, hiç 

düflünmedi yani. “Ben de iflimi yap›yorum” dedi. Oysa ki flimdiki muhtar öyle birfley demedi. Gittim 

yapt›rd›m, verdi hemen, para bile almad›. “Ya sen yurtta m› kal›yorsun, öz geçmiflin nedir?” hiç sormad› 

bile. Ben onlara anlatt›¤›m halde, bir bayand›, yard›mc› olmad›. Binbafl›ya anlatt›m durumu. Telefon 

açt›m dedim ki, “flu an benim imkan›m yok” dedim, “ben kazand›m ama” dedim “bunlar› yapabilmek 

için de paraya ihtiyac›m var. Bunu da yapam›yorum alam›yorum yani kimseden.” A¤abeyimin maafl›na 

5 gün var, gidip bir yerden borç alam›yor yani Ankara gibi bir yerde. Çünkü kimseyi tan›m›yoruz o 

zaman. Gerçekten tan›m›yorduk. A¤abeyim çok zorland›, çok gücüne gitti.” 

13

14 

YYuurrtt ÇÇooccuukkllaarr›› 

- HHeerrkkeess kkeennddii yyoolluunnddaann yyüürrüüyyüüpp ggeelliirr…… 


Çocuklar›n yurda girifl öyküleri birçok ortak özellik tafl›r, ama gelifl yafllar›na, gelifl nedenlerine, 

gelifl kanallar›na göre büyük bir çeflitlilik de gösterir. Çocuklar›n gelifl öykülerine dair bilgileri, duygu 

ve düflünceleri de birbirinden farkl›d›r. Örne¤in, birkaç ayl›k bebeklikten 16 yafl›na kadar farkl›l›k 

gösteren dönemlerde yuvaya/yurda verilmifl ya da gelmifllerdir. Yoksulluk, anne ya da baba ölümü, 

anne-baba ayr›l›¤›, üvey ana ya da üvey baba, zorunlu göç, e¤itim olanaklar›ndan yoksunluk, ensest gibi 

çeflitli nedenler vard›r. Gelifl kanallar› çeflitlidir, küçük yerlerin insanlar›n birbirlerini ve yaflant›lar›n› 

bilmeye imkan veren yap›s› çocuklar›n yurda gelifllerinde etkili olmaktad›r. Ço¤u zaman yoksullu¤un 

boyutu, kimi zaman yaflanan fliddete tan›kl›k, bir ö¤retmenin, okul müdürünün, muhtar›n ya da imam›n 

bu çocuklar›n bak›lmas› ve korunmas› için devreye girmesine yol açm›flt›r. Bu kifli bazen akrabalardan 

biri, bir komflu, bazen de kaymakam, hatta jandarma komutan› olmufltur. Baban›n kendi talebi, annenin 

akraba yönlendirmesi ile yurda baflvurmas› anlat›lanlar aras›ndad›r. Görüfltü¤ümüz genç k›zlardan ikisi, 

kendisi baflvurarak yurda gelmifltir. Nas›l geldi¤ini hiç hat›rlamayan da vard›r, yuvan›n bahçesinde 

oynarken b›rak›lan ya da nereye, neden gidece¤i kendisine anlat›larak gelen de… 

• HHeerr yyaaflflttaa ggeelleenn vvaarr…… 

“Befl ayl›kken yuva …üç kardefliz. üçümüz birden köprü alt›na b›rak›lm›fl›z.” 

“… 15 yafl›nda gittim. Bir kere köydeki ortamdan kurtulman›n sevinci de vard› ama…” 

“Dört yafl›nda yuvaya girdim. 16 y›ld›r yurttay›m. … Annem, babam ayr›lm›fl, sürekli kavga 

oldu¤undan dolay›. Annem, bakamad›¤› için bizi yurda verdi.” 

“9 yafl›ndayd›m, annem öldü, bizi yurda verdiler yuvaya” 

• NNeeddeennlleerr…… 

“… Annemin dedi¤ine göre bebekken iflte, iki yafl›nda falan girmiflim. ... babam vefat etmifl, bizi 

kaymakam yurda b›rakm›fl, demifl “sen bakamazs›n”. ” 

“12 yafl›nda falan …. Çocuk Yuvas›’na geldik. ‹lkokul üçten bafllad›m. Babam›n vefat›ndan sonra, 

bizim aile durumumuzun iyi olmamas›ndan dolay› yurda verildik.” 

“Babam öldü. … iki sene sonra, annem maddi yetersizlikten dolay› b›rakt›. Ve biz zaten köydeydik 

o zaman, … Orada zaten s›k›nt›lar yafl›yorduk, babaannemler halamlar bizi biraz s›k›yorlard›. …. Bir de 

biz kendimiz istedik, bir de okula gitmeyi de istiyorduk annemin belki okula gönderememe ihtimali çok 

yüksekti. Yani köyde yaflamaktansa …. gittik yurda. …” 

“Sekiz yafl›nda. 10 y›ld›r yurttay›m. … benim babam uyuflturucu ba¤›ml›s›yd›. Annemle babam 

ayr›ld›, geçici olarak yurda gittik biz. Ondan sonra kald› öyle … Annem ikinci evlili¤ini yapt›ktan sonra 

yine yurtta kalmaya devam ettik flimdiye kadar. …”


“Annemle babam ayr›ld› iflte. Babam gitti, baflkas›yla evlendi, b›rakt› bizi. Annemle kald›k. O da 

bakamay›nca yedi çocu¤a birden, bizi yurda verdi. ... Ben 4. s›n›fa gidiyordum; 10 yafl›nda m›, 11 yafl›nda 

m› neydim. … Annem, ifli yok yani, köy kad›n›, cahil. Komflular falan yard›m ediyorlard›.” 

“Bana söylenilen kadar›yla, iflte annem, fley, flizofreni. Baba, yani nas›l diyeyim, fley, gayr› meflru 

oluyor. Yani öyle yaz›yor fleyde de, zaten defterde de. Sonra baba terk ediyor. Anne de mecburiyetten 

b›rak›yor. Zaten kendi sorunlar› var onun. ‹flte üç ayl›kken b›rak›yor beni, … Beni hep hastaneden 

görüyormufl, ama bu çok az, k›sa fleylerle, nas›l diyeyim... Ve onun kald›¤› bir ev de yokmufl; 

hastaneden geliyormufl. Sonra, b›rakm›fl, birkaç ay daha sonra. Ondan sonra da hiç gelmemifl zaten. Ben 

hiç hat›rlam›yorum. Öyle yani. Öyle diyorlar.” 

• YYöönnlleennddiirreennlleerr:: ÖÖ¤¤rreettmmeenn,, mmüüddüürr,, iimmaamm,, mmuuhhttaarr…… 

“Dokuz kardefliz. Yetifltirme yurduna girmemizin nedeni, … okulda iyi ö¤rencilerdik diyebilirim. 

Girmemizin nedeni, tabi üvey annemin etkisi de var, köyde kalmak istemiyorduk ve baflar›l› bir ö¤renci 

oldu¤umuz için de bu fikir okul müdürümüzden kaynakland›. Okul müdürümüz bayand› ve annemin 

ölümünde, ölümünden sonraki yaflad›klar›m›z›... Köy de küçük bir köy oldu¤u için her fley, okul 

müdürümüz bizden biri gibi olmufltu, her fleyin fark›ndayd› ve babama bu fikri o söyledi ve birlikte 

Sosyal Hizmetler ‹l Müdürlü¤ü’ne gitmifllerdi. Onun sayesinde böyle yurda geldik, diyebiliriz. (Gülerek) 

Tabi bunda üvey annemin de etkisi var. Her zaman flükrediyorum tabi.” 

“Befl k›z kardefliz. ‹mam›n deste¤iyle yurda gittim. Babam o¤lu yok diye, ben 3 yafl›ndayken komflu 

köyden bir kad›nla kaçm›fl. Annemle zorla evlendirmifller. Annem muhtar›n beslemesi diye istememifl. 

…” 

“…1992 depremi Erzincan’da olmufltu. Oradan bir de bizim köyler boflalt›ld›. … Bizim köyde, 

muhtar da tan›d›¤›ndan dolay›, yazm›flt›. Sonra vefat etti¤inden (babas›ndan söz ediyor) demiflti, 

bunlar›n kimsesi yok diye yazm›flt›.” 

• NNaass››ll ggeellddii¤¤iinnii bbiilleenn ddee vvaarr,, bbiillmmeeyyeenn ddee…… 

“1,5 senedir yurttay›m. Yat›l› okulda pansiyonda kal›yordum. fiöyle anlatay›m. ‹lk zamanlar 

anneannemlerin evinde kal›yorduk, çok küçükken. Sonra annem b›rak›p gitmifl bizi. Sonra ben s›navlara 

girdim, … kazand›m, yat›l› okula gittim. Yat›l› okulda kald›m ama sürekli benden küçük iki kardeflimle 

irtibattayd›m. 4-5 sene göremedim onlar›, ama ikisiyle de görüfltüm. Sonra ortaokul bitti, liseye geçtim. 

… O iki sene içinde babam›n yan›ndayd›m, ama babam›n yan›nda da kalmad›m. Kaymakama bildirdim 

durumu; “Ben orda kalmak istemiyorum. okumak istiyorum, ama ailem beni okutmak istemiyor” diye 

falan. Babam okutmak istemiyordu bizi. … Sürekli kavga ediyorduk zaten. Babaannemler bizi 

istemiyorlard›. Babam çal›flm›yordu.” 

“… Annemin hastaneye gitmesi laz›md›, babam da cezaevine girdi, ikisi de yoktu yani yan›m›zda. 

Biz evde tek bafl›m›zayd›k. Kardeflimi köydeki yengem ald›, onlar bakt›. Bize de komflular›m›z falan 

yard›m ediyordu. Sonra, babam söylemiflti, o bizi yuvaya koymak istemifl, yaz› yazd›rm›fl hapisten 

dolay›, biz iflte okula geldiler, a¤abeyimle beni ald›lar iflte, yuvaya getirdiler.” 

15

16 


“Annem, 10 kardefliz, son kardeflimi do¤ururken hastayd›, kanser gibi birfleydi, öldü, Daha sonra 

çok kötü günler geçirdik, sahipsizdik, ortada kalm›flt›k. Ablam 12 yafl›ndayd›, o bize bak›yordu, 

sürekli o bize bakt›, bizim annemiz oldu. Di¤er ablam da iki kardeflim için okumad›. A¤abeyim de 13- 

14 yafl›nda bize bak›yordu. Yani babamla zaten görüflmüyorduk, yani bize bakm›yordu, sahipsiz 

sahipsizdik. … Ondan sonra yurda gittik. Ben 9-10 yafl›ndayd›m. Kardefllerim de gitti.” 

“Gözümü açt›¤›mda yurttayd›m, bilmiyorum, hat›rlam›yorum. … süt emmeden gitmiflim yani” 

“92’de (9 yafl›nda) Erzincan depreminden sonra, yani 1 ay sonra, belki de gün geçmifltir, biz 

yuvada kendimizi bulduk. Bize dediler ki, sizi gezmeye falan götürüyoruz. Biz babam›z› çok seviyorduk, 

ayr›lm›yorduk. Sizi gezmeye götürüyoruz falan dediler, bizi b›rak›p gittiler. O flekil oldu, daha nereye 

geldik bilmiyorduk.” 

- AAiilleeddeenn kkooppmmaa aacc››ss››:: AAll››flflmmaakk zzaammaann iisstteerr…… 

Görüflme s›ras›nda kat›l›mc›lar›m›z en fazla yuvaya/yurda al›flma dönemi öykülerini anlatmakta 

zorland›lar. O ilk günlerdeki a¤lamalar bir anlamda tekrarland›; duygusal anlar yafland›, görüflmeler s›k 

s›k kesildi… 

“…‹lk verildi¤imizde oras› yabanc› falan geldi. ‹lk akflamlar› çok a¤l›yorduk, üzülüyorduk, ama 

ondan sonra al›flm›flt›k iflte. Öyle, hep hasret vard›, özlem vard›.” 

“…Çok a¤lam›flt›m, sürekli a¤l›yordum. Annemi çok özlüyordum o zaman. Bir annem için 

üzülmüfltüm. Sonra, bir müddet sonra, geçmiflti.” 

“‹lk bafllarda a¤l›yordum, “Kendimi öldüreyim, yeter art›k. Eve gitmek istiyorum” diyordum. Bir de 

babas›zl›¤› ilk defa görüyorsun. Baz› konularda anne her fleye destek olur, baba fazla destek olmaz. Baba 

birfley yapm›yor ki, uzaktan izliyor, eve para getiriyor, b›rak›p gidiyor, sevgi bile göstermiyor; ama yine 

sonuçta baba, yine çocuklar›na karfl› bir sevgi ve ba¤l›l›k var. Kendimizi kötü hissettik, a¤lad›k; ama 

yavafl yavafl al›flmaya bafllad›k, ortama ayak uydurduk.” 

“…kendimi böyle d›fllanm›fl gibi hissediyordum, sürekli a¤l›yordum. Zaten ilk gün akl›mdan gitmez 

de… A¤l›yordum hep, bahçede dolafl›yordum, iflte ö¤retmenler geliyordu, teselli ediyordu: ”Buras› daha 

iyi, annen gelecek” falan. Sanki ben bilmiyormuflum gibi… pek fazla sürmedi. Anlad›m zaten yani 

yurdun daha iyi oldu¤unu. Bilerek geldim çünkü. D›flar›dan bize anlatt›lar, iflte böyle böyle, oraya 

giderseniz meslek sahibi olursunuz, durumunuz daha iyi olur, diye. O yüzden hemencecik geçti. Sadece 

o ailemden kopma ac›s›yd› san›r›m.” 

“…(babas›ndan söz ediyor) Meselâ bizi yurda b›rak›rken h›çk›ra h›çk›ra a¤lad›. O a¤lay›fl›n› hiç 

unutamam ve üç gün boyunca o a¤lay›fl› hiç gözümüzün önünden gitmedi. Biz de a¤lad›k. Çünkü iki 

tane k›z›n› getiriyor Erzincan’a, k›zlar› da hiçbir yeri bilmiyorlar... Yani deseniz, “Erzincan neresi?” belki 

haritada yerini görmüflümdür, “Erzurum’un yan›nda” diyebilirdim, o kadar bilebilirdim.”


- YYuurrtt ççooccuu¤¤uu ““ddeevvlleettiinn ççooccuu¤¤uu””,, aaiilleeyyssee ““hhaayyaallii vvee ss››ccaakk bbiirr yyuuvvaa”” 

Projeye kat›lan genç k›zlar, yuvalara, yurtlara gelifllerindeki gibi, ülkenin çeflitli yerlerinden 

geldiler. Nas›l birbirlerinden farkl› ama yoksulluklar› ortak ise, gelifl nedenleri farkl› ama aileleri 

taraf›ndan bak›lamayan ve korunamayan çocuklar olufllar› da ortakt›. Geldikleri yerlerde b›rakt›klar› 

çocuklardan farklar›n› “daha iyi yemekler yiyoruz, daha iyi giyiniyoruz, okula gidebiliyoruz”, 

“özgürüm” diye anlatt›lar. Kendilerine ““ddeevvlleettiinn ççooccuukkllaarr››”” dediler. Ama 18 yafl›ndan sonras› için çok 

kayg›land›klar›n› s›kça dile getirerek, devletin çocu¤u olman›n s›n›rlar›n› da çiziyorlard›. Ayr›ca, ailenin 

çocu¤u olman›n da baz› üstünlükleri vard›. Okuldaki, yurttan olmayan çocuklar, “ev ortam›ndan gelenler”di. 

‹ki genç k›z d›fl›nda, hepsi ailelerinden ya da ailelerinden birilerinden söz etti. “Aile” yurtta 

yaflarken eksikli¤ini duyduklar› fleylerle tan›mlan›yordu adeta… Bu tariflerde hep anne, baba, sevgi, 

flefkat, ilgi, s›cakl›k vard›. Oysa anlatt›klar› aile içi yaflant›larla tarif ettikleri aile ço¤unlukla örtüflmüyordu. 

“En iyi yönü beni bar›nd›rmas›, en kötü yan› da bizimle birfleyleri paylaflmamalar›yd›.” 

“Yurtta kalman›n güzel yanlar› da var, kötü yanlar› da var. Ö¤retmenler anlay›fll› olsa çok güzel olur; 

ama …, seni anlamazsa, seni hep terslerse ve sana bask› yaparsa, bunal›ma girersin, sevginin eksikli¤ini 

baflka fleylerde arars›n.” 

“Köydeki k›zlar bana özenirler. Özgürüm, çok yere gidip geldim. Benim gibi olmak isterler çok. 

Annem bize güvenir. Yoksa böyle olmazd›.” 

“…onlar ailelerinin yan›ndalar daha mutlular, örne¤in onlar gelip gidiyor, onlar iflte diyor 

babamla buraya gittim, fluraya gittim. Biz de yurtta sadece … yurttaki hocalar›m›z bize karfl› 

ilgisizlerdi. Bizim sadece bir avantaj›m›z vard›r onlardan belki, hani onlardan daha iyi yemekler yiyoruz, 

daha iyi giyiniyoruz; ama anne, sevgi yani sevgi eksikli¤i var.” 

“… yuva ortam› da güzeldi asl›nda, arkadafllar›m vard›. Güzel ama … Mesela, ev ortam›ndan gelen 

arkadafllar›m›z daha farkl›, gelip annen baban var m› diye, bir ayr›m var, onun üzerine birfley söyleme 

imkan›m›z yok, yurtta kal›yoruz, yuvada kal›yoruz. Bir flekilde, ne bileyim, üzülüyorsun, bazen 

a¤l›yorsun…” 

“Ö¤retmenlerimizle aram›z çok iyi. Yani anne baba kadar da olmasa, yine de çok iyi; ama ben 

annemle babamla paylaflamad›¤›m fleyleri onlarla paylafl›yorum.” 

- HHeerrkkeessiinn aaiillee iilliiflflkkiissii kkeennddiinnee…… 

Kat›l›mc›lar›m›z›n ço¤u anne, baba ya da kardeflleri ile iliflkilerini sürdürüyor. Aile iliflkileri 

sevdikleri ve sevmedikleri, güvendikleri ve güvenmedikleri yak›nlarla çeflitli. Ve anlatt›klar›, gelece¤e 

yönelik aile desteklerinin s›n›rl›l›¤›n› yans›t›yor. 

“Annem kardefllerimle çok ba¤l›y›z, çünkü baflka kimsemiz yok. … Dedemler flimdi köye döndü, 

bizi istiyor …; yani onlara bakal›m diye. Annem eksik etek, bizi b›rak›p evlenmedi, her iflimizi yapt›, 

hiçbir erke¤e muhtaç olmad›k.” 

17

18 

“…kesinlikle annem bir hafta yok bir hafta mutlaka yan›m›zdayd›.” 


“Babam çocuklar›na çok düflkündür, sever, duygusal bir adamd›r .. telefonda falan konuflurken 

bizim onu … onun bizi düflündü¤ünü falan biliyoruz ama, yani babam hiçbir zaman öyle bir sar›l›p da.... 

Belki de orada, (Do¤u’da bir flehirde) oluflundan veya oradaki toplumdan gelen birfley. …” 

“…babam al›yordu bizi, sürekli bizi görmeye geliyordu iflte, amcam da geliyordu ilk bafllarda öyle, 

babam sürekli geliyordu her Pazar, ilk gitti¤imizde zaten iki günde bir falan geliyordu.” 

“Annemle hep görüfltüm. 16 yafl›ndan sonra a¤abeyimle, ikizimle, amcam ve day›lar›mla tan›flt›m. 

Sonra teyzemle. Babam yeni ç›kt› piyasaya. Art›k büyüdüm, o da bakt›racak kendini. ‹stemiyorum, 

flimdiye kadar neredeyse orada kals›n, isterse sokakta kals›n.” 

“Kardefllerle iliflkim iyi, ama herkes kendi düzenini kurdu. Biri d›fl›nda hepsi evli, birbirimizi aray›p 

soruyoruz. … hem annem bafl›m›zda diye düflünüyorlar, hem de herkesin kendi yükü var. Üvey ablam 

bizle çok ilgilendi. Öz ablam zengin, ama bizi hiç aray›p sormaz. Babamdan tarlalar kald›, hala 

mahkemeleri sürüyor. Yurtd›fl›ndalar ve zenginler. Beni merak etmiyorlar. Tan›mak istemediler.” 

“…a¤abeyim her ay gelip bizi görürdü, izni vard› Cuma, Cumartesi, Pazar falan. … bayramlarda 

olsun ilgileniyordu yani.” 

“Hafta sonlar› izne gidiyordum. ... Telefon etti¤imiz zaman gelip görüyorlard›.” 

“Yaz tatillerinde annem istedi¤i için giderdim. … Bir y›ld›r yurttan ayr›ld›m. Evde annem, babam 

ve ben kal›yoruz. Babamdan nefret ediyorum..” 

“Ben onlar› ayda bir kere belki arar›m, onlar da beni ar›yorlar ayda 2-3 defa. Çok s›k de¤il ama yine 

de düzenli ar›yorlar, konufluyoruz. Yazlar› tatile gidiyordum, bu sene gitmedim 15 tatilinde, bayramlarda 

her zaman gidiyordum.” 

“…tatillerde gidip geliyordum. Karne tatilleri, bayram tatilleri falan, izinli gönderirlerdi bizi. Biz de 

gidiyorduk. Almaya gelirdi annem. Sonradan yurda al›fl›nca, insan›n gidesi gelmiyordu arkadafllarla. 

Yurt bizi zorla bindiriyordu. Böylece gidiyorduk.” 

“…babam› befl alt› ay öncesine kadar ilk defa gördüm. … gittim onu görebilmek için. Bilinçsizdim 

yani gitti¤imde. O kadar güzel konufluyordu ki... Telefonda konufltum. … ‹lk defa sesini duydum. 24 

yafl›nday›m, ilk defa sesini duydum ve ilk defa kendisini gördüm. Resmini bile görmemifltim hiç..” 

“Aile iliflkilerim hiç yok. Yurda da hiç gelmediler. Babam ölmüfl, hiç bilmiyorum. Ablam, a¤abeyim 

ve kardefllerimle telefonda görüflüyorum. Ablam bir y›ld›r … yurtta misafir, kardefllerim de yurtta 

kal›yorlar. 4 anne, 4 baba evlili¤inden 16 kardefliz. 7’si öz kardefliz. Di¤er hiçbir akrabam› tan›m›yorum.” 

“… annem de mesela, yan›na gidiyorum hafta sonu ya da hafta içi bofl zamanlar›mda. Ara s›ra diyor 

“sen” diyor” ne zaman” diyor “büyüyeceksiniz art›k” diyor “bana bakacaks›n›z”. Ben içimden 

gülüyorum ama yani d›fl›mdan da sinirleniyorum; çünkü yani hiçbir emek sarf etmiyor … yani normalde 

annelik görevini yapm›yor zaten. Kardefllerimin annesi benmiflim gibi. Zaten kardeflim, bakmak 

zorunday›m.”


“…annem, babaannem yani babaannemler bizi sevmeseler de ar›yorlar, yani ç›karlar› için. …hani 

sanki biz büyüdükçe onlar bize sanki muhtaç kalm›fl gibi. Biz onlara bakacak duruma geliyoruz ya… Bir 

de miras konular›m›z var, … babam öldü, dedem öldü. … flimdi bizim bütün mallar›m›z› zaten onlar 

kullan›yorlar ve o yüzden san›r›m.” 

“…‹flte ailemiz arard› bizi “Biz flu gün gelece¤iz” derlerdi, öyle gelirlerdi. Çok s›k da de¤il yani. 

Senede bir sefer, iki sefer belki. ... Yani üvey babam annemi öyle pek fazla yollamazd› bizim yan›m›za. 

‹nekleri falan vard› “Kim bakacak?” gibisinden.” 

“15 yafl›nda eczanede çal›flmaya bafllad›m. ‹ntihara kalk›flm›flt›m. Beni eczaneye verdiler. “‹flte 

ilaçlar”, dediler. Hayat, bazen flu tokay› kafan›za taksam çok a¤›r gelir ya. (Elindeki küçücük tokay› 

gösteriyordu.) öyle olmufltu. Biz yurt çocuklar›, yurttayken de ailemizin sorunlar›n› yafl›yoruz.” 

- ‹‹kkaammee dduuyygguullaarr:: ““KKiimmsseessiizzlliikk vvee ssaahhiippssiizzlliikk”” yyeerriinnee ““bbiirrbbiirriinnee ssaahhiipp çç››kkmmaa””…… 

Aile iliflkileri ne olursa olsun, yurt çocuklar›na bir kimsesizlik, bir sahipsizlik hali gelip gidiyor. 

Birbirine sahip ç›kmak da bu hali aflmakta önemli bir güç olmufl gözüküyor. 

“… hiç ayr›lm›yorduk, çünkü baflka kimsemiz yoktu ki… herkesle hemencecik de kaynaflam›yorduk 

zaten. Çocuklar hani ilk gitti¤imizde … d›fll›yorlar falan. Hiç ayr›lm›yorduk. Bir yatma zaman›. 

Erkenden kalk›yorduk zaten. Sürekli üçümüz dolafl›yorduk. Ondan sonra ayr›ld›k zaten” 

“…iflte yani resmen yani sahipsiz sahipsizdik yani babam zaten ilgilenmiyordu bizimle ailemiz zaten 

ilgilenmiyordu annem öldükten sonra kendimiz, yani ci¤erlerini kaybettikleri için biz umurlar›nda 

de¤ildik.” 

“…Biz yurt çocuklar›, hepimizi ‹stanbul’da ayr› bir yere da¤›tsalar, yine birbirimizi buluruz. Ayn› 

kaderi paylaflmaktan birbirimize sahip ç›kmay› ö¤renmifliz. Birimize zarar gelse, hepimiz birbirimize 

sahip ç›kar›z. Ama, birbirimize zarar da verebiliriz, mesela, döveriz. O zaman kimse kar›flmaz. D›flar›dan 

biri dövse herkes kar›fl›r oysa.” 

- TToopplluummllaa iilliiflflkkiilleerr ssaanncc››ll››,, aacc››ll››,, ss››nn››rrll››…… 

Aileleri ile yar› bar›fl›k yar› küs yaflayan yurt çocuklar› devletle de benzer bir iliflki kurmufl 

görünüyorlar. Toplumla iliflkileri ise, daha ac›l›, küskünlükleri daha derin, daha bir kal›c›laflm›fl. Bir gün 

tam içinde yaflamak zorunda kalacaklar› toplum, onlara sahip ç›kmayan, aksine d›fllayan, önyarg›l›, 

suçlamaya haz›r, en az›ndan tan›mak bile istemeyen… Bu öyle korkutucu bir hal ki, k›zlar için 

toplumsal hayata kat›lmak adeta ertelenen bir faaliyete dönüflebiliyor. Ya da, arkadafllarla gezip 

tozmaktan evlili¤e her türlü iliflkiyi s›n›rl› tutmak, hatta kendini saklayarak iliflki kurmak. tercih edilir 

hale gelebiliyor. Yurt çocu¤u olmaktan gurur duydu¤unu söyleyenler bile “önce beni tan›s›nlar, sonra 

söylerim” derken, yurt çocu¤unun toplumda mevcut önyarg›larla bafl etme stratejisini de anlat›yorlar. 

Ayr›ca, yurt çocu¤u olman›n “kimsesizlik” olarak alg›lanmas›n›n onlar› hangi tehlikelere daha aç›k hale 

getirdi¤ini düflünüyor ve bu stratejiyi bir korunma yöntemi olarak da uyguluyorlar. Bazen de, kendileri 

için bir sorun saymad›klar› halde, ifle girmifl, evlenmifl kardefllerin düzenlerini olumsuz etkileyece¤inden 

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çekindikleri için yurt çocu¤u olduklar›n› söylemeyi erteliyorlar. Toplumla iliflkilerdeki sorunlar›n 

istihdamdaki uzant›lar› da ayr›ca önemli. 

“…birazc›k insanlar d›fll›yorlard›. ‹flte “yurt çocu¤u” falan diyorlard›. Hep çekindim yani; 

ilkokulda çekindim, lisede çekindim, ortaokulda çekindim... küçük düflürmeyi amaçl›yorlard›. 

‹nsanlardan çok çekiniyordum. ... Yani burnumu bile silemezdim yani, o kadar çekinirdim.” 

“‹nsanlar hemen önyarg›yla yaklafl›yorlar. Neyin ne olup olmad›¤›n› bilmeden… O yüzden hayat 

felsefem, insanlara önyarg›yla yaklaflmamakt›r.” 

“Yurt çocu¤u olman›n… bize bazen böyle kötü gözle …yok yurt çocuklar› flöyle yap›yor yurt 

çocuklar› böyle yap›yor. Bizi kötümsüyorlar. Hani mesela, bir insanla arkadafll›k kursam bile ben yurt 

çocu¤uyum diye benimle evlenmek istemez. Bu benim bafl›ma geldi. ”Sen yurt çocu¤usun, seninle 

evlenilmez … evlenemem” dedi. Dedim, “Neden?”. “‹flte benim ailem kabul etmez.” En kötüsü bu iflte. 

… seni d›fll›yorlar. … bu yüzden yani, arkadafll›¤›m›n bitti¤i oldu iki defa...” 

“… Kimse bilemiyor. Herkesin anlatt›klar›m› anlayamayaca¤›n› bildi¤im için yetifltirme yurdundan 

oldu¤umu söylemiyorum yani. Yoksa utanm›yorum; gurur duyuyorum. … Beni tan›madan önyarg›l› 

davranacaklard›. … Belki farkl› bir bak›fl aç›lar› olacakt›. Ama beni tan›d›lar, yani nas›l bir kifli 

oldu¤umu, yani belki kötü al›flkanl›klar›m›n olmad›¤›n› gördüler... Ne bileyim. …’da erkek arkadafl› 

olup, gidip pastanede oturunca -tamam, böyle fleyler do¤al ama- biz yurttan oldu¤umuz için, “Bak 

görüyor musun, erkeklerle geziyorlar yurdun k›zlar›.” oluyor. ... Yani, bu gözle bak›yorlar. Biz bunu 

hiçbir zaman yenemedik. …O yüzden hep sak›n›yordum...Erkeklerin de bizim k›zlara olan bak›fl aç›lar› 

farkl›yd› asl›nda...” 

“…niflanl›mla ailesi aras›nda bir sürtüflme gidip gelmeler oldu da en sonunda iflte kabul ettirdi. ... 

yurtta kalmam biraz problem yaratt› yani. belki duymuflsunuz yurtta kalanlar›n genelde biraz, biraz 

de¤il de ad›n› ç›kar›yorlar, … hepimiz ayn› kefeye konuyoruz. O yüzden biraz problem yaratt›. Acaba, 

düflünüyorum, ileriki hayat›mda yine problem yarat›r m› diye.” 

-- ““YYuurrtt ççooccuu¤¤uu”” ss››ffaatt››nn››nn yyüükküünnüü kkiimm kkaalldd››rraaccaakk?? 

“…fizik hocam, benim üzerimde çok eme¤i vard›r, “ya kurtul art›k flu psikolojiden, sen art›k 

yurttan ç›kt›n, hani sen art›k bir ifle gireceksin, evin olacak, bir düzenin olacak”, diyor. “Hocam”, dedim, 

“biz hiçbir zaman kurtulamay›z; biz böyle geldik böyle gidece¤iz.” Her zaman yurt arkadafllar›m olacak, 

yani yurtla ba¤lant›m kesilmeyecek, diye düflünüyorum.” 

“…‹nsanlar›n yan›nda yürüdü¤üm zaman diyorlar ki: ‘Bak, yurt çocu¤u!’. Aln›mda yazm›yor hiçbir 

flekilde, nerden anl›yorlar bilmiyorum. O flekilde beni çok a¤›r hissettiriyor.” 

“Hep ayn› çevre. Ve hepsi seni yuva çocu¤u olarak biliyor. Ve ben bundan çok rahats›zl›k duydum. 

Ve bunlar› bir türlü k›ramad›m. Yani kendi fleylerimi aflamad›m ki onlara da bunlar› anlatabileyim…”


- KK››zzllaarr iiççiinn yyuurrdduunn aalltteerrnnaattiiffii:: ookkuullssuuzzlluukk,, eerrkkeenn eevvlleennmmee,,ççookk ççooccuukk…… 

“Yurt çocu¤u olmasayd›m flu an annem beni evlendirmifl olacakt›. Kim bilir belki de iflsiz, güçsüz, 

cahil insan eline düflüp de belki –flu an yirmi yafl›nday›m da- on tane çocu¤um olacakt›. Ne bileyim, 

geçimsizlik, belki fliddet... O fleyleri düflünmek bile istemiyorum yani. E¤itimsiz olacakt›m, belki okula 

bile gidemeyecektim, çevre nedir bilmeyecektim, e¤itim nedir bilmeyecektim. Ayn› flekilde benim 

çocuklar›m da ortada kalacakt› yani.” 

“…belki baflka bir yerde olacakt›k flu anda, ailemizin yan›nda, ama iyi ki yurttay›m diyorum. Yurtta 

olmasam bu imkanlar›n hiçbirini sa¤layamazd›m, flükrediyorum murad›ma. Okul okumama fleyim 

vard›. E¤er, ya annem de söylüyor,” e¤er sizi yurda vermeseydik flu anda Allah bilir ne yap›yordunuz, 

eve gidip bahçelerde çal›fl›yordunuz köyde”. Do¤ru söylüyor yani...” 

“13 yafl›ndayken gittim. … Yurda verilmeseydim, belki o yaflta evlenmifltim. Çok kötü halde 

olacakt›m, okuma-yazmam bile olmayacakt›.” 

“… Çok flükrediyordum. Çünkü köyde kalm›fl olsayd›k belki bu nimetlerin fark›na fazla 

varamayacakt›k. Hayat görüflümüz daha farkl› olacakt›. Fazla bilgi edinemeyecektik.” 

- YYuurrdduunn iimmkkaannllaarr›› aaiilleenniinnkkiilleerrddeenn hhaayyaall kkaaddaarr uuzzaakkttaa…… 

“Birçok kifliden de daha avantajl› durumday›z yani. Biz okula gitti¤imizde bizim defterimiz, 

kitab›m›z, formam›z, her fleyimiz tam tak›m yerindeydi ama olmayan da vard›, kitab› olmayan vard› 

yani. Arkadafl›m›za veriyorduk, biz ... birlikte, ortak kullan›yorduk. Harçl›¤›m›z vard›. Bizim okula 

köyden gelen ö¤renciler çok oluyordu ama bizim maddî aç›dan da iyiydi yani. Fazla bir harçl›¤›m›z 

yoktu ama lise maafl› o zaman 20 milyondu … iyiydi, yetiyordu…” 

“… 7 kardefltik 4 kifli yurda girdi. Di¤erlerini erken yaflta babam evlendirmifl, ondan dolay› onlar 

yararlanamad›lar… Ama çok sevdik oray›, gerçekten çok sevdik. Yani köy ortam› farkl›. Bildik ki 

kendimizi gelifltirece¤iz, iyi fleylere sahip olaca¤›z. Belki aile olmayaca¤›z ama zaten anne yoktu. Anne 

olmad›¤› için biz farkl› büyüdük. Yani elimize hiç para geçmezdi, orada geçti. Biz judoya gidemezdik, 

sosyal hayat nedir bilmezdik, ders çal›flamazd›k, bunlar›n hiçbirini yapamazd›k. Önümüze yemek 

gelmezdi, biz kendimiz yapard›k o küçük yaflta. Bunlar› gördük çok rahatlad›k yani…” 

“Lise 1-2-3’ü yurtta okudum. K›z kardeflimle gittik. Sonraki y›l öbür k›z kardeflim de geldi. Liseyi 

okumaktan çok sevinçliydim. … Harçl›klar›m›z› anneme verirdik. Staj paralar›m›z› da anneme verdik.” 

“…Bir de ne zaman annem gelse paras›z oluyordu. Yurttan bana maafl veriliyor, mesela, 20 milyon 

al›yorsam ben, iflte 15’ini anneme veriyordum. Yat›r›m yap›yordum sanki. ‹flte ne bileyim yurtta ya¤, 

reçel da¤›t›l›r ya hani, bir ara anneme onlar› biriktiriyordum. Yar›m poflet dolusu eve götürüyordum 

falan. …” 

“…sabah kalkt›¤›mda bazen, haftada 2 kere en az, kofluyordum. … beden e¤itimi bölümünde 

yetenek s›nav› var ya, birazc›k kondisyonumu ilerletmeye çal›fl›yordum. … Çünkü okul bitti okulda 

e¤itim görüyorduk biraz. Sabahlar› 1 saat kofluyordum iflte, denize gidiyordum, geliyordum dufl 

al›yordum, kahvalt› daha olmam›fl oluyordu zaten, kahvalt› yapt›ktan sonra da bazen d›flar› ç›k›yordum, 

gezmeye, genellikle yurttayd›m, denize gidiyoruz zaten haftada 2 gün..” 

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22 

- YYuurrtt mmüüccaaddeelleeccii yyaappaarr,, aammaa eekkmmee¤¤iinn ffiiyyaatt››nn›› öö¤¤rreettmmeezz…… 


Yaflamlar›n› sürdürebilecekleri bilgi ve beceriyi kazanmaya yard›mc› olacak sorumluluklar›n 

verilmesi yerine neredeyse tüm maddi ihtiyaçlar›n haz›r sunulmas›na dayal› olan kurum yaflam›, 

kurumdan ayr›ld›ktan sonra zorluklar yaflanmas›na neden oluyor. Projemizin kat›l›mc›s› genç k›zlar, 

görüflmelerimizde, yurt hayat›n›n “ayakta kalmay›”, “mücadele etmeyi” ö¤retti¤ini ama fatura yat›rmak, 

ekme¤in fiyat› gibi gündelik yaflam›n gerektirdi¤i fleyleri ö¤retmedi¤ini anlatt›lar. 18 yafl›n› 

tamamlay›nca olacaklar, yani yurttan sonraki hayat, hem bu aç›dan haz›r olmad›klar›, hem de e¤itim ve 

istihdam aç›s›ndan yeterince haz›rlanmad›klar› korkutucu birfley, adeta bir karabasand›. “Baflka gidecek 

bir yer yok” sözüyle anlat›lan bu kabusta, her türlü tehlikeye aç›kl›k ve telafisi güç çok ciddi sorunlar 

yaflamak da var. Anlat›mlar, yurtlardaki uygulamalar›n standart ve birbirinin ayn› olmad›¤›n›, baz› 

yerlerde k›zlara yönelik sosyal koruman›n daha uzun süre sürdürüldü¤ünü gösteriyor. 

“Yurttan ç›k›nca ne yapaca¤›z, sudan ç›km›fl bal›¤a dönece¤iz” 

“…ben hayattan korkuyorum hocam yani. fiimdiye kadar hep yurtlarda kald›m. Domatesin kilosu 

ne kadar, ekme¤in fiyat› ne kadar, onu bile bilmiyorum yani. Hep haz›r yedik, haz›r içtik. Art›k öyle 

birfley ki, ‘Paras›z bile kalsam, ben nerelere baflvuraca¤›m’ diyorum...” 

“Keflke diyorum hep kalsayd›m da hiç ç›kmasayd›m. Çünkü insanlarla u¤raflmas› çok zor. 20 

yafl›nda biri, hayat› bilmedi¤im için ortada kalakald›m. … Tek bafl›ma yapamad›m. Ben 5-6 ay kadar 

yaln›z kald›m, hatta otobüste çal›flt›m. ‹nsanlar sürekli senden faydalanmaya çal›fl›yorlar, birfleyler 

koparmaya çal›fl›yorlar. Ne bileyim, sürekli sarkmaya çal›fl›yorlar. Mesela, evlili¤imde ayn› flekilde, ben 

hiç mesela, aile ortam›na girmedim, mutfakta nas›l yemek yap›l›r bilmem. Çünkü benim hep haz›r 

önüme geliyor… ben bulafl›k bile y›kam›yorum. Bana anlay›fl hiç göstermediler; özellikle kay›nvalidem 

…. Sürekli beni d›fllad›. .. Dedi ki “Sen yemek bilmiyorsun, yapm›yorsun, sen buray› toplam›yorsun, iflte 

sen çörek yapam›yorsun”, iflte flöyle iflte böyle. Ve ben bunlar› zaman içinde ö¤renirdim. Ya ö¤rendim 

de zaten, ben yemek yapmas›n› biliyorum. Malzemesi olduktan sonra ne var ki? Açar›m kitab›, yine 

yapar›m yani. Ama sürekli d›fllad› beni kay›nvalidem. Kay›nvalidem d›fllay›nca, eflim zaman zaman o 

tarafa küstü. Çok problemler yaflad›m ben. …” 

“…‹yi ki yurda gitmiflim. Mücadele etmesini biliyorum. Kendi ayaklar›m›n üstünde olmas›n› 

ö¤rendim. Yani iflte, zaman› gelince kendimi koruyabiliyorum. Mesela, evdeki çocuklar pek öyle 

de¤iller. Hani, sald›rganl›k gibi birfley de¤il de, hani biri birfley söyleyince üste ç›k›yordum. Mesela, 

hakk›mda yorum yap›nca, “Hay›r bu böyle de¤il, flöyle.”, yani kendimi rahatl›kla savunuyordum. … 

Küçük yaflta çok çok olgunlaflt›m. Yani di¤er çocuklar gibi iflte top oynayamad›m, oyun oynayamad›m, 

parka gidemedim. Ona çok üzülüyorum. Yani ben çocuklu¤umu hiç yaflayamad›m. Ya o benim içimde 

kald›. Hala çok üzülüyorum. …” 

“… Bana kesin bir zaman vermifl olsalard›, mesela, “flu zamanda ç›k›yorsun, ona göre kendini 

ayarla” deselerdi o zaman en az›ndan neler yapabilece¤imi ö¤renir, yapard›m. Ama bu flekilde de¤ildi. 

Bir hafta sonra ç›k›yorsun, bir hafta sonra. Her fleyi ona göre ayarl›yorsun, valizini topluyorsun...” 

“Onlar›n demesine gerek yok, yafl›m dolmufl art›k, biliyordum atacaklar›n›, onlar demeden ben 

gittim, çünkü herkese öyle yap›yorlar….”


“Reflit olanlara, “bir an önce ç›k›n” diyorlar. Ben de ilk sene s›n›fta kalm›flt›m … Bana diyorlard›, 

“Git, bir an önce git, hadi. Burada niye duruyorsun? Burada durman›n ne amac› var? Sen burada s›n›fta 

kalm›fls›n.” … Ben, okulum bitti¤i gibi, bana dediler, eflyalar›n› topla, toplad›¤›n gibi yurttan ç›k. Ben 

de, art›k kayd›m› da sildiler, kalamazd›m.” 

“… her yurt ayn› de¤il. Örne¤in, … K›z Yurdu’nda benim iki k›z kardeflim kal›yor. Onlar istedi¤i 

yafla kadar kalabiliyorlar, aile durumuna göre. Bizim yurtta ise öyle de¤il; reflit olduktan, yafl›n› 

doldurduktan sonra ç›kar›yorlar. … Bak›yorum, ….’deki arkadafllar›m›z bu kurstalar. Onlar reflit 

olmalar›na ra¤men hala yurtta kal›yorlar. Ama biz... “ 

- ‹‹yyii yyaa ddaa kkööttüü iizz bb››rraakkaannllaarr:: YYuurrtt ççaall››flflaannllaarr›› 

Yurt personelinin tutum ve davran›fllar› genç k›zlar üzerinde olumlu ya da olumsuz, ama mutlaka 

etki yap›yor. Görüflmelerde yurtlarda görevli personelle ilgili çeflitli fleyler anlatt›lar. Biz de biliyoruz ki, 

SHÇEK’te iflini çok iyi, özveriyle yapan insanlar var; çocuklar›n geliflimlerinde katk›s› olan, zor 

dönemleri geçirmelerinde onlara destek veren bu personel, ayn› zamanda genç k›zlara “örnek” oluyor. 

Ne yaz›k ki, k›zlar›n sevgi sözcükleriyle anlatt›¤› bu insanlar›n yan› s›ra, çeflitli biçimlerde ve boyutlarda 

fliddet uygulayan, çocuk ve gençlerin hayatlar›n› kabusa çeviren yurt çal›flanlar›yla karfl›laflanlar da 

olmufl. 

“Önceleri sosyal hizmet uzman›m›z vard›. Onu çok idealize etmifltim. Çocuklarla iliflkisi ve 

çözümleri beni etkilemiflti. Onun o hali hiçbir zaman beynimden ç›kmaz ve de¤iflmez. Sizi de bu 

nedenle önemsiyorum. Demek ki sosyal hizmet uzmanlar› çok insanc›l diye düflünüyorum.” 

“‹flte, “Bu k›z yurttan” falan diyorlard›. Onlar bizi üzüyordu aç›kças› ama, ben yurtta kald›¤›m için 

çok mutluyum. Her fleyiyle çok güzeldi. Yani disiplin aç›s›ndan da... Müdürümüz çok kaliteli bir 

insand›. Karakter olarak olsun, bizimle ilgilenmesi olsun... Her türlü yönüyle onu kendime örnek 

ald›m.” 

“Yurtta bir hemfliremiz vard›; özgürdü, çal›fl›yordu, evi, ifli, arabas›, paras› vard›. Kimseye bakmak 

zorunda de¤ildi. Yurdun yar›s› O’na özenirdik. Tam bir ifl kad›n›yd›. Sert bir yap›s› vard›.” 

“… yuvada kal›rken … çocuk geliflimcimiz … fley yapm›flt›, f›r›n› iyi silmemifltim diye f›r›n› 

yalatt›rm›flt› bana. Ama kendisi çok iyi görünen bir insand›, bilmiyorum,… demek ki insanlar da 

de¤iflebiliyor. fiey olmufltu art›k bende, insanlara güvenmemeyi örne¤in ben kimseye güvenmem, hiç 

kimseye güvenmem.” 


Onlar gencecik k›z ve kad›nlar, birkaç› hariç hepsi bekard›. ‹ki hamile, bir-ikisi çocuklu evlimiz, 

bir-iki de çocuksuz evlimiz vard›. Kat›l›mc›lar›m›z, u¤rad›klar› haks›zl›k ve ayr›mc›l›klar› k›z do¤mufl 

olmalar›yla çok az, yurt çocuklu¤u ve kimsesizlikle çok çok iliflkilendirdiler. Ama, k›z olman›n 

“s›n›rland›r›lmak” oldu¤unu, ayn› yurttakilerin birbirleri, yurttan ayr›lanlar›n aileleri ya da baflka 

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24 


yak›nlar› taraf›ndan kontrol edildiklerini, “her yere s›¤amaman›n” hayatlar›n› nas›l zorlaflt›rd›¤›n› da 

anlatt›lar. Ama, ailesinde madde ba¤›ml›s›, fliddet uygulay›c›s› erkekler olanlar, onlara benzemek 

korkusuyla, “iyi ki k›z›m” dediler. 

Yaflad›klar› ve tan›k olduklar›, çok çeflitli ve çok a¤›r aile-içi ve d›fl› fliddet öyküleri vard›. 

Yaflamlar›ndaki fliddeti “k›z çocuk olma”lar›na de¤il kötü kadere, insanlar›n kötülü¤üne ba¤lad›lar. 

Ensest ve tecavüz öyküleri de dinledik bazen; ama kimlikleri sakl› kalabilsin diye bu öykülere burada 

hiç yer vermedik. 

Annelerin çaresizli¤i, muhtaçl›¤›, yurda gidifl öykülerinde önemli bir yer tutuyordu ve “kad›n 

olmak”la yak›ndan iliflkiliydi. K›z do¤mufl olmak, kendin çal›fl›p kazanabilirsen, kimseye muhtaç 

olmazsan iyiydi. 

- KK››zz oollmmaakk,, hheepp kkoonnttrrooll aalltt››nnddaa oollmmaakk…… 

“…bilmiyorum, erkekler sonuçta her yere s›¤abiliyor. D›flar›dan bakarsan, sonuçta ayr›lm›fl da olsa 

boflanm›fl da olsa birfley etkilemiyor onlar›. Ama k›z oldu¤umuz için, çok etkiliyor. Sonuçta 

ayr›ld›¤›m›zda dul damgas›…” 

“…ifl s›navlar›nda da konuflmufltuk. ‹flte, tan›d›k olsun, uzak olmas›n, sen bir k›z çocu¤usun, 

bafl›na birfleyler gelir, yan›nda olup biz denetleriz, gibisinden diyorlard›. Uzak olmas› iyi olmaz…” 

“K›z çocu¤u olmak asl›nda zor; bafl›na her türlü fley gelebilir.” 

“Bizim k›zlar gelirler, “Bugün seni öyle gördüm. Niye gittiniz pastaneye? O kimdi? Niye onunla 

oturuyordun? O serseri!” falan demesi... Mesela, baflka zamanda, baflka yerde o ayn› hareketi yap›yordu. 

Mesela, onun daha iyi anlamdad›r. Niyet kötü de¤il ki, sen de onunla ayn› konumdas›n. Ben, kendi 

yapt›¤›m› baflkas› yapt›¤› zaman onu elefltirmeye hak bulmuyordum kendimde. Baz› arkadafllar›m bunu 

yap›yordu. Elefltirdiklerimiz de vard›, ama zaten de¤iflen birfley olmuyordu; yine ayn› flekilde devam 

ediyordu. Mesela, bir arkadafl›m›z vard›. Onunla çok konufltuk asl›nda. Hatta … çok konufltuk, çok, bir 

gün de a¤z›ndan burnundan kan getirinceye kadar da dövdük... Çok yanl›fl birfleydi, ama ondan da 

kaynaklan›yordu. Biz, “gitme” derdik. Ters cevap veriyordu. “Size ne!” diyordu. Ama biz onun iyili¤ini 

istiyorduk.” 

“… (kay›n validesinden söz ediyor) Benim bir tane arkadafl›m var. Karfl›dan karfl›ya geçiyorum, tek 

O’na gidiyorum. Niye ben komfluma gidiyor muflum, niye ben arkadafllar›mla görüflüyormuflum. 

Problem yarat›yor yani benimle eflimin aras›nda. Yok niye öyle oluyormufl, niye böyle oluyormufl... 

Sürekli yani problemler. Bana, mesela, eflim hiç vurmazd›, k›yamazd› bana. Onun yüzünden, beni bir 

kere eflimin dövdü¤ünü hat›rl›yorum; kay›nvalidem yüzünden.” 

“Erkekler çal›flmak zorunda, bir yuvaya ekmek getirmek zorunda. Örne¤in, ben bayan›m, okul 

okumad›m, okul hayat›m olmad›; ama evlenip, yuvamda eflimin ekme¤ini yiyebilirim. Ama erkek olsam, 

bunu yapamam. Mesela, kendimi erkek olarak düflündü¤ümde, evimi düflünürüm, yuva kurmay›; ama 

ifl olmay›nca hiçbirfley kuramazs›n. Ama bayansan, bir ifl bulamad›k, birfley yapamad›k, e¤itimimiz de 

yok; kocan›n derdini çekeriz, ekme¤ini yeriz.”


- fifiiiddddeett,, hheerr yyeerrddee flfliiddddeett…… 

“Ben çocuklar› çok seviyorum. Bilmiyorum, belki de küçükken beni hiç kimse sevmedi. Çünkü 

anneannemgilde kald›¤›m›z hep teyze çocuklar› sevildi, biz hep d›flland›k. Ya bizi bakkala göndermek 

için ya da yerleri sildirmek süpürtmek için sevdiler. ‹fl yapt›¤›m›z zaman çok iyiydik biz,” canlar› 

ye¤enleri” oluyorduk. Ama yapmad›¤›m›z zaman, “babas›n›n, annesinin k›z›” oluyorduk, “ne olacak” 

diyorlard›..” 

“Evde sürekli kavga oluyordu. Babam sürekli sorun yarat›yordu; çöp dökülüyordu sorun 

yarat›yordu; bulafl›k y›kanm›yordu kavga ediyordu, ba¤›r›yordu, küfrediyordu. Bütün mahalle aya¤a 

dökülüyordu. Rezillikti gerçekten, görseydiniz, benim hayat›m rezillikti.” 

“… a¤abeyim, sürekli annemi dövüp de esrar al›yordu yani.” 

Alt› ay amcamlarda kald›m. Ondan sonra cinsel taciz bafllad›. Dört kar›s› vard›. Oradan kaçt›m. … 

Yurdu’nda kal›yorum, halen oraday›m. Ben 5 yafl›ndayken ablam kaç›r›l›p tecavüze u¤rad›¤› için, flimdi 

çok periflan durumda. 

“…üvey babamdan dolay› bizim evde kalma imkan›m›z yoktu. … ben … biraz daha küçük oldu¤um 

için anne sevgisine biraz daha ihtiyac›m vard› benim, hep böyle anne, hep öyle a¤lard›m falan. Yani 

mecbur kald›¤›m için giderdim. Yoksa bizde hiç kimse gitmek istemezdi, ablalar›m hiç gitmek 

istemezdi. Yani gidip ne yapaca¤›z, her gün dayak falan vard›. Ben yine isterdim, ›srarla annemi 

isterdim. Giderdik iflte. Nas›l desem iflte yaz tatillerinde kal›rd›k orada, 15 tatillerde. O da burnumuzdan 

gelirdi kald›¤›m›z zaman. … ne bileyim iflte üvey baba, bilirsiniz üvey baban›n halini, … bir ablam zaten 

hep onun alt›nda çal›flt›, elinin alt›nda çal›flt›, hep dayak, annemi hep dövüyordu.” 

“…ablam … geldi¤inde, çok, yani sinir sistemi bozulmufltu, hep beni dövüyordu. Hep beni 

suçluyorlar; sen kabul etmesen bu bafl›m›za gelmezdi Bir ara beni dövdü resmen, ben yani fleymiflim 

gibi resmen bo¤azlad› beni.” 

“Müdürümüz çocuklar› plastik sopayla döverdi. Daha sonra, ne oldu. Biz bir arkadafl›mla -ayn› 

yurttan- gazetecilere, kad›n derneklerine gittik. … Müdüre gittik. Biz müdürle karfl›l›kl› konuflurken, 

yani bu fliddet olay›n› falan filan önlemek için de, mafla gösterir gibi, böyle yaparsan›z bunlar mutlaka 

gazetelerde sunulacak [dedik] ki bu onun için kötüydü, çünkü … bu duruma düflmesi, mutlaka o yeni 

atand›¤› görevden al›nmas› demekti.” 

“‹ki yafl›nda babam kalp krizinden ölmüfl. 81 yafl›ndaym›fl. Annemin güzelli¤i ünlüymüfl. Annem 

dördüncü evlili¤iymifl, çok gençmifl, parayla getirmifl. Day›lar›m beni … Çocuk Yuvas›’na vermifller. 

Annem istememifl ama zorla alm›fllar. 12 yafl›ndan sonra a¤abeyim erkek, ben de k›z yetifltirme yurduna 

geçtim. Orda çok dayak yedim; büyükler hem döverlerdi hem de zorla paralar›m›z› al›rlard›, bak›c› 

anneler de kaynar sularla y›karlard›. Yaflam hep fliddetle, dayakla geçti. Her yerlerim morar›rd›. Ben de 

hep tepki gösterirdim, o yüzden beni d›fllarlard›, sürekli ceza al›rd›m, tatile falan göndermezlerdi. … 

Sonunda yurt baflkan› oldum. Bu rolüm benim hocalarla iliflkimi gelifltirdi ve onlara sayg› duymama 

neden oldu. Krefl staj›mdan dolay› yurt baflkanl›¤›na ara verdim. Ama sonra benim yerime geçen k›z 

çocuklar› dövünce, yeniden baflkan oldum.” 

25

26 


“Yurt yaflam›m 1 yafl›nda babam›n yurda vermesiyle bafllam›fl. … meslek lisesinde 3.s›n›fta okurken 

yurttan at›ld›m. At›lma nedenim, yurttan kaçan bir k›z› müdür yard›mc›m›z›n odunla dövmesi ve fareli 

bir odaya kilitlemesinden iki gün sonra kilidi k›r›p k›z› ç›kartmamla geliflti. 16-17 yafl›ndayd›m ve yurt 

temsilcisiydim. Olay› bas›na haber verdim. Benim bilgim ve haberim olmadan babama bir ka¤›t 

imzalat›larak, benim ç›kar›lmam› sa¤lam›fllar.” 

“Yani oradaki küçüklere sahip ç›k›yordum; hep dövüyorlard›. Yani... Küçük yaflta gerçekten çok 

çektim….” 

“‹lkokul beflinci s›n›fta ö¤retmenimiz de¤iflti ve erkek ö¤retmen geldi. Çok sert biriydi. Bu yüz 

soruluk bir test yapt› ve benim elimden kâ¤›d›m› ald›, di¤erlerininkini almad›. S›n›fta befl kifli kald›k, 

sadece benim kâ¤›d›m› ald›, “Süre bitti” dedi… ben ç›kt›m. Ertesi gün cevaplar› okuyor, ben Hoca’ya 

ba¤›rd›m; karfl›s›na ç›kt›m, “Sen onlar›n kâ¤›d›n› almad›n, benim kâ¤›d›m› ald›n” dedim. Bana orada bir 

tokat att›. Befl parmak izi yüzümde ç›kt› ve yurttan hocayla konuflmak için okula geldiler, “Bu çocu¤un 

surat› ne böyle” dediler. Ve sonra bana -dönem bitecekti- bana teflekkür belgesi verdi. … “Bu Hoca beni 

dövdü¤ü için bana teflekkür belgesi verdi” diye düflündüm.” 

“… beni seviyorlard›. Müdür anne beni seviyordu, onlar da k›skan›yordu. Sonuçta sevgiye 

onlar›n da ihtiyac› oldu¤u için, müdür olmad›¤› zamanda beni dövüyorlard›, tokat at›yorlard›,…” 

- ““ÇÇaall››flflmmaakk kkaadd››nnaa ggüüvveennccee vvee ggüüçç ssaa¤¤llaarr”” iinnaanncc›› 

“… Bak›yorsun, bayanlar çal›fl›yor, maafl›n› al›yor, yiyor, içiyor. Ne güzel, kimseye muhtaç de¤il. 

Evlenince de eflime muhtaç olmam, boyun e¤mem, ki eflim bana boyun e¤er; çünkü benim de eve 

getirdi¤im bir gelir var, kendime güvenim var.” 

“Ama sen büyük olduktan sonra, kendine güvenin olduktan sonra, birfleylere bulaflmad›¤›n 

müddetçe kimse sana zarar veremiyor.” 

“‹flim olsun, paral› olay›m, evlenip mutlu bir yuvam olsun istiyorum. Yurtlardan nefret ediyorum. 

Hastalan›nca, gök gürültüsünde, … korkuyorsun. Ac›k›nca yiyecek yok, sevgi yok. …. Yuvadayken 

bak›c› anneler bize k›z›nca s›cak suyla y›k›yorlard›. Sabah kahvalt›s›ndan ö¤le yeme¤ine kadar a¤z›na 

birfley koyam›yorsun. Çocuksun, birfleyler at›flt›rmak istiyorsun, ama oralarda mümkün de¤il. fiimdi 

evde sürekli ifl yap›yorum, befl dakika oturam›yorum. 16 kiflinin ifli biter mi? Evlenmeden önce ifle 

girmek isterim. Yoksa annem gibi olurum. ‹fli olsayd› bizi yuvaya b›rak›r m›yd›?”

‹K‹NC‹ BÖLÜM 

‹‹ssttiihhddaamm:: 

UUmmuuttllaarr,, BBeekklleennttiilleerr,, SSoorruunnllaarr…… 

““BBeennccee eenn öönneemmlliissii,, [[iinnssaann ççaall››flfl››nnccaa]] kkeennddii aayyaakkllaarr›› üüzzeerriinnddee dduurraabbiilliiyyoorr,, kkeennddiinnee 

ggüüvveenniinn ggeelliiyyoorr.. EEvveett,, hhaayyaattttaa bbeenn tteekkiimm,, ddiiyyoorrssuunn vvee bbiirreeyy oollaarraakk oorraaddaa bbaaflflll››yyoorr aassll››nnddaa hheerr 

flfleeyy.. MMeesseellââ,, bbuuggüünnee kkaaddaarr bbiizz hheepp flfluunnuu ddüüflflüünnüüyyoorrdduukk:: EEvveett,, bbeenn tteekkiimm.. YYuurrttttaa yyaaflflaadd››¤¤››mm››zz 

iiççiinn,, bbeenniimm aarrkkaammddaa hhiiççbbiirr ddeessttee¤¤iimm yyookk,,…… aammaa oo zzaammaann aarrkkaamm››zzddaa kkooccaammaann bbiirr ddeesstteekk 

vvaarrmm››flfl,, kkooccaammaann bbiirr ddeevvlleett vvaarrmm››flfl.. fifiuu aannddaa ((yyuurrttttaann aayyrr››lldd››kkttaann ssoonnrraayy›› kkaasstteeddiiyyoorr)) tteekkiimm.. 

YYaannii yyaappaabbiilleeccee¤¤iimm hhiiççbbiirrflfleeyy yyookk,, ssaaddeeccee ççaall››flflmmaakk zzoorruunnddaayy››mm..””

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NNeeddeenn ççaall››flflmmaakk iissttiiyyoorrllaarr?? 


Görüfltü¤ümüz genç k›zlar, ikisi d›fl›nda, çal›flmay› “muhtaç olmamak” için istiyordu. Onlar›n 

omuzlar›nda, kurtar›lmay› bekleyen hayatlar vard›: Önce kendi hayatlar›, sonra annelerinki, varsa 

çocuklar, özellikle de kardefllerin hayatlar›… “Devletin çocu¤u” olmalar›n›n esas› yoksulluk ve aile 

parçalanmas› olunca, bu hiç flafl›rt›c› de¤ildi. Sadece iki kifli çal›flman›n kendini gerçeklefltirmedeki 

öneminden söz etti. 

- ÇÇaall››flflmmaakk,, kkeennddiinn iiççiinn,, bbiillmmeekk iiççiinn,, ddeenneeyyiimm iiççiinn…… 

“Çal›flay›m ki kendi istediklerimi yapay›m. Kendime güvenim gelsin. Veya hani birfleyler okuyarak 

olmuyor; yaflad›¤›m›z fleylerle daha çok fley ö¤reniyoruz. Onun için flimdi yaflaman›n, çal›flman›n önemi 

daha büyük. Yani ö¤renmek için. ‹leride belki, meselâ ileride bir devlet dairesinde çal›flt›¤›m zaman, 

“aaa... keflke flurada çal›flsayd›m”, “böyle çal›flsayd›m” demek yerine, flimdi memnun olmadan çal›flmay› 

tercih ediyorum. Yani hayatta birfleyler deneyimim olsun istiyorum veya bir meslek hakk›nda, evet 

benim bu konuda bir bilgim var demek istiyorum, çal›flarak.” 

“… çal›flmak benim için bilgi. …Kendime ya da topluma yararl› birisi olmak istiyorum. Sonra, bol 

bol çal›fl›p, bol para kazanmak.. Sonra, iyi al›flverifl yapabilmek o parayla. ….” 

- KKeennddiissii vvee aaiilleessii iiççiinn ççaall››flflmmaakk iisstteeyyeennlleerr 

“Çal›flt›¤›m zaman ekonomik özgürlü¤üme kavuflaca¤›m. Kendi paran› kazanacaks›n. Bundan daha 

onurlu birfley var m›d›r? Kimseden para istemek zorunda kalmayacaks›n, paran› kendin al›p, kendin 

harcayacaks›n.” 

“…Çal›fl›nca özgürlük falan kazan›yorsun, istedi¤in her fleyi yapabiliyorsun. Öyle rahat oluyorsun, 

her istedi¤ini alabiliyorsun.” 

“Çal›flmak, kendi evimi kurmak istiyorum. Ailemin iyi olmas› için elimden geleni yapaca¤›m. 

Babamdan korumak için de çal›flaca¤›m.” 

“…çal›flt›¤›n zaman kimseye muhtaç olmam yani mesela. O zaman küçükken bana bakmayan 

insanlar, flu an, yani iflim elimde olmamas›na ra¤men, daha (hayata) at›lmam›fl›m, flimdiden 

düflünüyorlar yani, yan›ma geliyorlar öyle yani.” 

“… art›k fark etmiyor, ne olursa olsun yapar›m diyorum, yeter ki hani kendi ayaklar›m›n üzerinde 

durabileyim art›k. Kimseye muhtaç olmak istemiyorum.” 

“… Benim gözüm çok parada de¤il, ailemi iyilefltirmek, geçmifllerini unutturmak, ve onlar› 

bar›nd›racak bir paraya sahip olmak isterim. O kadar. 

“… (çal›flt›¤›m zaman) daha çok yard›m edebilirim. Yard›m edebilirim dedi¤im de, kardeflim 

meselâ.. … Son, bizim küçü¤ümüz olan. … Meselâ, kardeflimle birlikte ifle girersek onun e¤itimini biz 

yüklenece¤iz yani. O yüzden bir an önce ifle girmek istiyorum.”


“Okul okumay› ve ayaklar›m›n üstünde durmay› çok istiyorum. Eminim, çok iyi biliyorum ki, e¤er 

benim annemin ifli olmufl olsayd›, biz yurtta da olmazd›k, bugün ikinci evlili¤ini de yapmam›fl olurdu. 

… Çal›flmaya bafllad›¤›m zaman ilk annemi yan›ma al›p ilk hemen bir ev tutaca¤›m.” 

“… ailemi yan›ma al›p s›cak yemekler yapaca¤›m. özellikle anneme beyaz elbiseler giydirece¤im.” 

“Çal›fl›nca ilk baflta kendi hayat›m› kurtaraca¤›m zaten. Sonra kardefllerimin hayat›n›. ... zaten 

sadece sevdi¤im yani sevdiklerimden kardefllerim var,…” 

“Ben aileme muhtaç olmak istemiyorum. Mesela, benim flimdi annem var, üvey çocuklar› var, 

üvey a¤abeylerim var, ayn› ortamday›z. Ben yard›m edeyim onlara. Hani hep onlar yapmas›n. Yani, 

sonuçta ailemdir.” 

“Valla maafl almak diyebilirim. Çal›fl›nca yaflayabilirsin yani, öyle, ekmek alabilirsin, k›z›ma iyi bir... 

Ben mesela, k›z›ma, üç yafl›na geldi, daha çarfl›ya ç›k›p iyi birfley alamad›m.” 

“… arkadafllar›mdan ayr›lmak istemiyorum, bu nedenle …’da çal›flmam gerekiyor. Hizmetli 

kadrom bile gelse raz›y›m. Yeter ki yurttan ayr›l›p eve geçebileyim.” 

- DDeevvlleettee vvee KKuurruumm’’aa kkaattkk››ddaa bbuulluunnmmaakk iisstteeyyeennlleerr…… 

“Ben asl›nda polis olmak istiyordum... “Hani devlet bize yarar sa¤l›yor, flöyle yap›yor böyle yap›yor, 

bizim için bir sürü fley yapm›fl” diyordum, “ben de devlet için birfleyler yapay›m”. “En az›ndan devlete 

birfleyler yapm›fl olurum”, diyordum.” 

“Türkiye’nin gelece¤i … böyle giderse hiç parlak de¤il. … çal›flt›¤›m zaman devlete gerçekten yararl› 

olmak istiyorum, devlet için çal›flmak istiyorum. Ama sadece memur olarak da bunu yapamazs›n, bu 

düflünceyle okumak istiyorum, iyi bir mevkiye gelip ülkemi gelifltirmek istiyorum.” 

“Ben çok memnundum Sosyal Hizmetler’den. Oras› evim gibi ve o kurumda çal›flmay›, özveriyle 

çal›flmay› çok isterim yani. ‹nsanlarla sürekli muhatap olabilece¤im, yard›m edebilece¤im... ‹çimde bu 

istek var.” 

“… yurda ben bir ba¤›flta bulunaca¤›m. … nas›l diyeyim, bizim yurdun en çok harcanan, … tuvalet 

ka¤›d›. Çok ciddi boyutta bizim ihtiyac›m›z var. ... Birer tane da¤›t›l›yor ve ayda! … ben çok s›k›nt› 

çektim o konuda. Arkadafllar›m da çok çekti. … yaflay›nca anlad›m. … yurda bir sürü tuvalet ka¤›d› 

ba¤›fllayaca¤›m.” 

NNeerreeddee,, nnaass››ll ççaall››flflmmaakk iissttiiyyoorrllaarr?? 

Kat›l›mc›lar›m›z, çal›flmak istedikleri ifli ço¤unlukla “masa bafl›nda bir ifl” diye yan›tlad›lar. Baz›lar› 

ise aktif olabilecekleri, ihtiyaçlar› olanlara yard›m edebilecekleri, ifle yarayacaklar› bir ifl düflündüklerini 

söylediler. Baz› anlat›larda ise, çal›flmak istedikleri yerlerin ve ifllerin, de¤ifltirmek istedikleri durumlarla 

ilgili oldu¤unu gördük. Ama fabrikalarda, sanayide çal›flmak isteyenle hiç karfl›laflmad›k. Belki de, 

Anadolu’da fabrika tipi sanayinin yayg›n olmamas› yüzünden çevrelerinde görmedikleri bir çal›flma 

türüydü sanayi iflçili¤i. Geliflti¤ini, yayg›nlaflt›¤›n› gördükleri, sosyal statüsü yüksek gözüken ifller de, 

29

30 


genellikle hizmet sektöründeydi. ‹flgücü piyasas›nda ekmek aslan›n a¤z›nda olunca hele, kamu 

iflyerlerindeki kotalar› onlarda abart›lm›fl bir umut haline gelmiflti. Bir yandan kendilerine ve yurt 

arkadafllar›na daha az ifl geldi¤ini, devlet ifline giren say›s›n›n azald›¤›n› fark ediyorlar, di¤er yandan 

“devlet” d›fl›nda girdikleri her ifli geçici görüyor, yurttan ifl gelmez korkusuyla çal›flt›klar› iflyerinin 

sosyal güvence sa¤lamas›n› bile reddediyorlard›. 

- HHaayyaall eettttiikklleerrii iiflfllleerr hhiizzmmeett sseekkttöörrüünnddee…… 

“Sessiz, güzel, masa bafl› bir iflim olsun isterim. ‹lk iznimde tek bafl›ma bir tatil yapmak istiyorum. 

Üniversiteyi bitirmek, ö¤retmen olmak isterim. Ö¤retmenlik yapmak isterim. Çünkü çocuklarla 

birlikte olmak, birfley ö¤retmek istiyorum. Çocuklar ö¤rettiklerini sana geri veriyor, ne ö¤rettiysen, ne 

verdiysen onu bana geri veriyorlar. Çocuk bakarken gördüm bunu. Sen öpersen o da öper, sen iyi 

dersen o da der.” 

“fiimdiye kadar hiç çal›flmad›m ve korkuyorum da. Hata yapar›m diye çok korkuyorum. Bilgisayar 

kullanabilece¤im bir iflte çal›flmak istiyorum.” 

“Halkla iliflkiler uzman› ya da psikolog olmak isterdim. Sayg›nl›¤› olan bir iflte çal›flmak istiyorum. 

Ama, …. ya da ….’de çal›flmak istemiyorum; çünkü, dedikodu çok. Sertifikay› al›p iflimi kazanmak 

istiyorum. fiimdi derdim o.” 

“Memur olmak ve özellikle yuvada, çocuklarla çal›flmak istiyorum. Çünkü kardeflim yuvada, hem 

O’nu özlüyorum, hem de kardeflim de dahil yuvadaki çocuklara çok kötü davran›yorlar. Onun için 

yuvada çal›flmak istiyorum.” 

“Valilikte bilgisayarla ilgili bir iflte çal›flmak isterdim. Mutlaka bir ifl sahibi olmak, sizin gibi olmak 

isterdim. Ve, birilerine destek olmak isterdim.” 

“Arkamda hocalar›m var. Sonuçta ben yurt çocu¤uyum, beni bir flekilde, mutlaka bir yerlere 

yerlefltirecekler falan. Ama, onlar yerlefltirene kadar...” 

“Bilmiyorum, asl›nda çal›flaca¤›m zaman çok isterim memur olay›m.” 

“…art›k bu sene bakaca¤›z, devletten art›k zaten umudumuzu kestik, üniversite okuyaca¤›z, 

dedi¤im gibi. … Mesela, gelecek falan, deniliyor ya eskisi gibi de¤il, art›k her fley zorlaflt›. Eskiden 

mesela, okusan da okumasan da ifl geliyordu sana yurttan, mecburen yani, herkese geliyordu. Ama flu 

anda öyle de¤il. Kaç y›ld›r bekleyenler var. Benim arkadafl›m 3-4 y›ld›r hala ifl bekliyor. Onlar›n 

durumunda olmak istemiyorum, aç›kças› çal›flmak istiyorum.” 

MMeevvccuutt iiflfl ddeenneeyyiimmlleerrii,, eennffoorrmmaall sseekkttöörr aa¤¤››rrll››kkll››?? 

Gençlerin baz›lar›n›n ifl deneyimi daha yurttayken bafllam›fl, baz›s› henüz ifl hayat›na hiç ad›m 

atmam›fl. Yurda yuvadan geçmifl olan ve e¤itimini aksamadan sürdürenler, ki bizim Projemizin 

kat›l›mc›lar› aras›nda ço¤unluktayd›lar, çok az ifl deneyimine sahipler. Ama, yurttan yönlendirilerek 

gidilmifl, harçl›k ç›karmaya yarayan ifller ilk deneyimler olabiliyor. Mevcut ifl deneyimleri çeflitli alanlar›


kaps›yor. Yurt döneminde ve yurttan sonra çal›flt›klar› ifller aras›nda güvenceli, sigortal›, toplu 

sözleflmeli, düzenli ve kurall› iliflkilerle yürütülen ifllere rastlamak güç. Yani, ifl deneyimlerinin 

genellikle enformal sektörde oldu¤unu söylemek mümkün. ‹flyerinde cinsel tacize u¤ramak ya da bu 

yönde bir tehdit alg›lamak, bu olumsuz deneyimler aras›nda ciddi bir yer tutmakta. Çal›fl›rken 

müflterilere “cinsel yönde mesaj vermesi”nin istenmesi afla¤›lay›c› ve korkutucu olmakta. Çeflitli 

olumsuz deneyim öyküleri, kendi aralar›ndaki enformal bilgi a¤› ile ve özel sektörün tamam›na mal 

edilerek yay›lm›fl… Olumlu deneyimler, genellikle iflverenin iyi davranmas›, güven göstermesi, 

koruyucu olmas› anlam›na geliyor. Ama, hem az hem de, haber niteli¤i tafl›mad›¤›ndan olsa gerek, 

enformel a¤larda pek duyulmayanlar aras›nda kal›yorlar… Sonuç, özel sektörde çal›flmaya karfl› 

isteksizlik. Kendilerini “devletin çocuklar›” olarak tarif eden bu gençler, gelecekte “devletin memurlar›” 

olacaklar› güne kadar beklemeyi adeta ye¤liyorlar. 

- ÇÇaall››flflmmaa aallaannllaarr›› ççeeflfliittllii 

“‹lk önce erkek k›l›¤›nda sokakta sak›z çikolata satt›m, ayakkab› boyac›l›¤› yapt›m, çöpten ka¤›t 

toplay›p satt›m, çimentocuda temizlik yapt›m, tu¤lac›da çal›flt›m.” 

“…Yurttan ç›k›nca birkaç pazarlama, … yerel gazetesinde sekreterlik, emlak ofisi, markette 

kasiyerlik, gazete bayili¤i yapt›m, de¤iflik sürelerde. … otel kat hizmeti de yapt›m.” 

“… çocuk giyiminde çal›flt›m.” 

“‹lk iflim eczanedeydi.” 

“… bir y›l boyunca çal›flt›m tekstilde, ben makineciydim.” 

“… mobilyac›da çal›flt›m.” 

“Bir tür, müflteri hizmetleri de¤il de sekreter, patronun genel yard›mc›s›... fiirkette müflteri 

hizmetleri gibi...” 

“… abone merkezinde çal›fl›yorum.” 

“Yurttayken part-time çal›flt›m, pazarlamac›l›k vb. yapt›m. Okuldan sonra difl protez teknisyenli¤i, 

tak› tasar›m›, kafe-bar iflletme, (4-5 marka ad› sayarak) sat›fl pazarlama DVD-VCD dükkan›nda çal›flma, 

bilgisayar firmas›nda, (ad›n› veriyor) müzik firmas›nda çal›flt›m. 

“‹lk kez, birkaç kez anketörlük yapt›m. Yurttayken, tak› tasar›m›. Yurt ayarlard›, fuar›, kermesleri, 

biz satard›k. Avukat sekreterli¤i yapt›m. … Yurdun çay oca¤›n› ifllettim iki hafta. … g›da sektöründe bal 

tad›m› ve siparifli ifli teklif edildi, 3 ay çal›flt›m, …”. 

“Kantinde sat›fl elemanl›¤›…” 

“Ma¤azada ve markette tezgahtarl›k yapt›m.” 

“Sigortac›da sekreterlikti.” 

“Temizlik flirketinde telefonlara bakt›m.” 

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32 

“‹l Sosyal Hizmet Müdürlü¤ü’nde gönüllü çal›flt›m.” 

“F›nd›k toplad›m, 2 ay.” 

“Tatilde satranç kursu ö¤retmenli¤i yapt›m.” 

“Üç çocuk ve bir yafll› bakt›m.” 

“… otobüs firmas›nda servis elemanl›¤› yapt›m.” 

“Otellerde profesyonel halk oyunlar› gösterileri yapt›m. 

“Saç ekimi iflinde, befl tel ay›r›yordum.” 

“Çayc›l›k yapt›m, tekstilde ayakç›l›k yapt›m…” 

“Bir yerel TV’de reklam ifli…” 

- GGeenneelllliikkllee yyaassaall ssttaannddaarrttllaarr››nn dd››flfl››nnddaa ççaall››flflmm››flflllaarr…… 

o Kurals›zl›k esas: Düflük ve düzensiz ücret, sigorta ve güvence yok… 


“‹flten ayr›lma nedenlerim genellikle az para vermeleri, sokakta çal›flman›n s›k›nt›lar›, sat›flpazarlamadan 

sürekli kazanamamam oldu. Bir iflyerinden de SSK primimi yat›rmad›klar› için ayr›ld›m.” 

“Özel sektör sigortas›z çal›flma demek. Hastaneye gidecek param yoktu hep.” 

“Bilgisayarc›da sekreterdim. Sigortam yoktu ve ücret çok azd›.” 

“Sosyal güvencem yoktu.” 

“Ücretim çok azd›, sigortam yoktu, b›rakt›m.” 

“…Bir y›l boyunca çal›flt›m tekstilde. Ben makineciydim. … (sigortadan söz ediyor) yok benim. 

Asl›nda sa¤l›yorlard›. “Sigorta felan”, dediler, “yapaca¤›z”. Zaten biliyoruz onlar hep bahaneydi, zaten 

kand›r›yorlard› insanlar›. Bir de ben istemiyordum. fiey, diyorlard› iflte, “Sigorta yapt›r›rsan sana yurttan 

ifl gelmez, böyle birfley var”.Ben de yapt›rmad›m.” 

“… patronum bayand›. Çok agresifti. Yani, elbiseleri katlard›m, tekrar katlat›rd›.” 

“(sekreterlik yapt›¤› avukattan söz ediyor) Çok bencildi, haftal›k 20 milyon al›yordum, cebimden 

harcamaya bafllay›nca b›rakt›m, yetmiyordu.” 

“… (iflyerinde birlikte çal›flt›¤› kifliden söz ediyor) Beni çok kötü etkiliyordu, bana resmen 

ba¤›r›yordu, diyordu (bilgisayardan söz ediyor) “bu k›za birfley yazd›rmay›n”, yazamam, kaybederim 

falan diye. O flekilde müflterinin yan›nda beni azarl›yordu, ben de dayanam›yordum, sonuçta diyordum 

ben e¤er verimli de¤ilsem, yard›mc› olam›yorsam niye geleyim de gelin gibi oturay›m ki,…


• Cinsel taciz ve taciz tehdidi alt›nda olmak 

• ‹‹flflyyeerriinnddee cciinnsseell ttaacciizz ççookk vvee flfliikkaayyeett iimmkkaann›› iissee aazz…… 

“Ankara’da mobilyac›da çal›flt›m. Patron flerefsizdi, suland› 50-60 yafl›nda adam. 18 yafl›ndaki o¤lu 

da bizimle çal›fl›yordu. Bir ay kadar çal›flt›m. Olmad›, ç›kt›m.” 

“Çal›flt›¤›m yerde hepsi erkekti. Yan›mda, olur olmaz her fleyi konufluyorlard›. Art›k 

dayanam›yordum. Beni hiç adam yerine bile koymuyorlard›. Çok terbiyesiz fleyler konufluyorlard›. Ben 

de flikâyet ettim. Müdür konufltu, ama yine ayn› fleyleri yap›yorlard›. Ben de dayanamad›m, kaçt›m.” 

“(Çal›flanlardan birinden söz ediyor) … Bana, “Senin sevgilin var m›?” filan diyordu, ben de “Yok” 

diyordum. “Böyle böyle fleyler yaflad›n m›?” diyordu, ben de “Hay›r” diyordum. … “Sen, baz› fleyler 

yaflad›n m›?” diyordu, “Hay›r, yaflamad›m” diyordum. “Ama ben gençken neler yapt›m” filan diyordu. 

Bu, bana bir ders oldu, baz› fleyleri konuflmuyorum. Adam›n niyeti baflkaym›fl. Ama çok flükür, bafl›ma 

birfley gelmedi.” 

“… dürüst bir iflti, güzel bir iflti, ama sonra patronlar g›c›kl›k yapmaya bafllad›lar, oradan ayr›ld›m.” 

“Bütün ifllerimden, genelde herkesten cinsel iliflki önerisi yüzünden ayr›lmak zorunda kald›m.” 

“Özel sektöre hiç güvenmiyorum. Devlette as›lma olmaz m›? Olur. Ama, flikayet edebilirsin. Özelde 

karalama çok kolay. ‹fl formunu (‹fiKUR’a baflvuru formumuzdan söz ediyor) bu yüzden doldurmad›m.” 

“… Karfl›daki insan sana farkl› gözle bak›yor. Yani insan bir flekilde rahat çal›flam›yor. … devlet 

memuru olsam, o flekilde baksalar bile, flikayet ederim. Ama di¤eri, mesela, diyelim patron, yanaflmak 

istiyor, patronu kime flikayet edece¤im? Mecburen iflten ç›kacaks›n..” 

• MMüüflfltteerriiyyee cciinnsseell iiççeerriikkllii mmeessaajj vveerrmmeekk…… 

“Patron, beni mal gibi görüyordu. Gelen misafirler, müflteriler beni görerek, devaml› kafeye gelip 

gitsinler istiyordu. Ertesi gün, “D›flar›da dur da, millet seni görsün de içeriye girsin” gibi birfley söyledi. 

Çok zoruma gitti. Oradan o flekilde ayr›ld›m. … Maafl›m› da tam olarak alamad›m.” 

“fiimdi … abone merkezinde çal›fl›yorum. Erkek arkadafl›m›n çok güvenilir bir arkadafl› önerdi. Bu 

yüzden sorun yok. Ama iflyerindeki öbür k›z için çok sorun var, görüyorum. Burada k›sa etek giymek, 

saçlar›n›n fönlü olmas›, a¤›r makyaj isteniyor bizden. Bu bana zor, tuhaf geliyor. Telefonu satarken 

müflterinin gözüne bakmam isteniyor. Bu da beni, sanki adam› bafltan ç›kar›yormuflum gibi kötü 

hissettiriyor. (‹ç Anadolu’da küçük bir kentten söz ediyor) …’de kad›nlar kendilerine telefon 

alam›yorlar, kocalar›yla geliyorlar. Kar›s›n›n yan›nda adam›n gözünün içine bak›p konuflmak tuhaf de¤il mi?” 

- ‹‹yyii iiflflvveerreenn ““bbaannaa iiyyii ddaavvrraannaann iiflflvveerreenn””ddiirr…… 

“(Yurt çocuklu¤undan söz ediyor) Çal›flt›¤›m yerlerde biliyorlard›. … sigortadan dolay›. Ben 

söylemeyecektim asl›nda da, sigorta yapal›m dedi, ben “hay›r” falan deyince, “aç›kla” dedi “niçin 

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istemiyorsun”. Ben o zaman iflte dile getirdim, ama yine de hofl karfl›land›m, yani di¤erleri gibi baflka 

fleyle yaklaflmad›lar, aksine hep yard›mc› oldular, yani “biz de senin anan›z baban›z”, “yan›m›zdas›n”, 

yani “birfleye ihtiyac›n oldu¤u zaman hiç çekinme”…” 

“… bana zaten emanet etmiflti ma¤azay›, her fleyle ben ilgileniyordum, kendisi emlak ifliyle 

ilgileniyordu, yani bütün her fley benim üstümeydi, bana devretmiflti, “ya diyordu sen buran›n 

patronusun”. Her fley tam kontrolümde, yani iyi anlafl›yordum çok güzel anlafl›yordum, her fleyine 

yetifliyordum adam›n, o yüzden çok memnundu.” 

“… Patron çok iyiydi. Maafl iyi olmasa da önemli de¤ildir. K›lcal damarlar›mda sorun oldu, varis 

diyorlar. ‹flten ç›kmam gerekti, uzun zaman ayakta duram›yordum. Eczanedeyken dershaneye 

gidebiliyordum. Para biriktirdim…” 

“… Çal›flt›¤›m yerin sahiplerinin a¤abey, anne, kardefl yerinde olmak isterdim. Dayan›flmac› ve 

ifllerini bilen, olmas› gerekti¤i gibilerdi. Beni de çok düflünüyorlard›. Orada çal›fl›rken eleman ifllerini 

görmedim. Ben de buna dikkat ettim ve istismar etmedim. Kamu d›fl›nda bir yerde çal›flmay› 

düflünmezken, onlar bana özel sektörü sevdirdi.” 

“Yurtta kalmam bile oradaki insanlar› hiç etkilemiyordu, çünkü yurtta kald›¤›m› ilk baflta 

söylemiyordum insanlara. Belli bir süre sonra, beni, kiflili¤imi tan›d›ktan sonra söylüyordum. Bu da 

onlara çok büyük birfley ifade etmiyordu, çünkü beni tan›y›nca insanlar›n kafas›nda kötü bir yarg› 

oluflturmuyordum. ‹fl arkadafllar›mla, patronlar›mla gayet iyi anlafl›yordum. Hatta en son gitti¤im yerde, 

otelde, bir ay çal›flmama ra¤men, orada dört y›l çal›flan insana fleflik teklif edilmedi, bana teklif edildi. 

Yani gitmemi istemiyorlard› asla. Yani çok iyi bir iletiflimim vard›.“ 

OOnnllaarr›› ddeezzaavvaannttaajjll›› kk››llaann nnee?? 

Kat›l›mc›lar›m›z, iflgücü piyasas›nda çeflitli dezavantajlara sahipler. Kurumsal ifl arama kanallar›n› 

bilmiyorlard›, hiç kullanmam›fllard›. ‹fiKUR’la bu Proje sayesinde tan›flm›fllard› mesela. Sadece ifl 

aramakta de¤il, ayn› zamanda ifle-mesle¤e yönlendirmede de kurumsal hizmetleri tan›m›yor, bilmiyorlard›. 

Okulda mesleki rehberlik hizmeti alm›fl olan ç›kmad›. ‹fiKUR’un Meslek Dan›flmanl›¤› hizmetleriyle de 

Projemizin güçlenme e¤itimleri s›ras›nda tan›flt›lar. Bir k›sm› meslek lisesinde okumufl, mezun olmufltu; 

ama okudu¤u bölümle ne yetene¤i, ne ilgisi uyuyordu, ne de o alanda ifl imkan› vard› o flehirde. ‹fl 

aramaya bafllay›nca, iflgücü piyasas›nda ifl arayanlar aras›ndaki rekabetten haberdar olmufllard› iflte. 

Genç k›z olmak, önemli bir dezavantaj, ama karfl›laflt›klar› taciz ve kötü muameleleri daha çok yurt 

çocu¤u ve sahipsiz olmakla iliflkilendiriyorlard›. Örne¤in, ifllerin cinsiyete göre ayr›lm›fl oldu¤undan bir 

kifli, yaflad›¤› bölgede kad›n›n çal›flmas›na iliflkin genel yaklafl›m›n kendisini nas›l s›n›rland›rd›¤›ndan da 

yine sadece bir kat›l›mc› söz etti. Anlatt›klar› kötü muameleler cinsel tacizden ibaret de¤ildi; 

iflyerindeki çeflitli sorunlarda yurt çocuklar›n›n ilk suçlanan, flaibe alt›nda kalan oldu¤una iliflkin 

örnekler ses kay›t cihaz›n› kapatt›r›larak anlat›lanlar aras›ndayd›. 

Görüflmelerimizde ve e¤itimler s›ras›nda, çal›flanlar›n haklar›na ve hak arama yollar›na iliflkin 

neredeyse hiç bilgilerinin olmad›¤›n› gördük. Nerede, nas›l ifl arayabileceklerini, ifl görüflmesinde nelere 

dikkat edeceklerini, özgeçmifl yazmay›, kulaktan dolma birkaç fley d›fl›nda bilmiyorlard›. Bu konularda 

ne okulda ne yurtta bilgilendirilmifllerdi.


- KKuurruummssaall iiflfl aarraammaa kkaannaallllaarr››nn›› bbiillmmiiyyoorr,, kkuullllaannaamm››yyoorrllaarr…… 

“Bizim apartmanda arkadafllar vard› iki tane, onlar çal›fl›yordu, … dediler “çal›flmak istiyorsan gel 

götürelim”. Zaten tekstilde yeni aç›lm›flt› oran›n fabrikas›, eleman ar›yorlard›. Beni ald›lar, iflte dediler 

“deneyece¤iz bakal›m”. 

“Yurttan göndermifllerdi…” 

“Staj yapm›flt›m asl›nda…” 

“Gazetelerden ar›yordum, buluyordum.” 

“Erkek arkadafl›m›n çok güvenilir bir arkadafl› önerdi.” 

“Arkadafllar›m söyledi, görüfltüm, anlaflt›k.” 

- GGüüvveenncceellii iiflfllleerree eerriiflfleemmeemmeekk:: ““AArrkkaamm yyookk”” 

“S›navlar› hep kazand›m, mülakatlar› kaybettim. Hizmetli olmak istemiyorum. Bu söyleyince 

alm›yorlar herhalde. Arkam yok zaten.” 

“‹fl ka¤›tlar›m›z geliyor. Ama bu ifl ka¤›tlar›ndan yana çok umutsuzum. “Niye?” diyeceksiniz. 

S›navlara gittim, 4-5 tane s›nava girdim iflte flimdiye kadar. … iflte hepsinden de yüksek puan al›yoruz, 

mülakattan eleniyoruz.” 

- MMeesslleekk ddaann››flflmmaannll››¤¤›› hhiizzmmeettlleerriinnddeenn yyaarraarrllaannmmaamm››flfl oollmmaakk…… 

(Ticaret Lisesi mezunu, neden alan›nda ifl aramad›¤›n› cevapl›yor) “Hocam, öyle bir alan …’de 

flahsen bulamam. Yani varsa, rastlamam›flt›m.” 

“… mesela, benim resim yetene¤im vard›, ortaokuldayken resim yap›yordum, yar›flmada ikinci 

olmufltum. … Ben, Güzel Sanatlar Lisesi Resim Bölümüne gitmeyi istemifltim. ‹ste¤im vard›, yetene¤im 

de vard›; ama maalesef, içimdeki yetene¤i öldürdüler. … (Yurttaki bir görevlinin ismini veriyor) oraya 

göndermedi, “Senin için iyi de¤il, ticarete git” dedi. Hiç konuflmad›m, sesimi de ç›karmad›m. Dedim ya, 

çok sessizdim, hiçbirfley diyemiyordum. Ticaret lisesine gittim, ama mutsuzdum. … “Hocam, böyle 

böyle” diyemiyorsunuz ki…” 

“Biz isteyerek gitmedik asl›nda. Herkes “Oraya git, oraya git”, biz de birfley bilmiyoruz, 

ortaokuldayd›k. Oraya verdiler iflte. Sevmem ben yani çocuklar›. … Beden e¤itimi ö¤retmeni olmak 

istedim ben, ama olmad›k. Geçen sene iki y›ll›¤a gidecektik; “‹kinci ö¤retime ödemiyoruz” diye yurt 

göndermedi. Bizim bölümümüzde hiç gündüzden yok. ... “Biz ödemiyoruz” diye ç›kartt›lar bizi. Biz de 

kald›k ortada.” 

“Ben normalde güzel sanatlar bölümüne gidecektim, resimden dolay›, çok yani yetene¤im vard›. 

Bizim, iflte biraz ne bileyim, hep derler “yurt çocuklar›n› meslek lisesine gönderece¤iz”, liselere 

göndermezler. Ben de iflte çok istiyordum güzel sanatlara gitmeyi de, bizim hocam›z fley diyordu iflte, 

“orda hep erkekler var” diyordu. Bir de k›zlar› göndermiyor, sadece erkekler gidebiliyor düz liseye.” 

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“…Çocuk Geliflimi okumak hiç akl›ma gelmezdi. Yani daha hiçbirfleyden haberim yok benim, bana 

diyor ki yurt: “Sen hangi okulu istiyorsun? Sen söyle, biz seni yazaca¤›z.” Ondan sonra ben bunu (isim 

veriyor) ö¤retmene söyledim. Bana fley dedi; “Sen” dedi “Çocuklar› çok seviyorsun. Bence Çocuk 

Geliflimi Ö¤retmeni olsan çok iyi olursun” dedi. Ben öyle bir düflündüm: “Hani dedim, bu çocuklarla 

birebir, krefl ö¤retmeni gibi birfley mi?”. “Evet” dedi. Çok düflündüm. Ama bana ö¤retmenli¤in bütün 

iyi yanlar›n› sayd›.Ben de öyle bir havalara girdim, ö¤retmen olaca¤›m falan. Sonra böyle girdim.” 

“…ben üniversite okusayd›m beden e¤itimi ö¤retmenli¤ini istiyordum. Çünkü hep sporla 

ilgilendi¤im için. fiu anda da yani art›k fark etmiyor…” 

- RReekkaabbeettttee aavvaannttaajj öönneemmllii:: ““HHeerrkkeess lliissee mmeezzuunnuu,, hheerrkkeess……”” 

“… flimdi ifle girdim mi girmedim mi, s›nava giriyorsun, kazand›m m› kazanamad›m m›, mülakatta 

ne olacak stresleri … Üniversite ö¤rencisi olmak daha kolay, diye düflünüyorum. Çünkü; herkes lise 

mezunu, herkes... Öyle yani... Benim gibi düflünen de ayn› fleyde, benimle hiç ilgisi alakas› olmayan, 

liseyi zorla bitirmifl, s›rf ifle girebilmek için u¤raflan da ayn› kifli yani, bir fark›m›z yok onunla.” 

- ““EErrkkeekk oollssaayydd››nn,, aall››rrdd››kk..”” 

“Bir k›z› örne¤in lokantaya alm›yorlar. Benim erkek kardeflim lokantada çal›flt›, sonra bir kafede 

çal›flt›. Ben de ayn› yere baflvurdum, beni almad›lar. Nedeni de, bir bayan neymifl akflama kadar 

çal›flamazm›fl, neymifl flu ifli yapamazm›fl, veya da flöyle taba¤› tafl›yamazm›fl. Kardeflim çal›flt›. O yönden 

erkeklere büyük bir avantaj oluyor. Kaç yere baflvurduysam erkek istiyorlard›. Diyorlard›, “erkek 

olsayd›n, al›rd›k .”” 

“… gittim manava... manav derken, hani sebze falan sat›l›yor. Hani bayanlar falan da çal›flt›r›labilir 

diye düflündüm, gittim. Bana dedi, “erkek olsayd›n›z al›rd›k”.” 

“…Güneydo¤u’da fazla ifl yok, imkan yok. Biliyorsunuz, k›zlar evinde oturur, baflka birfley yapmaz, 

ölene kadar bekler. K›zlar için (ifl) olmas› daha güzel; çünkü erkekler her yerde ifl bulabilir, her yerde 

rahatl›kla gelebilir.” 

- YYiinnee yyuurrtt ççooccuukklluu¤¤uu,, yyiinnee öönnyyaarrgg››llaarr,, yyiinnee ssaahhiippssiizzlliikk,, ttaacciizzee aaçç››kkll››kk 

“… tamam yurt iyi ama d›flar› gitti¤imiz zaman “yurtta kal›yor bunlar” iflte, hemen böyle küçümser 

gözle bak›yorlar ya da ac›yorlar sürekli, her yerde böyle birfley koyuyorlar, … biz Erzincan’da d›flar› 

ç›kt›¤›m›z zaman “aha bu (yurdun ismin söylüyor) ….l› k›zlar, bunlar bilmem ne.” Hemen kötü gözle 

bak›yorlar; “Bunlardan adam olmaz”. O tür yaklaflt›lar, o da olumsuz.” 

“… yurtta kald›¤›m›z için, bir ifle ne girdi¤imizde bile, … yurtta kald›¤›m›z› söyleyince hemencecik 

insanlar›n bak›fl aç›lar› de¤ifliyor..” 

(ifl arkadafllar›n›n tacizci sorular›n› anlat›rken…) “Özel hayat›n›, yurtta kald›¤›n› filan anlat›r 

m›s›n?” diyordunuz ya, yurtta kald›¤›m› söylemedim.”


“… yurt çocu¤u oldu¤umu bilmiyorlard›. Özellikle söylemedim. Hangi gözle bakacaklar›n› 

biliyordum. Ama, keflke söyleseydim. O durumu da yaflad›m zaten. … Yurttan ç›kt›m ya, beni hep 

ezerler, hor görürler diye düflündüm.” 

“K›z olmam›n ve yurtta kalm›fl olmam›n dezavantaj›, yurtlar hakk›ndaki genel yarg›, her fley var. 

Yurtta kalm›fl k›zlara, afedersiniz argoca söylersem, flöyle bak›yorlar: Yurtta kalm›fllar, bunlar paraya 

muhtaçlar, bunlar ne istersek, para verdi¤imiz zaman kendilerini, bedenlerini sat›n alabiliriz.” 

“Yurtta kalanlar hafif meflrep, yani fley olanlar, hoppa... Yani her yola girebilir, çek çekebildi¤in 

kadar... O flekilde bak›yorlar ço¤u zaman. Erkekler özellikle. Onun için ilk baflta söylemiyordum. 

Kendimi tan›t›yordum, ondan sonra söylüyordum. Ondan sonra da pek bir anlam› kalm›yordu.” 

- ÇÇaall››flflmmaa hhaayyaatt››nn›› vvee hhaakkllaarr››nn›› bbiillmmeemmeekk…… 

“… “Devlet memuru olacaks›n” derler. Devlet memurunun ne oldu¤unu, onu bile bilmiyorum ben. 

Devlet memuru oturur, fley mi yazar? Öyle sürekli gelen dosyalarla ilgileniyor, oturuyor. Sürekli 

oturma fleyinde bir ifl mi? …. Hep kendi kafamdan kurduklar›mla. ... Onu pek fley yapmazlar, 

anlatmazlar.” 

“Çal›fl›rken diksiyonun, k›l›k-k›yafetin, bak›m›n, beden dilinin önemini kavrad›m. ‹nsanlarla 

konuflurken, insan yüzüne bakman›n önemini ö¤rendim.” 

“Sosyal güvencem yoktu. Bilmedi¤im için öyle fleyleri. Yani flimdi hayat›m› yaflayabiliyor muyum, 

param› alabiliyor muyum; tamam yani.” 

37

38 

Bilgisayar kursu aç›l›fl program›... 

Opening program of computer course 


Proje bafllang›ç toplant›s›... 

Introductory meeting of the project 

Bilgisayar kursundan bir görünüm... 

A view from computer course

ÜÇÜNCÜ BÖLÜM 

PPrroojjeeyyee ‹‹lliiflflkkiinn BBeekklleennttiilleerr,, 

PPrroojjee’’ddeenn EEllddee EEddiilleennlleerr 

““HHaayyaattaa bbaakk››flfl ttaarrzz››mm vvee iiflflllee iillggiillii ddüüflflüünncceelleerriimm ddee¤¤iiflflttii.. fifiiimmddii ddaahhaa kkaarraarrll›› vvee aazziimmlliiyyiimm.. 

AArrtt››kk iilleerriissii bbeennii kkoorrkkuuttmmuuyyoorr..”” 

““ÇÇaall››flflmmaallaarr›› ggöörrddüükkççee ççookk hhooflfluummaa ggiittttii.. SS››kk››llmmaadd››mm,, ggüüvveenniimm aarrtttt››.. EEvvlliillii¤¤ee kkaarrflfl››yydd››mm,, 

hhaayyaatt bbaannaa bbooflfl ggeelliiyyoorrdduu,, tteemmbbeellllii¤¤ee aall››flflmm››flfltt››mm.. fifiiimmddii ddaahhaa ffaarrkkll››yy››mm.. ‹‹flflee ggiirrmmeeyyii ddüüflflüünnmmeeyyee 

bbaaflflllaadd››mm.. ‹‹flfl ggiiyyssiilleerriinnee aall››flflmmaakk vvee ssoorruummlluulluukk aallmmaakk ffiikkiirrlleerrii bbeennii kkoorrkkuuttmmuuyyoorr..””

40 

‹‹fifiKKUURR’’llaa bbuu PPrroojjee ssaayyeessiinnddee ttaann››flfltt››llaarr…… 


‹fiKUR kat›l›mc›lar›m›z›n hayat›na ilk kez bu proje ile girdi. Bu Proje’den önce kendi ‹fiKUR’a 

baflvurmufl olan kat›l›mc›m›z yoktu. Yerel toplant›lar, tan›flman›n ilk aya¤›n› oluflturuyordu. Bu ilk 

toplant›lardan sonra ‹fiKUR’a da kay›tlar›n› yapt›rm›fllard›. 

“‹fiKUR’u duydum ama nas›l? Hani ifl arayanlar oraya gidip baflvuruyorlar; öyle duymufltum 

‹fiKUR’u. Yani hiçbir ba¤›m olmad› daha önce iflten dolay› falan. ‹fle de girmedi¤im için olmad›.” 

“Daha önce duydum. Hatta önemsemiyordum. Sonuçta gün gelecek, nas›lsa ifl gelecek diye.” 

“… Sonra bize davetiye geldi. Bize de¤il, bana davetiye göndermifller. Orada “‹fiKUR” falan 

yaz›yordu. Orada yani tan›flt›m ilk defa ‹fiKUR’la. Daha önce hiçbir tan›flm›fll›¤›m yok.” 

PPrroojjee’’ddeenn nnaass››ll hhaabbeerrddaarr oolldduullaarr?? 

Kat›l›mc›lar›n Proje’den haberdar olmalar›n› sa¤layan iki ana kanal oldu: Birincisi, ‹fiKUR’dan 

gönderilen ilk mektup, yani yerel toplant›ya kat›lma ça¤r›s›, ikincisi de yurt arkadafll›¤›na dayanan 

informel iletiflim a¤lar›. Bu ikincisi sayesinde Proje’nin bilgisi, mektup adresinde oturmayanlara, 

“devlette ifl” ça¤r›s› olmad›¤› için mektubu alan akrabalar› taraf›ndan haberdar edilmeyenlere, hatta 

Kurum’un ulaflamad›klar›na çok k›sa zamanda ulaflm›fl. Bu a¤lar k›zlar›n hayat›nda gerçekten önemli bir 

yere sahip; insani iliflki ihtiyac›n› önemli ölçüde karfl›l›yor; bildik bir ortam sa¤l›yor, bu anlamda güvenli. 

Ayr›ca bu a¤lar; baflka yerden edinilmesi güç bilgilere eriflim sa¤l›yor. Projemiz bunun bir örne¤i. Biz 

bu Proje’de informel iletiflim a¤lar›ndan çok yararland›k. Ama bu a¤lar ayn› zamanda formel bilgilenme 

kanallar›na ilgiyi zay›flat›yor, eksik ve abart›l› haberlerle yanl›fl yönlendirici olabiliyor, ayn› zamanda da 

at›l›mc› cesareti k›rabiliyor. 

“‹lk, iflte zarf falan gelmiflti. ‹flte, “Böyle bir projemiz var, kat›lmak ister misiniz?” Toplant› saati 

falan vard› iflte. Kat›lmak istedim. Ya o anda hani böyle sanki kat›lsam, hemen iflim olacakm›fl gibi fley 

yapt›m. Çok çok sevindim.” 

“Mektup gelince çok sevindim, müzik markette çal›fl›yordum. . 

“Bu projeyi duydu¤umda çok sevindim. Mektup geldi, toplant›ya kat›lmam istendi. 

“Bu projeyi a¤abeyim haber verdi. Mektup onun evine gitmifl.” 

“Beni ilk arad›klar›nda iflyerindeydim. ‹fiKUR’dan ar›yoruz deyince, ben numaram› yeni alm›flt›m, 

hiç kimse de bilmiyordu, k›zlar beni iflletiyorlar sand›m. 

“… ilk defa, benim haberim yoktu, arkadafl›m… bana haber verdi. Dedi” iflte böyle birfley aç›lm›fl”, 

hatta onu ben yollad›m, “Ah keflke” dedim, “benim böyle bir imkan›m olsa, ben de gelirdim” falan. … 

dediler “gel arayal›m, belki seni de isterler.” 

“Yurttan aray›p söylediler, toplant›ya git dediler.”


YYeerreell ttooppllaanntt››llaarrddaa ttaann››flfltt››kk…… 

Projenin yerel toplant› ça¤r›s›, küçük bir heyecan yaratsa da, bir ço¤unun as›l duygusu güvensizlik, 

düflüncesi “bundan birfley ç›kmaz” olmufl. Kat›l›mc›lar›m›z›n ço¤unda terkedilmifllik duygusu ile 

bafllayan güven duygusu eksikli¤i, yurt yaflam›nda güçleniyor, 18 yafl›n› doldurup, okumuyorsa yurttan 

ç›kar›ld›¤›nda “ortada kalma”yla tamamlan›yor. Bu nedenle toplant›ya çok güvensiz gelmifller. Bu duygu 

ile, toplant›da anlat›lanlara da pek inanmam›fllar. Bir de arkas›ndan özel sektörde ifl gelece¤ini duyunca, 

devlette ifl hakk›ndan m› oluyoruz korkusu basm›fl yüreklerini. 

“…çok heyecanl›yd›m. Güvenmedim, geldim, ç›kt›m. Çünkü moralim bozuktu, herkes bir 

havadayd›. Yar› yoldan geri döndüm, “Ne olur, yüzde 50 ihtimal var” dedim kendime.” 

“Yurttayken, bize, maddi durumu iyi olup da yard›m etmeye gelece¤ini söyleyip gelmeyenler çok 

oldu. Bu nedenle güvensizdim. ‹lk toplant›da da bunu söylemifltim.” 

“Bu projeyi ilk duydu¤umda toplant›ya kat›lmak istemedim. Murat hocay› çok sevdim. Beni 

olumlu yönde etkiledi.” 

‹lk toplant›ya ‹fiKUR’dan Hürriyet han›m geldi. 20 bayan kat›ld›k. Benim yaflam›mda en büyük 

eksikli¤im, arkam yoktu. Bu kurs bana destek olacakt›. Bu nedenle mutlu oldum..“ 

“Ben, aç›kças›, dedim, “herhalde olmaz”, dedim, “s›rf formalite falan olarak dolduruyorlar bize bu 

formlar›”. Yani olaca¤›n› düflünmemifltim.” 

“‹flyerimi bana ö¤retmenim ayarlam›flt›. Patronum bana çok as›l›yordu. Ayr›ca da 5,5 ayd›r sigorta 

yapt›rmam›flt›. Patronum ‹fiKUR’un toplant›s›na kat›lmam› istememiflti. Toplant›ya yine de gittim. 

Toplant›da 10-14 k›z vard›. Önce çok flafl›rd›m. Arkadafllar›m çok abart›l› giyinmifllerdi ve bu projeye 

inanm›yorlard›. Ben projeyi ciddiye ald›m. Aran›zdan iki kifli seçilecek denince çok endiflelendim.” 

“Murat bey toplant›ya geldi. 10-15 civar›nda k›z vard›. O toplant›da bir yandan ümitlisin, ama 

kat›lamayaca¤›m diye düflündüm. T›pk› ifl görüflmeleri gibi geldi bana. Ça¤›r›lmak istiyordum. F›rsat› 

de¤erlendirmek istiyordum.” 

SSoonnrraa,, uummuutt kk››rraann,, uuzzuunn bbeekklleeyyiiflfl…… 

Bafllang›çtaki düflüncelerini “bundan da birfley ç›kmayacak”, “formalite gere¤i form doldurtuyorlar” 

biçiminde ifade etmeleri hayal k›r›kl›klar›na iliflkin deneyimlerine iflaret ediyor. Bu nedenle proje 

bafllad›¤›nda ilk görüflmelerde anlat›lanlara pek de inanmam›fllar. Bu toplant›lardan sonra e¤itime 

ça¤r›lmay› bekledikleri 2 ayl›k sürede güvenmemekte ne kadar hakl› olduklar›n› düflünmüfller; ta ki 

ça¤r›lana kadar… 

“‹fiKUR’u hiç duymad›m, ilk defa burada. Bize Ayflen abla geliyor diyor ki... “Ankara’ya, bilgisayar 

kursu var ya da kurs var, gitmek istiyor musun?”. “Evet”, dedim. Sonra bize form verdi. Form 

doldurduk. … fiimdi, bize böyle dendi: 21 Haziran’da gideceksiniz; pazar günü.” 21 Haziran’da zaten 

gidemedik. Sonra bakt›k olmay›nca,” herhalde dedim bir daha...” B›rakt›m yani, hayal kurmay› da 

41

42 


unuttum. Ya unuttum de¤il, b›rakt›m. “Olmayacak” dedim. Çünkü aradan 1,5 ay falan geçti. Ben de fley 

yapmad›m... Yani, y›k›lm›flt›m.” 

“Müzik markette çal›fl›rken Ayflen hocadan telefon gelince, üç müflterim beni bekliyordu, 

yaflam›m›n en güzel olay›yd›. Çünkü yaflam›mda hep sorunlar, hep kavgalar vard›.” 

“Projeyi ciddiye alm›flt›m. Telefon gelince de çok mutlu oldum.” 

“Toplant›dan sonra aramalar›n› beklemiyordum. Haber gelince flafl›rd›m Bekleme süresi sanc›l› 

oldu. Tam ümidimi yitirme s›ras›nda ça¤r›l›nca, “ciddi bir ifl” dedim.” 

“ … son gündü, benim gelece¤im gün. Dedim, (arkadafl›ndan söz ediyor) “sen bilirsin,” dedim “yine 

de birfley yap” dedim. “Ama fley” dedi, “kalmad›, bugün son gün”. Dedim, “Hay›rl›s› olsun, neyse olur 

bir gün”. O geldi ertesi gün, bana haber verdi: “Daha sonra ça¤›r›yorlar.” O zaman çok sevindim, çünkü 

ben de istiyordum. Hani “benim de böyle birfleyde yerim olmal›” dedim. ‹stiyordum, çok sevindim 

geldi¤ime, hemen bindim geldim.” 

NNeeddeenn kkaatt››lldd››llaarr?? 

Bu projeye kat›lmay› birbirinden farkl› nedenlerle istemifller. Kimi sonunda ifl verilece¤i umuduyla, 

kimi alaca¤› e¤itimin her koflulda ifle yarayaca¤› düflüncesiyle, kimi bulundu¤u s›k›nt›l› ortamdan 

uzaklaflmak ve biraz nefes alabilmek için… Ço¤u alaca¤› sertifikan›n ifl bulmada sa¤layaca¤› güçten söz 

etti. E¤itimden sonra yap›lacak s›navda baflar›l› olurlarsa alacaklar› sertifikaya bizim düflündü¤ümüzden 

çok daha büyük bir anlam yüklemifllerdi. Sertifika, anahtar gibiydi: Niteli¤e dair belge düzgün bir 

iflyerinin kap›s›n› onlara açacakt›. 

“Yani sadece bilgisayar için girdim. (bilgisayar kursundan söz ediyor) ‹fl ilanlar›na bakt›m, o kadar 

ifl görüflmesine gittim ama gidemedim. Hiçbirfley istemeseler bilgisayar sertifikas› istiyorlar. En az›ndan 

dedim, bir tekstil ifline girsem veya … gibi, o tür yerlere ifle girsem, kendim de çal›fl›r›m. En az›ndan 

kendimi toparlar›m. Çünkü öyle zamanlar oluyor ki ekmek alacak paray› bulamad›m ya. O kadar s›k›nt› 

çektim, o kadar s›k›nt› çektim.” 

“Sertifika al›p, ifl sahibi olmak için buraday›m.” 

“Bilgisayar ö¤renmek için buraday›m.“ 

“Çok sevindim. Art›k çünkü böyle rezalet ifllerde çal›flmak istemem yani. Çok seviniyordum. ‹flte, 

buna kat›lsam yüzde yüz bir iflim olacak. Kendimi öyle yönlendirmifltim, öyle flartland›rm›flt›m, 

kat›lay›m falan. Anneme dedim, “Çok sevinçliyim anne, kat›laca¤›m.”” 

“Sevindim. ... En az›ndan kafam da¤›ls›n dedim, evdeki sorundan biraz uzaklaflm›fl olaca¤›m 

diye.” 

“‹flte ya, çok gitmek istiyordum, Yani çok sevinmifltim. ‹flte, Ankara’ya gidece¤iz falan. Ve formda 

fley yaz›yordu: “‹stedi¤iniz mesleklerden iki tanesini seçin. Say›larla belirtin”. Birincisi, güzellik 

uzmanl›¤›n› istiyordum, çok istiyordum. ‹kincisi bilgisayar. Herkes böyle, bilgisayar ya da kendi 

bölümünü seçiyordu.”


“Bu benim tek tesellimdi. Olmasayd›, art›k dönüyordum. Ankara’dan de¤ildim ama seçildim. Büyük 

flanst›. Kursu sertifika için istedim en çok” 

“…sonuçta bir de bir sertifika. Yani ba¤l›yorsunuz, ifl güvencesi veriyorsunuz, bilmedi¤imiz 

konularda bilgilendiriyorsunuz.” 

“… toplant›da, elime iyi bir f›rsat geçti, bunu de¤erlendireyim, diye düflündüm.” 

“Buraya gelmekteki tek amac›m, iflyerimdeki muhasebeci kad›n›n her fleyi bilmesi, ama bana, 

bilgisayara dokunmama hiç izin vermemesi. ‹flyerine döndü¤ümde, “Bilgisayar biliyorum”, diyecektim. 

Bana karfl› üstünlük göstermesinin alt›nda ezilmeyecektim. “Bu benim için bir flans”, dedim.” 

“Kendimi gelifltirmek, haklar›m› bilip ezilmemek için buraday›m.” 

“Burada iyi bir e¤itim al›p, özgüven kazanmak için bulunuyorum.” 

NNaass››ll ggeellddiilleerr?? 

Ak›llar›nda birçok soru, yüreklerinde binbir kayg› ve kuflkuyla ç›km›fllar yola. Yol paras›n› borç al›p 

gelen var. Proje’de masraflar› karfl›lanmasa gelmeleri mümkün olmayacakm›fl aç›kças›. Tedirgin 

gelmifller, ne bulacaklar›na dair düflüncelerle geçmifl yolculuk. ‹lk kez tek bafl›na flehirleraras› yolculuk 

yapanlar, bafllar›na birfley gelmesinden, kaybolmaktan korkup molalarda otobüsten inmeyenler… 

Karfl›lay›c›lar taraf›ndan al›nana kadar Ankara’da otobüsten indi¤i noktadan k›m›ldamam›fl olan var. 

“… Yurdu’ndan 2003 y›l›nda ayr›lm›flt›m. Piknikteydim. Eve gelince komflumun ald›¤› mektubu 

açt›m, çok sevindim. Ama tedirgin de oldum, nas›l Ankara’ya giderim diye. Otogarda üç arkadafl 

oldu¤umuzu ö¤renince sevindim.” 

“…biraz para sorunu yaflad›m. Zaten aniden gönderdiler beni, paras›z falan. Didindim geldim. …. 

“Zaten her fleyi karfl›l›yorlarm›fl”, dedim.” 

“Namus meselesine korktum. Kap›lar, gece güvencemiz önemli, bilirsiniz. Dedemgil tedirgin oldu. 

“Yapabilir misin?” dediler. Ben, “fiimdi evin erke¤i benim, her yere giderim” dedim. Annem bize 

güvenir, zaten onlar› konuflturmaz. Bize önceden sahip ç›ksalard›, flimdi konuflurlard›.” 

“Çal›flt›¤›m ve annemle kald›¤›m için, para s›k›nt›m›z› düflünmem gerekti. Biletlerin Projeden 

karfl›lanaca¤›n› bilmiyordum. Annem borç buldu, öyle gelebildim.” 

“Otobüse binince korktuk, heyecanland›k (beraber geldi¤i arkadafl›n›n ismini söylüyor) ….’le 

beraber. Hocay› görünce çok mutlu olduk. (Otobüs terminalinde onlar› karfl›layan Ayflen KARAKULAK’› 

görmekten söz ediyor.)” 

“Arabaya bindi¤imde, buraya gelirken, insanlar› böyle düflünmemifltim. ‹nsanlar çok s›cak, çok iyi. 

Yaflam›m sonsuza dek böyle sürsün istiyorum.” 

“Otelde güvende hissettim kendimi, yurttaki gibi. … Ankara’da endifleliydim. Ama paran olursa 

sorun olmad›¤›n› ö¤rendim. Ankara’da yurttan birisi olmadan bir bafl›ma olmak beni ürkütebilirdi.” 

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44 


“Yolda alt› kifli birlikte geldik. Hepimiz arkadaflt›k. Tek bafl›ma gelseydim, düflünme f›rsat›m 

olabilirdi. Heyecanlanmad›m. E¤er bir sorun olsayd›, SHÇEK’i arard›m, kalaca¤›m yerin numaras›n› 

bulur, hallederdim” 

KKeennddiinniizzii nnaass››ll öözzeell hhiisssseeddeerrssiinniizz?? 

Hepsi, onlar› karfl›layan Proje temsilcisinin gülen yüzü, s›cak yaklafl›m›yla karfl›laflt›ktan sonra 

korku ve kayg›lar›n›n sona erdi¤ini anlatt›. “Kendini özel hissetmek” de ilk burada bafllam›fl. 

Karfl›land›klar› andan e¤itimin sonuna kadar, Proje ekibi ve e¤itimcilerin davran›fllar›ndan çok 

etkilenmifller. Hemen hepsi “ilk kez kendilerini özel, önemli hissettiklerini”, “de¤erli olduklar›n›n 

fark›na vard›r›ld›klar›n›”, “sayg› gördüklerini” tekrar tekrar söylediler, mutluluklar›n› büyük ölçüde bu 

gerekçeye dayand›rd›lar. 

“Ayflen hocan›n s›cakl›¤›, bizi önemli ve de¤erli bulduklar› anlam›na geldi.” 

“Bize biz oldu¤umuz için, oldu¤umuz gibi davranan tek grup (Proje Çal›flma Grubu’ndan söz 

ediyor) bu grup. … Bu nedenle ‹fiKUR’a teflekkür ederim” 

KKoonnaakkllaammaa flflaarrttllaarr›› 

Otelde, iki kiflilik odalarda kalmak flafl›rtm›fl, mutlu etmiflti. Otel yönetimi ve personelinin ölçülü, 

sayg›l› ve çok içten davran›fllar› da öyle. 

“Daha kötü bir yer bekliyordum, lüks bir yerdeyim. Yaflant›ma göre çok lüks bir yer buras›. Her 

fleyimiz var; TV, bilgisayar, yemek… Hal›s›z, yat›l› okul, ranza, haftada iki gün banyo bekliyordum. Her 

gün s›cak su var. Her fley önümüze gelince, ter dökmeden, çabas›z olunca, flikayet etmek ay›p.” 

“…otel “Bekleyin, oda temizlenip verilecek” deyince, bize de¤er verildi¤ini gösterdi¤i için çok 

heyecanland›m.” 

“Yani, nas›l diyeyim, buray› hiç böyle zannetmiyordum; otelde kalaca¤›z falan. Hep böyle, genelde 

gitti¤imiz yerlerde böyle, nas›l diyeyim, otel de¤il de, … yuva gibi yurt gibi bir yerde kalaca¤›m›z› 

zannediyordum. Çünkü her gitti¤imiz yerde mutlaka ya yurtta ya da yuvada kal›rd›k. … Hani burayla 

ilgili öyle genifl bir hayalim de yoktu. Böyle düflündü¤üm gibi de olmad› aç›kças›. Çok da iyi oldu.” 

“… böyle oldu¤unu bilmiyordum. Her fley çok güzel, çok disiplinli, çok güzel bir flekilde 

ayarlanm›fl, düflünülmüfl... Yani bizi rahat ettirebilmek için ne gerekiyorsa düflünülmüfl. Ben size çok 

teflekkür ediyorum bundan dolay›. Ve bütün samimiyetimle dile getiriyorum.” 

““BBiirrbbiirriimmiizzii aannllaadd››kk,, aayynn›› yyeerrddeenn ggeellmmiiflfliizz”” 

Program›n ilk günlerinde nefleli ama tedirginlerdi. Kald›klar› otel personeli ve gidecekleri sosyal 

etkinliklerde karfl›laflacaklar› insanlar “yurt çocuklar›” olduklar›n› bilsin istemiyorlard›. Foto¤raf ve


video çekimlerimizde izin almam›zdan çok memnun olmufllard›. Medyadan, toplumda kendileri ve 

yak›nlar› için deflifre edilmekten korkuyorlard›; kötü deneyimleri vard›. Nitekim, medyan›n ilk sertifika 

törenindeki tutumu ile, insan›, hayat›n›, duygular›n› yoksayman›n nas›l can yakt›¤›na içerden tan›kl›k 

ettik. 

E¤itim dönemi, yeni arkadafll›klara, yeni dost edinmelere vesile oldu. 

“Ayr› yurtlardan geldik diye gruplaflmalar olur, so¤ukluk olur diye çekinmifltim. Ama sahiplenme 

iyi oldu. Birbirimizi anlad›k, çünkü hepimiz ayn› fleyi yaflam›fl›z, ayn› yerden gelmifliz.” 

“‹lk gün, kim demiflti, “Belki güzel dostluklar edineceksiniz”, falan... Tam benim a¤z›ma doldu bu 

laf. Hani dost kazanmam›z için daha çok fley paylaflmam›z gerekir, daha çok zaman geçirmemiz gerekir, 

ve hiç kimseyi tan›m›yorduk. Belki iyi arkadafl olabiliriz... Hani “arkadafl” olabiliriz... Belki 

görüfltü¤ümüz zaman daha bir s›cak, samimiyet olur. Ama “dost” olmak, “dost” kazanmak zor. … Tam 

a¤z›ma doldu bunlar, ama söyleyemedim, söylemedim, öyle kald›. fiimdi k›zlarla daha bir tan›flt›k, her 

fley daha bir güzel oldu. Bu fikrimin yavafl yavafl de¤iflti¤ini görüyorum. ‹yi ki söylememiflim bunlar› o 

zaman, belki arkadafllar›m› rencide edebilirmiflim. ‹yi ki de söylememiflim.” 

VVee ee¤¤iittiimmlleerr…… 

Kat›ld›klar› program, mesleki e¤itim, güçlendirme e¤itimi ve sosyal etkinliklerden olufluyordu. 

E¤itimler için hem çok fley söylediler hem de de¤erlendirme formlar›na çok fley yazd›lar. Kimi için 

ö¤rendikleri yeniydi, kimi için e¤itimcilerin kendilerine yaklafl›m› hofl. Baz›s› program›n çok yorucu 

oldu¤unu, baz›s› hayat›n›n de¤iflti¤ini söylüyordu. E¤itimcilerden çok memnunlard›. ‹flte birkaç örnek: 

“Bence e¤itimler çok çok iyi. … Ben bunlar›, ek dersleri beklemiyordum, sadece bilgisayar görüp 

gidece¤iz, onlar› bekliyordum. Yani, gerçekten bence çok çok iyi. Yani, böyle düflünmeleri... Nereden 

gelmifl, kimin akl›na gelmifl? Hiç benim akl›ma gelmezdi mesela. ‹yi ki de düflünmüfller böyle birfleyi.” 

“Konuflmam, hareketlerim de¤iflti. Sertifikam olacak. (ailesinden söz ediyor) Ben nerde ifl bulursam, 

oraya gidece¤iz. Baflvurdu¤um yer yüzde 90 beni al›r diye düflünüyorum.” 

“‹lk hafta benim için çok önemliydi. Hiçbirfley bilmedi¤imi gördüm. O kadar yaflamama karfl›n, 

hiçbirfley bilmedi¤imi gördüm. Geçmiflte ne yapt›m, flimdi ne yap›yorum, nas›l bir iflte çal›flmal›y›m, 

haklar›m neler, ö¤rendim. ‹flveren bana haklar›m› vermezse, ne yapmal›y›m ö¤rendim.” 

“…Tüm eksiklerimi burada tamamlad›m diye düflünüyorum. Bir büyü¤üm ya da yafl›t›mla nas›l 

konuflaca¤›m› ö¤rendim, korkmamay› ö¤rendim, önceden baz› fleyleri az biliyorum, karfl›mdaki tepki 

gösterir diye korkuyordum.” 

“(E¤itimlerle Türkiye’nin gelece¤i aras›nda bir iliflki kuruyor) …bayanlar için biraz daha ilerleyecek 

san›r›m çünkü en az›ndan 23 kifli daha, daha ileri görüfllü. Kendilerini erkeklerle ayn› seviyede belki de 

daha onlardan daha iyi görecekler. Bu kursa girenler fark›nda oldular en az›ndan yani gitgide iyiye gider 

bence” 

45

46 

““HHeerr ggeennçç iiflfl hhaayyaatt››nnaa aatt››llmmaaddaann öönnccee ggüüççlleennmmee ee¤¤iittiimmiinnddeenn ggeeççmmeellii”” 


Proje kapsam›nda gerçeklefltirilen güçlenme e¤itimi ile yurtta yani kurumda yetiflmifl, genç k›z ve 

deneyimsiz iflçiler olmalar›ndan do¤abilecek sorunlarla bafledebilmekte ifllerine yarayabilecek bilgiler 

edinmeleri, kurum ve kurulufllar› tan›malar› hedeflenmiflti. Yapt›¤›m›z görüflmeler bu e¤itimin 

gerçekten güçlendirici etki yapt›¤›n› gösterdi. Örne¤in, hemen hepsi, program devam ederken girdikleri 

memuriyet s›navlar›nda kendinden memnundu ve baflar›s›n› bu e¤itime ba¤l›yordu. 

“Proje çok mükemmel. … Siz, “yapaca¤›z, olur” dedi¤inizi yapt›n›z. Bana iyi geldi. Ürküntülerim, 

korkular›m olmad›. Ümidim, kurstan sertifika almak ve … Üniversitesi’nde ifle girmek. … eve dönmeye 

karar vermifltim. Kendime güvenim artt›. Sertifikam olacak. S›navda da iyi oldum. Heyecan›ma ra¤men 

iyiydim.” 

“Güçlendirme dersini farkl› düflünüyordum, farkl› buldum. Örne¤in evlenmekten korkard›m, 

iletiflim kurmaktan korkard›m. fiimdi, kendimi geliflmifl hissediyorum. Nas›l davranmam gerekti¤ini 

daha iyi biliyorum. ‹fle giriflte yapmam gerekenleri ö¤rendim.” 

“Gençlerin hayatta, ifl yaflam›na at›lmadan önce mutlaka böyle bir e¤itim almalar› gerekir. Çünkü 

hepsi de hayat›m›zda gerekli olan derslerdi.” 

“Birçok konu ve konuyla ilgili kurumlar› ziyaret ederek bilgi sahibi olduk. Hepsi yaflam›m›zda 

önemli olan fleylerdi. Hem ifl hayat›n› hem de çal›flan insanlar›n ne zorlukta veya yapmak istedikleri 

fleyleri kanl› canl› izleme flans›m›z oldu ve çal›flmak kadar olmasa da baz› fleylerin fark›na vard›k. “ 

“Mesela, ben eflimle ayr›lmaya kalkm›flt›m. Dilekçe vermifltim. … Ablama dedim ki “Ben bunu 

nereden karfl›layabilirim, avukat› nas›l bulabilirim?” Barolar! Hocaya sordum ki, dedi ki “Maddi 

durumu olmayanlar için bizden hukuki yard›m istenebilir. Barolar’dan yard›m alabilirsin. Kad›n yard›m 

derneklerine gidebilirsin.” falan dedi. Birçok fleyler ö¤rendik yani yasalarla ilgili.” 

“E¤itim güzel gerçekten kaliteli. Güçlendirme e¤itimi özellikle. Birçok fley ö¤rendik. Örne¤in kad›n 

haklar›ndan var ya bir sürü fley ö¤rendim. Geçen gün niflanl›ma söylüyorum, “ben” diyorum, “haklar›m› 

ö¤rendim” diyorum, “ben art›k o kadar kolay de¤il” diyorum. “Sen oraya niye gitmiflsin yahu” diyor, 

“dilin uzam›fl senin” diyor.(gülüyor) Yani birçok fley ö¤rendim. Hiçbirimiz bu kadar›n› bilmiyorduk. 

Kim biliyorum diyorsa yalan söylüyor. Hiçbirimiz bu kadar›n› bilmiyorduk. Kulaktan dolma fley yani 

bizimkiler.” 

“‹fle girmeden önce hukuksal haklar›n› bilmek, iflyerinde nas›l davranmak gerekti¤ini bilmek 

aç›s›ndan çok önemli. Kad›nlar›n haklar›n› bilmesi de benim için çok önemliydi.” 

“‹fl konusunda bofl beklememeyi ö¤rendim, kendimi ezdirmemeyi.” 

“... Daha önce dedi¤im gibi, kendimi savunsam bile nereye flikayet edece¤imi bilmiyordum. Ama flu 

anda mesela, biri birfley yapsa veya fley yapsa, karakola gidece¤imi veya polise veya jandarmaya 

gidece¤imi biliyorum flu anda. … Çok korkard›m eskiden.”


fifiiimmddii hhaayyaattaa ddaahhaa bbiirr hhaazz››rrllaarr…… 

Program onlar› olumlu etkiledi. Proje Çal›flma Grubu’ndan çok etkilenmifller, onlarla güvenli 

iliflkiler kurmufllar, onlarda yeni rol modelleri bulmufllard›. Son de¤erlendirmeleri çok olumluydu, 

flimdi kendilerini hayata daha bir haz›r hissediyorlard›. ‹ki fley kesindi, onlar›n ifadesiyle, kendilerine 

güven gelmiflti ve art›k SHÇEK d›fl›ndan gelen ça¤r›lar› da dikkate alacaklard›. Ço¤u, devlet d›fl›ndaki ifl 

olanaklar›yla ilgilenmeye bafllayaca¤›n› belirtti. Daha sonra özel sektörde ifle girenler bunun bofl söz 

olmad›¤›n› do¤rulad›. 

“Asl›nda ilk bafllarda, sertifika alamam diye gelmek istemiyordum. Ama iyi ki gelmiflim. K›zlardan 

ve hocalardan çok fley ö¤rendim.” 

“‹lk baflta, ben buraya gelmeden önce, çok utangaç bir k›zd›m. Bir kere onu yendim. Çok heyecan 

yapard›m. Mesela, meslek kursu dersinde böyle ç›k›p anlat›yoruz, mesela, f›kra veya da konuflma 

haz›rlad›¤›m›z zaman kalk›p anlat›yoruz. Ben onu yapamazd›m, çok heyecanlan›rd›m, ama flu anda 

yapabiliyorum. O heyecan›m› da yendim. Yani burada ö¤rendi¤im çok fley oldu.” 

“Buraya gelirken sert kiflilerle karfl›laflmaktan korkuyordum. Annem gibi insanlarla karfl›lafl›nca 

flafl›rd›m. ‹lk karfl›laflt›¤›mda, baz› arkadafllar çok tuhaf›ma gitti. Sonra al›flt›m. Baflaramamaktan 

kayg›l›yd›m. ‹fle girebilmek, büyük hayalim, gerçekleflebilecekti.” 

“…e¤itim görünce konuflmam birazc›k tatl›laflt›, bilgim artt›. Bir sürü olumlu yönü var olumsuz 

birfley yok. … ‹nsanlarla iliflkilerimin daha iyi olaca¤›na inan›yorum. Beden dilini ö¤rendik art›k, yani 

biliyordum da çok çok az, bu kadar de¤il. ‹nsanlar›n benim hakk›mda ne düflündüklerini biliyorum, 

sonra kad›n haklar›ndan biliyorum, baya bir üzerinde durduk, ama durulmas› gerekiyor zaten. … ‹fl 

görüflmelerinde sonra, birileriyle diyalog kurarken, ö¤rencilerimi mesela, daha iyi e¤itece¤ime 

inan›yorum art›k.” 

“Olumlu etkilendim. Kad›n haklar›n›, korumam gereken haklar›m›, üreme sa¤l›¤› ve ifl ve meslek 

hayat›na iliflkin ö¤rendiklerimi yaflam›ma geçirip iflime yans›taca¤›m. Buraya çok al›flt›m. Program çok 

güzel ama, iletiflim, çat›flma çözmeyi daha çok ifllensin isterdim. Toplumda nas›l davranmam›z 

gerekti¤ini ö¤retin isterdim. Toplant› kurallar›n› ve bofl zamanlar› de¤erlendirme için öneriler 

beklerdim. Sosyal hizmet uzman›m›z Ahmet hoca gibi olmak isterdim. Düflünceleri, davran›fllar› vb. 

fleyleri çok be¤eniyorum. Ama flimdi ben de onun gibi olabilirim diye düflünüyorum.” 

“…Ma¤azada tezgahtarl›k yaparken bu Projeye kat›ld›m. Milli E¤itim s›nav›n› kazand›m, 

memuriyete bafllayaca¤›m, hayat›m kurtuldu.” 

47

48 

Haftal›k toplant›... 

Weekly meetings 


Güncellendirme e¤itiminden... 

From the empowerment training 

‹fl ve meslek dan›flmanl›¤›... 

Guidance and career consultancy

T.C. 

ÇALIŞMA VE SOSYAL GÜVENLİK BAKANLIĞI 

TÜRKİYE İŞ KURUMU GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ 

SUPPORT FOR INSTITUTION BUILDING IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN 

RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT 

PARTICIPANTS ARE SPEAKING: 

‘‘II AAMM GGOOIINNGG TTOO DDRREESSSS UUPP MMYY MMUUMM WWIITTHH 

WWHHIITTEE DDRREESSSSEESS……’’ 

‹lknur ÜSTÜN 

S.Nazik IfiIK 

Turkish Employment Organisation (‹fiKUR) 

European Training Foundation (ETF) 

March 2006, Ankara 

K–Q 

TSE - ISO - EN 

9000

FOREWORD 

We are presenting to you the two books, which we anticipated them to be permanent and a 

reference, of the Project which is proposed to the European Training Foundation in order to support 

the "Project of Active Employment Measures and Technical Support to ISKUR at a Local Level" which 

our Institution demanded from the European Commission for the disadvantageous target groups for the 

year 2006 with a view to strengthening the employment strategies in line with the targets of the 

European Employment Strategy. 

In this project, a working method was applied which shall serve an example for the development of 

the national employment policies and action plans for making the disadvantagepus groups integrated 

into the labour market. The fact that the the group which was selected as the beneficiary of the project 

contains more than one disadvantage led our Institution to cooperate as a priority with the Institution 

of Social Services and Child Protection and Ministry of National Education at the level of policy - 

making. On the other side, an example for cooperating with the non-governmental organizations as a 

public institution was given. 

The Project ensured that our Institution met a new disadvatageous group and the vocational 

trainings offered within the scope of the Project shall ensure that the women become stronger in the 

labour market. That it covers a training program which extends from vocation and job consultancy to 

gender roles opened a new horizon for the works which shall be performed for these groups in the 

future. 

On the other hand, reviewing the book named "The Praticipants are Speaking" in your hand 

together with the "Project Handbook" which is the main output of the Project shall explain why we 

should show different approaches to the disadvantageous groups and the required clues to eliminate this 

difference in the words of the group itself. 

I am thanking to the young people who participated into our Project, the European Training 

Foundation, the institutions, organizations, non-governmental organizations and the persons that 

contributed to our Project, on behalf of ISKUR. I hope the work carried out here will serve a beneficial 

example for the similar works to be conducted in the future. 

L 

Nam›k ATA 

Acting Director General

FOREWORD 

As a preparation for the design of a proposal for EC support in 2006, ISKUR’s requested in 2005 

support from ETF for the implementation of a project focusing on active measures, like vocational 

guidance, counselling and training for a selected group of girls hosted by SHÇEK, the Sosyal Hizmetler 

and Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu (SHÇEK) 

The objective of the project were to build capacity of ISKUR staff in: 

• Enhancing ISKUR’s inter-institutional co-operation and policy making capacity; 

• Promoting targeted services to specific disadvantaged groups; 

• Facilitating and evaluating active labour market measures for special target groups. 

The ultimate objective of the project was to facilitate policy learning and transfer lessons learned 

from this pilot initiative to actions for other target groups and large scale programmes (like the one to 

be submitted to the EC in 2006). 

This project built on the experience gained through the 2004 ETF’s Konya project in analysing the 

demand of the labour market, and included the organisation of vocational guidance and training and it 

was carried in close consultation with social partners. 

This report is aimed at assessing the impact of the project from the point of view of the participants. 

LI 

European Training Foundation (ETF)

CONTENTS PAGE 

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................LIV 

FIRST CHAPTER....................................................................................................................................57 

PPoooorr cchhiillddrreenn,, oorrpphhaannaaggee kkiiddss,, ggiirrllss 

PPoooorr cchhiillddrreenn 

- First poverty… 

- Family relations tied on a thread 

-You were born poor, are you going to die poor? 

OOrrpphhaannaaggee kkiiddss 

- EEvveerryyoonnee ccoommeess ffrroomm tthheeiirr oowwnn ppaatthh…… 

• They came in all ages… 

• Reasons… 

• Mentors: teachers, head masters, prayer leaders, district officials … 

• There are those that know how they came and there are also does that do not … 

- The pain of leaving family: it takes time to get used to… 

- An orphan is “the state’s children”, whereas a family is “ a dream and a warm home” 

- Everyone’s family relations are their concern… 

- Replacing feelings: “not having anyone and belonging to no one” is replaced by “looking 

after each other”… 

- The relationship with society is full of ache, pain and limits … 

- Who is going to shoulder the weight of being an “orphanage kid”? 

- For girls, an alternative to an orphanage is, no school, early marriage, and lots of kids.. 

- The resources of the orphanage is a dream away from the family’s resources.… 

- The orphanage makes you a struggler, but doesn’t teach you the price of bread 

- Those that leave a mark, for better or worse: Employees of the orphanage 

GGiirrllss 

- Being a girl, and always being under control… 

- Violence, violence is everywhere… 

- The belief that “working empowers woman”” 

SECOND CHAPTER ..............................................................................................................................75 

EEmmppllooyymmeenntt:: HHooppeess,, EExxppeeccttaattiioonnss,, PPrroobblleemmss…… 

WWhhyy ddoo tthheeyy wwaanntt ttoo wwoorrkk?? 

- You work for yourself, for knowledge and for experience … 

- Those that wants to work for themselves and their families… 

- Those that wants to contribute to the State and the orphanage … 

LII

WWhheeyy aanndd hhooww ddoo tthheeyy wwaanntt ttoo wwoorrkk?? 

- The jobs they dream about are in the private sector … 

CCuurrrreenntt jjoobb eexxppeerriieenncceess,, aarree wweeiigghhtteedd ttoowwaarrddss tthhee iinnffoorrmmaall sseeccttoorr?? 

- Job sectors are varied… 

- TThheeyy hhaavvee uussuuaallllyy wwoorrkkeedd oouuttssiiddee tthhee nnoorrmmaall ssttaannddaarrddss …… 

• The only norm is that there no rules: Low and infrequent wages, no social security… 

• Sexual assault and being under the threat of sexual assault 

• Sexual assault in the work place is common and complaints are rare… 

• Sending sexual messages to the clients… 

- A good employer is someone that treats me nicely … 

WWhhaatt mmaakkeess tthheemm ddiissaaddvvaannttaaggeedd?? 

- They don’t use and don’t know about institutionalised job search channels … 

- Not obtaining jobs with security: “I have no backing” 

- To benefit from career consultancy services … 

- Having an advantage is significant in competition: “everybody is a high school graduate, 

everybody is …” 

- “We would have taken you in if you were a man.” 

- Once again an orphanage kid, once again prejudices, once again not belonging to, and being 

open to assault 

- Having no knowledge on working life and rights… 

THIRD CHAPTER ..................................................................................................................................87 

EExxppeeccttaattiioonnss ffrroomm tthhee PPrroojjeecctt,, GGaaiinnss ffrroomm tthhee PPrroojjeecctt 

They have met ‹fiKUR through this Project… 

How did they hear about the Project? 

We met in the regional meetings… 

Then, the long wait that breaks hope… 

Why did they participate? 

How they arrived 

How do you feel special? 

Accommodation rules 

“We understood each other; we were coming from the same place” 

And trainings… 

“All the young people should take the strengthening classes prior to starting their jobs” 

Now they are more ready for life… 

LIII

INTRODUCTION 

“…We don’t want them to know and they still have no idea. We stayed in an 

orphanage, that’s the way it was… Actually, I would have liked to have said so. I 

mean, nobody fully knows why, and who stays in orphanages, and for what reason 

they are staying there. Even in Erzincan people were asking weird questions like 

‘‘is that place private, are you paying for it’’. Or they would say ‘‘no, homeless people 

are staying there’’. To say… there it is: ‘‘you stayed in an orphanage, where did 

you stay?’’; ‘‘In Erzincan’’ ‘‘I stayed in an orphanage’’, I couldn’t say it, every time 

somebody asked me this question, my heart would start beating faster and I would 

feel boiling water running through my back, and I would loose track of things to 

say’’. It doesn’t make a difference for me. I would say it, but nobody really understands 

it and they start looking at me differently…’’ 

These are the words of one of our participants who explained the difficulties of growing up in an 

orphanage. We have conversed with 70 girls like her, during their education, on issues such as 

poverty, growing up in an orphanage, and the difficulties of being a girl in general and in the work place. 

With these disadvantages, we saw and heard about how life, which can already be challenging, can 

get even harder. Through this project, we wanted to share what we experienced with all the related 

parties. With his book, we tried to present what it is like for a poor girl raised in an orphanage goes 

through while trying to access the job market. Because, this book is trying to capture the solution to the 

following question: WWhhyy iiss tthheerree aa nneeeedd ttoo ffoorrmmuullaattee ddiiffffeerreenntt aapppprrooaacchheess ttoo ddiissaaddvvaannttaaggeedd ggrroouuppss?? 

The project had two main concepts: bbeeiinngg ddiissaaddvvaannttaaggeedd and eemmppllooyymmeenntt. 

Turkish Employment Organisation (‹fiKUR) via this project, is aiming to create equality of gender 

and support to the disadvantaged groups on the entrance to the job market have tried to increase the 

cooperation between governmental institutions and organisations, NGOs, social organisations with 

local employers, in addition to the development and creation of special services directed to identified 

disadvantaged groups, generation of active employment precautions for the target group; as well as to 

analyse these first trials and establish employment services that can also be used on other groups. This 

project is the result of a vision of two women that have proved that dreams can become a reality. They 

are Ayflen Karakulak from ‹fiKUR and S. Nazik Ifl›k from Non-Governmental Organisations. 

The Project starts with the human element, the target group and the technical team that implements 

the project. It is completed somehow with its rights and its wrongs. We have created this book to 

commemorate the stories told with the aim of the Project and to highlight that the Project has been 

established for these people only. From its commencement, this project has been run with the 

participations of ‹fiKUR, Ministry of Education, SHCEK and experts from NGOs. This book has also 

benefited from such support. The discussions that had taken place on by the working group, during the 

project’s analysis meetings have also shed a light to the preparation of this book. 

Our book aims to present snapshots from the background of the project’s duration and at least show 

a glimpse of how one can be affected by the stories of the participants. At the same time the significance 

levied on the Project by the participants, their expectations, hopes, worries, their viewpoints and 

approaches on their past and their existing social status as well as, how they are currently effected by it. 

LIV

Our method was through half constructed interview forms and face to face meetings. Although we 

have stayed true to the general frame of the topic, we have drifted slightly according to the stories voiced 

by each participant. The interview that have been taken as core in book, has been constructed by the 

following three female experts (‹lknur ÜSTÜN, Gül ERDOST ve S.Nazik IfiIK), in the participant’s hotel. 

During the project we thoroughly interviewed 70 girls aged between 17 to 29 from General 

directorate on Social Services and Child Protection (GDSSCP). Some are them are still residing in the 

GDSSCP. Interviews couldn’t be conducted with two of the participants that have left without 

completing their education.Our interview form had five main headings: personal information, 

information on the time spent in the orphanage, the Project period and concluding analysis. Therefore, 

we received information on themselves, their families, the life in the orphanage, life at work and the 

related information as well as, their relation to the project, their analysis, being a girl, an orphan, 

working and the what sort of a link they form between their experiences and being a girl. Although the 

life they lead has been hard to shoulder, the glimpse of hope they experienced via the project has been 

an exciting experience. 

All of the interviews have been conducted in Ankara during the academic year, consecutively 

during June and August 2005, where participants were divided into three groups. The first week of each 

participant in Ankara has been a left for a period of trust creating exercises where they spent time to 

meet, and trust us. Therefore, we the interviews you are about to read have been conducted in the 

second week of each participant, while they were in Ankara. 

Each conversation took between 40 minutes and 3 hours, average taking one to one and a half 

hours. On 47 of them we used sound recorders whereas as, on the remaining 23 we took notes. In the 

beginning, using voice recorders made some participants uncomfortable, however, as the sessions went 

on, we noticed that they began to feel more at ease. Although, two or three participant had stated that 

they couldn’t talk comfortably to recorders, they didn’t ask us to turn it off. We turned off the machines 

when they told us very discreet information that they didn’t want to be recorded. There were times when 

we had to make breaks between the conversation, where issues on their families and the time when they 

first arrived in the orphanage came up. It hasn’t been easy period for us as well, it still isn’t. 

We continuously asked the girls how they would feel about their names and pictures being printed 

in the book. Apart from one or two people, none of them were enthusiastic. All of them were 

immensely cautious due to their uneasy past experiences. Selflessly they stated that they “wouldn’t 

want to affect their brothers and sisters that have formed a life outside”. As we learned more about the 

exclusions that come with being an orphan, we increasingly agreed them. This is the reason why we 

haven’t provided the names of 70 girls. Although we know that as they read this book, they will find and 

identify themselves. 

Interviews were conducted one to one, in the time left from their trainings and at times that were 

appropriate to them, with prior appointments. Therefore, they were some times held at the early hours 

of the morning, and also on their break times, late at night. Participants have also explained a great deal 

with their body language as well as with their words. They have showed sadness, excitement, things that 

makes them happy, in addition to the aspects that they find it hard to share, and in some cases did not 

want to tell, were shown in their face gestures and hand movements. In this book, we could only reflect 

a friction of things we saw. 

LV

The breakdown of the interviews were a sensitive process, and took a long time. The participants 

had told us very discreet information, on the condition that we promised to keep them. Equally, we 

didn’t compromise them, during the examination of the recordings. We owe our deep gratitude to 

‹fiKUR during this process. We didn’t have many comments on the book as we wanted the majority to 

be the words of the participants. Therefore the book is called “PPaarrttiicciippaannttss aarree ssppeeaakkiinngg:: II’’mm ggooiinngg ttoo 

ddrreessss uupp mmyy mmuumm wwiitthh wwhhiittee ddrreesssseess””. The basic analysis of our examinations was founded, on the life 

in an orphanage, being a girl and working life. We focused on the majority rather than on individual 

situations. In the first section of the book we had to refer to “being poor, being an orphan, and being a 

girl”. This is due to the participant’s emphasis on disadvantages of poverty, immaturity, growing up in 

an orphanage, being a girl and the entangled issues of all kinds of social exclusions. In the second 

chapter we tried to show employment in terms of its disadvantages and the girl’s needs. The third, 

therefore the last section is devoted to the project’s journey. 

Unfortunately, in this book, we couldn’t reflect on the results of the employment aspect of the 

project. However, within the scope of the project we found out that after their training, the participants 

have entered civil servant exams and applied to various positions and had fully utilised their experiences 

and the things they have learned. We also couldn’t follow the working procedures of ‹fiKUR’s regional 

offices, to a great degree. Nevertheless, we are certain that pursuing and examining the experiences of 

regional offices and the participants would have been immensely enlightening and useful. 

As a result, our aim in this book is not to create any boundaries, but to show that obstacles can be 

tackled with extraordinary means. Through the eyes of the participants, we tried to present the limited 

amount of people that the project has touched and the value that the project gained through its 

participants. This is a very significant issue, as in some of the governmental projects, the participants 

become invisible. Actually, where there is a human aspect, our contact, our means, and ways should be 

examined and acknowledged so that it can shed a light to the similar studies. In this viewpoint we 

wanted to ooppeenn aa ppaatthh ooff eemmppllooyymmeenntt sseerrvviiccee tthhaatt eemmbbrraacceess aallll ppeeooppllee,, wwiitthhoouutt aannyy ddiissccrriimmiinnaattiioonn. We 

hope that we have made a contribution to this point, however small that may be. This book has also 

shown that, the participants required more psychological work then was previously foreseen, in 

addition to the value of the atmosphere and approach that was created in this project. 

This book has been prepared with the cooperation of two women. Within this phase we were 

supported by the people in the working group of this Project. But mostly from our participants, from 

Gül Erdost that had worked with us during the interviews and from Ayflen Karakulak whom has 

supported us through out the project. Our participants have understood both what we were trying to 

achieve and our respectful and honest approach. And believed that what we were trying to start would 

be beneficial not only to their generation but also the next. Özüm Dinçer, analysed out interview tapes 

with great speed and precision, added us in our contest against time. A method was not foreseen to lift 

the weight of the Project. Therefore, the ones that are the closest have witnessed this weight, meaning 

firstly our families, our partners and children and our close friends. We are grateful for these people. 

For reading and commenting on our written work we thank ‹. Tayfun Üstün for sharing the path the 

Project had followed we would like to take this opportunity to thank Serpil Sancar and Aksu Bora. 

LVI 

‹lknur ÜSTÜN - S.Nazik IfiIK 

December 2005, Ankara

CHAPTER ONE 

PPoooorr CChhiillddrreenn,, 

OOrrpphhaannaaggee KKiiddss,, 

GGiirrllss 

““……II ffeeeell rreeaallllyy ssaaffee hheerree.. WWee ddiiddnn’’tt hhaavvee aa hhoommee.. 

WWhheenn II wwaass 66 aanndd 77 II uusseedd ttoo ddrreessss uupp lliikkee aa bbooyy aanndd lliivvee nneexxtt ttoo wwaallllss.. SSoommeettiimmeess,, 

II wwaass ggooiinngg ttoo mmyy ffaammiillyy.. 

MMyy ddaadd wwaass ppaarraallyysseedd.. HHee ddiieedd aa yyeeaarr aaggoo.. MMyy mmootthheerr iiss rreettaarrddeedd.. II hhaavvee 33 bbrrootthheerrss aanndd 

33 ssiisstteerrss.. AAppaarrtt ffrroomm 33 ooff tthheemm aallll ooff tthhee ootthheerrss aarree ddiissaabblleedd.. II aapppplliieedd ttoo tthhee oorrpphhaannaaggee 

wwhheenn II wwaass 1133.. 

II lleeaarrnneedd aabboouutt iitt aass II wwaass ppaassssiinngg tthhrroouugghh tthhee mmaallee oorrpphhaannaaggee.. II wweenntt ttoo GGDDSSSSCCPP 

rreeggiioonnaall ooffffiiccee aanndd aapppplliieedd,, II ggoott iinn ttwwoo yyeeaarr llaatteerr,, II wwaass hhaappppyy wwhheenn II ggoott aacccceepptteedd.. AA ssaaffee 

ppllaaccee,, aa wwaarrmm hhoommee aanndd wwaarrmm ffoooodd mmaaddee mmee hhaappppyy.. II ssttaarrtteedd sscchhooooll wwhheenn II wwaass 1100 yyeeaarrss 

oolldd.. 

NNooww II aamm iinn 88 tthh ggrraaddee.. II ccaann nnoott tteellll yyoouu tthhee ppaaiinn II wweenntt tthhrroouugghh.. II aamm ggooiinngg ttoo ttaakkee iinn 

mmyy ffaammiillyy aanndd mmaakkee wwaarrmm ffoooodd.. 

EEssppeecciiaallllyy,, II aamm ggooiinngg ttoo ddrreessss uupp mmyy mmuumm wwiitthh wwhhiittee ddrreesssseess.. 

II aallwwaayyss ddrreeaamm ooff tthhiiss……””

58 

PPoooorr cchhiillddrreenn 

I Am Going To Dress Up My Mum With White Dresses 

Being a poor kid, an orphan and a girl disadvantaged them three times. Those that could remember 

the time when they first came to the orphanage, remember a hard and painful period. However, their 

sentences continues with; “thank heavens that I was given to an orphanage, or…” “I couldn’t learn to 

read”, or “I would be married now, and have kids of my own”, except for a few instances, the common 

point of all of the stories is poverty. The story of their lives begun with poverty. The main reason for 

them to “eenndd uupp iinn aann oorrpphhaannaaggee”” is being born into poor families. 

Although being a poor kid is a reality, there are also other realities. For instance, where they came 

from, there are also poor families that decide to keep their children. In their realities, there are aspects 

like “lack of education”, “dissolving social structure and value”, and “losing one of the parents”. On the 

majority of instances, what starts with divorce, or the loss of one of the parents, has lead to other 

divisions. Relationships within the family can be like a thin piece of thread, that is there one day and 

isn’t in the next. Therefore, our girls were poor, weren’t supported by their families and also lacked the 

cooperation that poor people formed. This has not just had a deep impact on their path to the 

orphanage, but also on their journey outside of the orphanage. 

-- FFiirrssttllyy ppoovveerrttyy…… 

“…the condition of our family wasn’t good, we didn’t even have a table. Within this group, I am in 

the worst conditions. Also, I am in the worst condition in the orphanage, all my friends know it…no 

matter how many houses I went to, the worst one was our one …” 

“…My dad had recently passed away, our financial situation wasn’t good. When he first died, you 

feel empty, your head isn’t where it should be. Also they thought about our future. My dad had just 

passed away, my mum was young, my sisters were very young, we were also young, I was going to third 

grade. 3 months later my uncle died. Therefore they had to give us away to home, and we stayed 5 and 

a half years there…” 

“… my brother, is staying Istanbul, in the Youth home . I have another sister, she is studying…in 

our house there are 5 to 6 people. Actually with my mum we are eight people, seven brothers and 

sisters and my mum, it makes eight. I have a brother. He is working in a company, he will be a host. I 

also have a sister. She was working in a textile company, but they wouldn’t pay her and so she left, and 

didn’t go any longer. She left this summer. I also have a brother. He is looking for work, but he can’t 

find any…The local council and neighbours are helping us out, that’s the way it is. And one of my 

brothers came home with financial and non financial aid. He drops by every three to four months…” 

“…while we were in the orphanage, my mother earned her living by looking after a paralysed 

woman, for a six months, a long time... and then she looked after the kid of a doctor. And then found 

a job in the textiles. She did a lot of jobs; washed dishes, stairs, looked after children, was a secretary… 

she did everything. But of course she is a widow …”


-- FFaammiillyy rreellaattiioonnss ttiieedd oonn aa tthhrreeaadd 

“… From my family, my uncle my granddad, we didn’t receive any support from anyone. I mean, 

up to now nobody supported us. Only our mother from our family supported us, she was the only one 

there…” 

“…I really wanted to go to university, but I didn’t have the resources. I mean, there was nobody to 

help me, back me…actually I don’t have anyone…In overseas, in Germany, I have lots of relatives, 

uncles and aunts… but nobody helps us. For instance every summer they came here, have their holiday 

and then they just leave. They stay with us, and then they leave. They never ask that these children are 

in an orphanage, what do they need, how does this poor woman look after seven kids?” 

“… My dad was a chauffeur, he knew lots of people. Our situation was good. And then he started 

feeling bad, his foot started hurting, he couldn’t get out of bed…he went to the hospital and stayed there 

for two months. The doctor said “take him away”. My uncle’s son was a doctor, and he helped us. But 

how helpful can relatives be? For instance, my uncle is doing well. His son is a doctor, other son a 

teacher and the other is a civil servant, but I have never even seen his house or his family. For instance, 

I have another uncle and he is map engineer. But what help is he to us? I thing people are living for their 

own benefit. We lost contact after my dad died. We didn’t go them as well…” 

“…due to financial difficulties, they couldn’t look after me… my family, my grandma didn’t help 

my mum in any way. Doesn’t share her wealth with us… here were quarrels everyday. I heard fights 

everyday since second grade. My fathers mum and my mother never got on. My mum didn’t get on with 

my aunts as well. They somehow always excluded her. According to my mum they were wrong and vice 

versa…because my dad was the eldest son, everyone gave importance to him and therefore to as us. I 

think they were really jealous…jealousy leads to numerous ugly things. I remember very clearly they 

said the following to my mother: “our ox has died, the partnership is finished, get out” There are seven 

kids…and then my mother gives… two of her kids to an orphanage…one year later, five of my 

brothers… she asks us whether we want to go…we are in the village… we have only one house…(she 

points out a place) there is space as large as this, five children are staying in this place. The toilet and 

bath is outside…” 

- YYoouu wweerree bboorrnn ppoooorr,, aarree yyoouu ggooiinngg ttoo ddiiee ppoooorr?? 

“…I had passed the exam of the military school. That gave me a lot of hope. Because I came in the 

first place. The major said that “we will definitely take you”…but it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen 

because of money...it happened the following way, I won the exam but lacked some of the written 

documentation, and I needed money for that, how can I say this identification material… I went to the 

local council (neighbourhood executive officer), they asked for 10 YTL and plus 2 YTL. I didn’t even 

had 0,50 YTL. I explained the situation said that I was coming from an orphanage, they didn’t even think 

about it. Just said that they were doing their job. On the other hand the current officer didn’t take any 

money, and just prepared the papers. Didn’t even ask ‘If I was staying in an orphanage, or what my story 

59

60 


was”. Even though I had explained the situation. She didn’t help me, she was a lady. I told the major 

the about the situation. I called him and said that I didn’t have the means, although I have won, “I need 

money to do it. But I can’t also take it from anyone”. There are five days left for my brother’s payday, 

and he can’t take a loan from anyone, especially in a city like Ankara, because we didn’t know anyone 

at the time. We really didn’t know anybody. My brother had a really tough time, it was very difficult to 

see him like that”. 

OOrrpphhaannaaggee kkiiddss 

- EEvveerryyoonnee ccoommeess ffrroomm tthheeiirr oowwnn ppaatthh…… 

Although the arrival stories of children in to the orphanage, as many common aspects, they differ 

in terms of their age, reasons, and the means of their entrance. Their information on that day and their 

thoughts are equally diverse, for instance the entrance age differs between 6 months to 16 years. Reasons 

vary between poverty, loss of a parent, divorce of parents, step mum-dad, compulsory migration, lack 

of education and financial aid. There can be various reasons for being sent to an orphanage; in addition 

the large flow of information experienced in small cities will also play a part. Most of the time, the 

magnitude of poverty, as well as the violence witnessed by a teacher, head of school, government 

officials or a religious head (imam), will lead to these children being taken into care. Sometimes the 

person that intervenes can be a relative, a neighbour, provincial district head or even a commanding 

officer. Some have also told about their dad sending them, or with the influence of relatives their mum 

letting allowing them go. Two of the young girls we talked have actually applied themselves. There are 

also those that do not remember how they came, those that were left playing in its garden and those that 

were explained the reasons why… 

• TThheeyy ccaammee iinn aallll aaggeess…… 

“We came when we were five months old… there are three of us. We were all left at the foot of a 

bridge.” 

“… I went when I was 15 years old. Firstly there was the excitement of leaving the environment in 

the village, but …” 

“I entered the orphanage when I was four. I have been here for 16 years… due to constant rows my 

mum and dad have split up. And because my mum couldn’t look after us any longer she gave us up to 

the orphanage.” 

“I was nine years old, my mum had died, and they gave us to the orphanage” 

• RReeaassoonnss…… 

“… According to my mum, when I was a baby, at two years of age…my dad passed away, as a result 

the governor of the provincial district told her that she couldn’t look after us anymore, and gave us to 

the orphanage”


“When I was around 12…we came to the orphanage. I started from the third grade. After my dad 

passed away, our family condition wasn’t good, so we were sent.” 

“My dad died… two years later due to financial difficulties my mum sent us. And we were in the 

village at the time,… we were already having difficulties, my grandma and aunties were causing 

problems for us…and we actually wanted our selves, we wanted to go to school and there was a 

possibility that my mother wouldn’t send us to school/ I mean, instead of living in a village…we went 

to the orphanage…” 

“When I was eight years old. I have been in an orphanage for 10 years…my dad was a drug addict. 

My mum and dad got separated and we were sent temporarily. And then we were left there. After my 

mum got remarried we stayed …” 

“My mum and dad divorced. My dad left, married someone else, left us, we were left with our mum. 

And when she couldn’t look after seven children, she gave us to the orphanage…I was attending 4th grade, was either 10 or 11 years old…my mother doesn’t have a job, she is a villager, uneducated/ our 

neighbours were helping out.” 

“As much as I have been told my mother is a schizophrenic. And my dad, how can I say this is, 

unknown. It also says so on my id card. And then the father leaves, and the mother has to take care. In 

reality, she has problems of her own. Then she leaves me when I was three months old…apparently she 

was always seeing me from the hospital, how can I say it, in small intervals… and she didn’t even have 

a house, she was coming from the hospital. Then, after a few months she stopped. And then she never 

came again. I don’t remember anything. That’s how it was, that’s how they told me.” 

• MMeennttoorrss:: tteeaacchheerrss,, hheeaadd mmaasstteerrss,, pprraayyeerr lleeaaddeerrss,, ddiissttrriicctt ooffffiicciiaallss …… 

“We are nine sisters and brothers. The reason we were in an orphanage is…I can say that we were 

good student in school. Of course, there was the influence of our step mum but we didn’t want to stay 

in the village and as we were successful students, the idea came from our head master. She was a woman, 

and when my mum died, the things we went through after she was gone…as we were living in a small 

village, she was like one of us and she was aware of everything, therefore she told my dad and they went 

to the regional office of the social services together. I can say that because of her we came to the 

orphanage (she laughs). Of course my step mother had an affect also. But I always thank God of course.” 

“we are five sisters. I entered the orphanage with the help of our prayer leader. Because my mum 

couldn’t give my dad a son, he ran away with another woman in a neighbouring village. They had forced 

him to marry my mum at the time. My mum didn’t want him as he didn’t have a job and was helped 

out by the village officer…” 

“…1992 earthquake had hit Erzincan. Our villages were evacuated … as the village officer was 

widely known, it was covered in the press. After he died (his dad), it was written that they had no one.” 

61

62 


• TThheerree aarree tthhoossee tthhaatt kknnooww hhooww tthheeyy ccaammee aanndd tthheerree aarree aallssoo ddooeess tthhaatt ddoo nnoott …… 

“I have been in the orphanage for 1,5 years. I was staying in a bed and breakfast place during 

boarding school. I can start like this. When we were very little we were staying in my grandma’s house. 

And then my mum left us. I entered exams… won and went to boarding school. I went but kept close 

contact with my two younger sisters. I didn’t see them for 4 to 5 years but always spoke to them. After 

I completed middle school, I started attending high school… within that two year period, I was with my 

dad but I didn’t stay with him. I told the local officials and said that my family didn’t allow me to go to 

school. My dad didn’t let us to go to school… We were having constant quarrels anyway. My dad’s 

mother didn’t want us… and my dad wasn’t working.” 

“…My mother needed to go to the hospital and my dad was in jail, so both of them were not with 

us. We were alone in the house. My aunt took my little sister, and looked after her. Our neighbours were 

helping us to get by. And then my dad told me that, he had written a letter from jail to take us to an 

orphanage. One day they came to our school, took me and my brother, and brought us to the 

orphanage.” 

“We are ten brothers and sisters, my mother passed away when giving birth to our last brother, she 

had something like cancer. We started having bad days, we didn’t have anyone, and we were left alone. 

My sister was 12 years old and she was looking after us, she was constantly taking care of us, she became 

our mother. My other sister didn’t go to school so she could look after our smaller brother and sisters. 

My brother who was 13 or 14 was also taking care of us. I mean, we weren’t seeing our father, we had 

no one, not anyone…and then we went to the orphanage…I was 9 or 10. My sisters and brothers also 

went.” 

“I opened my eyes inside the orphanage, I don’t know, I don’t remember… before I received my first 

sip of milk, I was there” 

“In 92’ (at 9 years old) after the Erzincan earthquake, I mean 1 month later, or maybe a day later 

we found ourselves in the orphanage. They told us that they were taking us for a trip. We really loved 

our dad, we had never got separated. They told us that they were taking us somewhere and just left us. 

That’s how it happened. We didn’t know where we had arrived at.” 

-TThhee ppaaiinn ooff lleeaavviinngg ffaammiillyy:: iitt ttaakkeess ttiimmee ttoo ggeett uusseedd ttoo…… 

During our talks, the participants had the hardest time while trying to describe the orientation 

period, of their first times in the orphanage. In the conversations, the same tears were cried, emotions 

were high and the interviews had to be repeatedly stopped … 

“…when we were first given, that place seemed unfamiliar. In the first nights we cried and felt bad 

a lot of the times, but then we got used to it. There was always longing and missing.” 

“…I cried a lot, I was constantly crying. I was missing my mum a lot. I only felt bad because of my 

mum. Then, after a while it went away.”


“at first I was crying. I was saying to myself that, “It is enough, I want to kill myself. I want to go 

home”. And also for the first time you experience what its like not to have a dad. On most instances 

your mum always supports you; your dad doesn’t do that most of the time. Your dad doesn’t do much; 

he watches from a distance and brings money to the house, leaves it and goes away. Doesn’t even show 

love; but in any case he is the dad, there is bond and love between him and his children. We felt bad 

and we cried; but very slowly we begun to get used to it, we learned to get along.” 

“…I felt that I was excluded, I was constantly crying, I can never forget my first day… I was always 

crying and I was walking around in the garden, teachers were coming up to me trying to make me feel 

better by saying stuff like:“ This is a better place, your mum will come”. As if I didn’t know…it didn’t 

last long. It didn’t last long. Then, I actually understood that the orphanage was better. I had arrived 

knowingly. Before we arrived, they had told us how it was and we could have a career, our situation 

would be better. Therefore, that time passed very quickly…I think the pain was due to leaving my 

family.” 

“…(on her dad) For instance, he cried non stop. I can never forget about that cry and for three days 

it just wouldn’t go away. We cried as well. Because he is bringing two of his daughters to Erzincan, and 

they have no idea about the place....I mean,it is when you ask me “where is Erzincan?” I have 

probably seen it on the map and can say that “it is next to Erzurum” that’s how much I know it.” 

- AAnn oorrpphhaann iiss ““aa ssttaattee’’ss cchhiilldd””,, wwhheerree aass aa ffaammiillyy iiss ““ aa ddrreeaamm aanndd aa wwaarrmm hhoommee”” 

The project’s participants, just like the way that they went to the orphanage, came from different 

regions. Although they are, and their reasons for arrival are different; they share poverty, and inability 

of their families to look after or protect between them. They explain the difference between them and 

the children in their villages as “we eat better food, have better clothes and can go to school”, “we are 

free”. They call themselves the ““ssttaattee’’ss cchhiillddrreenn””. However, they also talk about their worries after they 

became 18 and also talk about the problems of being the state’s child. Also there were some advantages 

of having a family. The children in school that were not from the orphanage were from a “home 

environment”. Apart from two girls all of the participants talked about their families or from some one 

in their family. “A family” was defined with all of the aspects that were lacking in the orphanage…in 

this description there was always mother, father, love, affection, attention and warmth present. 

However, the families that they talked about were lacking in all the qualities just described. 

“The best aspect is that I can live here, but its worst aspect that it doesn’t share anything with us.” 

“There are good and bad features of staying in an orphanage. It would be great if the teachers were 

patient, but…if they don’t understand you, is always harsh, and is pressurising, you have depression and 

look for love elsewhere, to fill the gap.” 

“The girls in the village envy me. I am free and have been to a lot of places. They really want to be 

like me. My mum trusts us. Or it wouldn’t be like this.” 

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“…They are with their families, for instance they go to visit them, they tell about the times they 

went to places with their dad. In the orphanage we just…our teachers in the orphanage didn’t pay us 

attention. We may have an advantage of eater better food and having nicer clothes but we lack a 

mother and also love.” 

“… Orphanage was actually better, I had friends.. it was good but…for instance those that come 

from a home environment, come up to us and ask whether we have a mum or dad, there is a division, 

we cant say anything that will top that, we are staying in an orphanage. In some way, I don’t know, you 

feel sad, you sometimes cry…” 

“We were getting along really well with our teachers. Although not as well as mum and dad but still 

very good; but I share with them things I wouldn’t have shared with my mum and dad.” 

- EEvveerryyoonnee’’ss ffaammiillyy rreellaattiioonnss aarree tthheeiirr ccoonncceerrnn…… 

Most of our participants continue their relationships with their mum, dad or sisters and brothers. 

The aspects of whether they are happy with their relationships and if they trust them varies greatly. 

Their stories also present the boundaries of family support they will receive in the future. 

“We are very close with my mum and sisters, that’s because we don’t have anyone…our grandpa 

has now returned back to the village and they want us to come too…; so we can look after them. My 

mum didn’t get married because of us, she helped us in every way, and we never needed a man.” 

“…It has always been that our mum wasn’t there a week and was always there the next.” 

“My dad is very dedicated to his children, he loves us and is a very emotional man…when we talk 

on the phone we know that…he is thinking of us, but he has never hugged us and…maybe it is because 

of where he comes from (eastern city), maybe it is in their culture…” 

“…My dad was always coming to see and to take us, my uncle was also coming. In the beginning 

he was coming every two days, then every Sunday. 

“I always kept contact with my mum. After I hit 16, I met my brother my twin, and my uncles. And 

then my aunt. I have recently met my dad. I am grown up now, and he will want me to look after him. 

I don’t want to, he can stay where he was all this time, he can even stay out on the streets.” 

“I have a good relationship with my brothers and sisters but they have their own life. Apart from 

one all them are married, we talk on the phone…they think that our mother takes care of us and also 

everyone has their own responsibilities. My step sister took care of us. My real sister is rich but she never 

calls us. Some fields were inherited from my dad, the case is still open, they are overseas and rich. They 

don’t care about me, they didn’t wanted to know me.” 

“…My brother came every month to see us, on his breaks, Friday, Saturday and Sunday… he even 

came on national holidays and took care of us.”


“I used to go on the weekends, on my time off…they used to come and pick us up if we called 

them.” 

“I used to go on summer holidays as my mum wanted it…I have left the orphanage for 1 year. I am 

staying with my mum and dad. I hate my dad...” 

“I call them maybe once a month and they call me 2 or 3 times a month. They don’t call very often 

but we have a pattern and we do talk. I also go every summer holiday, but didn’t this year on the 15 day 

break, I always go on national holidays.” 

“…I go every holiday. In the certification holidays, and on national holidays and stuff, they allow 

us to go. And we went. My mum used to come and pick me up. But after I got used to the orphanage, I 

didn’t want to leave my friends. But the orphanage forced us. That’s how we went.” 

“…I saw my dad for the first time in 5 to 6 months … I went so I could see him. So I had no idea 

when I went. He was talking so nicely…I spoke to him on the phone…I heard his voice for the first 

time. I was 24 years old; I heard his voice for the first time and saw him for the first time. I hadn’t even 

seen a picture of him…” 

“I have no family relations. They never came to the orphanage. My dad is dead, I don’t know him. 

I talk to my brother and sister on the phone. For 1 year my elder sister…has been a guest in the 

orphanage, my little sisters are also here. From 4 mums and 4 dads, we are 16 brother and sisters. 7 of 

them are real. I don’t know any of my other relatives.” 

“…my mum for instance, I go to her during my free time on weekdays and weekends. She 

sometimes says that “you” she says, “when” she says “are you going to grow up” “and look after me”. I 

laugh on the inside, but it also makes me angry that she doesn’t spend any effort…I mean she doesn’t 

even do her duties as a mum anyway. It is like I am the mum of my little sister. She is my little sister, 

I have to look after her.” 

“…my mum, my grandma, and my grandma’s relatives calls us even though they don’t like us, I 

mean they do it for their own interests…in case they have to depend on us when they are old. Because 

then we will be in a position to look after them…and also there is the issue of the heritance…my dad is 

dead, my grandpa is dead…they are using our stuff now, I think that’s why.” 

“…so our family used to call us and say “we are coming this day”, and then they would come over. 

Not very often thought. Maybe once of twice a year... I mean my step dad wouldn’t allow my real mum 

to visit us very often. He had cows. It was like “who will look after them?” 

“I started working in a pharmacy when I was 15. I had tried coming suicide. They gave me to a 

pharmacy. They said “here are the medicines”. Life can be like, if you put on this hair band, can start to 

get heavy (she shows the small hair band in her hands). As an orphanage kid, we still go through the 

problems of our families.” 

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- RReeppllaacciinngg ffeeeelliinnggss:: ““nnoott hhaavviinngg aannyyoonnee aanndd nnoott bbeelloonnggiinngg”” iiss rreeppllaacceedd bbyy ““llooookkiinngg aafftteerr eeaacchh 

ootthheerr””…… 

Whatever shape the family relations may take, orphanage kids experience a feeling of not having 

anyone and not belonging anywhere. Therefore, taking care of someone has been the significant force 

of getting over this feeling. 

“…we never separated, it was because we didn’t have anyone…we couldn’t get on with anyone so 

quickly anyway. Kids, when we first came…excluded us. We never separated. Only when we were going 

to sleep. We were waking up early anyway. We always hand around with three of us. After a while we 

were separated.” 

“…it is actually not belonging to anywhere, my dad didn’t care anyway, our family wasn’t 

interested about us, after mum’s death they weren’t interested in us any longer.” 

“…As orphanage kids, if they even disperse us in Istanbul, we can find each other. Sharing the same 

faith has enabled us to take care of each other. If one of us gets hurt, all of us would be on the look out. 

But we can also hurt each other too, for instance we beat up each other. Then no one will get involved. 

If someone outside will start a fight everyone will get involved.” 

- TThhee rreellaattiioonnsshhiipp wwiitthh ssoocciieettyy iiss ffuullll ooff aacchhee,, ppaaiinn aanndd lliimmiittss …… 

Those orphanage kids that don’t get along with their families, have also formed a similar 

relationship with the state. Their relationship with the society is more painful, the cut is deeper and is 

more rigid. The society which they will one day have to be a part of, hasn’t taken responsibility. Has 

excluded them and at best just did not wanted to know them... this is such an intimidating situation 

that, girls want to prolong the period when they have to join the society. Or they want to set certain 

boundaries when spending time with friends and also in terms of marriage, so each relationship will 

have certain limits. Although, they say that they are proved to be an orphanage kid, they say that they 

will tell people “after they know me”, by this sentence, they are giving us clues on their strategy to deal 

with the prejudices of society. In addition, being an orphanage kid, thus not being under anyone’s protection 

they argue, leaves them open for other dangers, and believe that this can therefore be seen as a 

way of protection. Sometimes, although they don’t see it as a problem for themselves, they prolong the 

period, so it wouldn’t affect their sisters and brothers that have a job or are married. It is equally 

important to think about their relationship with the society in terms of the problems with employability. 

“…people were excluding me a little bit. I mean, they would call me “orphanage kid” and stuff. I 

was always shy; withdrawn in primary school, reserved in high school, shy in middle school…they 

wanted to look down on me. I was very shy of people…I mean I couldn’t even blow my noise, I was that 

shy.” 

“People quickly act on their prejudices. Without knowing anything…therefore, my life philosophy 

is not to act on prejudices against people”


“Being an orphanage kid…have sometimes leads to people us looking at us in the wrong 

way…orphanage kids does this does that. They say bad things about us. For instance if I get close to 

someone, they wouldn’t want to marry me because I’m from an orphanage. This happened to me. He 

said that “you are an orphan no one can marry you…I can’t”. I asked why, and he said that his family 

wouldn’t allow it. That’s the worst thing…they exclude you…this is why my friendships had to end 

twice…” 

“…Nobody knows it. Because I know that most people won’t be able to understand the thing I tell 

them, I don’t tell them that I am from an orphanage. It’s not because I am ashamed of it, I am proud of 

it…they will judge before knowing me…they may have a different angle. But they know me, my 

personality, and also see that I don’t have bad habits… I don’t know…if someone has a boyfriend and 

is in the patisserie with them, I know its normal but, they would say that “look the girl from the 

orphanage is going around with boys”…that’s how they see us. We could never get passed 

that…therefore I am always cautious… actually boys used to approach us differently...” 

“…There were some problems with my fiancée and his parents, but at the end he made them accept 

it…staying in an orphanage did cause some problems. You might have heard about it, those staying in 

an orphanage can have a bad reputation… they think that we are all the same. So that was a problem. I 

am wondering if it will cause problems in the future as well.” 

-- WWhhoo iiss ggooiinngg ttoo sshhoouullddeerr tthhee wweeiigghhtt ooff bbeeiinngg aann ““oorrpphhaannaaggee kkiidd””?? 

“…my physics teacher, he did a lot for me, he says that “get over this psychology, you are outside 

of the orphanage now, I thought you were going to get a job, have a house, have a life”. I tell him that 

“we will never get over it, that’s how we came and that’s how we will go.” I will always have friends from 

the orphanage, I will never loose my contact with them, that’s how I think of it.” 

“…when I walk next to people they say: “look an orphanage kid!” It doesn’t say on our forehead so 

I don’t know how they can tell. That feeling really weighs me down..” 

“Always the same environment. And they all see me as an orphanage kid. And I always felt very 

uncomfortable of the situation. I could never break the cycle. I mean, I couldn’t get over my stuff, let 

alone trying to explain to them …” 

- FFoorr ggiirrllss,, aann aalltteerrnnaattiivvee ttoo aann oorrpphhaannaaggee iiss,, nnoo sscchhooooll,, eeaarrllyy mmaarrrriiaaggee,, aanndd lloottss ooff kkiiddss.... 

“If I had not been an orphanage kid, my mother would have had me married. Maybe to an 

uneducated man, that doesn’t have a job, and maybe I would have 10 kids when I’m 20. I don’t know 

maybe, we wouldn’t get along, violence might occur…I don’t even want to think about stuff like that. I 

would be uneducated, maybe, I would have even went to school, I wouldn’t know what relationships or 

education was. My children would have been in the same situation as well.” 

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“…I would be somewhere else now, next to our families, but I am grateful that I am in an 

orphanage. I would have any of these opportunities. I had the thing to attend school. My mother says 

that “if we hadn’t given you to the orphanage God knows what you would have been doing now, 

perhaps working in fields in the village. I think she is right...” 

“I went when I was 13 years old…if they hadn’t given me to the orphanage I might have married at 

that age. I would be in a very bad condition, would be illiterate.” 

“… I am always grateful, because if we were left in the village, we would have no idea of these 

resources. We would look at life at a different way. Wouldn’t have much information.” 

- TThhee rreessoouurrcceess ooff tthhee oorrpphhaannaaggee iiss aa ddrreeaamm aawwaayy ffrroomm tthhee ffaammiillyy’’ss rreessoouurrcceess..…… 

“So we are in an advantaged position when compared to most people. When we started school, our 

books, notebooks and forms were all ready, there were people without books. We were giving them to 

our friends, we…together, we used to share. We also had an allowance. There were many students 

coming from our village, but we were better off financially...it wasn’t much but on those days, a high 

school allowance was 20 million…it was good, it was sufficient…” 

“… We were 7 brothers and sisters and 4 of them came to the orphanage. The other ones were 

married at a young age by my dad so they didn’t benefit…but we really liked that place, but we really 

sincerely liked it. I mean, that the situation in a village is very different. We knew that we would 

develop ourselves and learn new stuff. Maybe we wouldn’t be a family, but we didn’t have that anyways. 

As we didn’t have a mum, we grew up a little differently. I mean that we had no money, we did have it 

in the orphanage. We couldn’t have gone to judo nor, didn’t know what a social life was, wouldn’t study, 

wouldn’t do any if that stuff. No one would place warm food on the table, we had to do that ourselves, 

and at that young age. We saw all of that and were comfortable …” 

“I attended 1-2-3 grades of high school while I was at the orphanage. We went with my sister. A 

year later my other sister also came. I am so happy to be attending high school…we gave our allowances 

to my mum. We also gave our internship pay to my mum.” 

“…And every time my mum came over she was broked. They give me money from the orphanage, 

for instance if I receive 20 million I give 15 to her. It was as if I was investing it. And also, when they 

were distributing butter, jam, I would collect them, and I would fill half a bag and take it home. …” 

“…when I wake up in the mornings, sometimes I used to run at least twice a week…as there is an 

exam in the physical education department I was trying to be in a better shape…because, the school is 

finished and we used to see that a little in school. I run for an hour in the mornings, swim, I come back 

take a shower, the breakfast is usually not ready at that hour, after breakfast I go out and I walk around, 

I am usually in the orphanage, we go swimming twice a week...”


- TThhee oorrpphhaannaaggee mmaakkeess yyoouu aa ssttrruugggglleerr,, bbuutt ddooeessnn’’tt tteeaacchh yyoouu tthhee pprriiccee ooff bbrreeaadd …… 

Instead of teaching them the means of survival, providing financial needs on a platter, leads ton 

difficulties being experienced after leaving. Girls that have participated in our Project have told us that 

although the orphanage life has taught them to “stand tall” and “learn to struggle”, it doesn’t teach on 

the everyday necessities such as paying a bill and price of bread. Therefore, after completing 18 years 

of age, it is seen as a nightmare that they are not ready for the life after the orphanage, both in terms of 

education and employment. The sentence “there is nowhere to go” explains both the nightmare that 

leaves them open for dangers and serious problems. The stories reveal that the standard applications 

differ between orphanages and in some places the social protection for girls take a more prolonged period. 

“What are we going to do when we leave the orphanage, we will be like fish out of water” 

“…I am scared of life. I have always stayed in the orphanage...how much is a kilo of tomatoes, how 

much is bread, I don’t even know that. Every thing was ready for us. It is even like if I have no money, 

I don’t even know where to apply...” 

“I wish that I had stayed there forever and never got out. Because it is very hard to deal with 

people. Someone 20 years old, I just didn’t know what I was supposed to do at all…I couldn’t do it alone. 

I stayed alone for 5 to 6 months; I even worked on a bus. People are always trying to take advantage of 

you, trying to get something out. Being sleazy. It is the same thing with my marriage, I have never been 

in a family situation, I don’t know how to cook. This is because I always had a ready plate in front of 

me…I can’t even wash up. They were never patient with me, especially my mother in law. She always 

excluded me. She said: “you don’t know how to cook, and you don’t cook, you can’t tidy up, you can’t 

bake” so this and that. And I could have learned those with time. And I actually did learn it, I can cook. 

What is there to do after you have the ingredients? I can simply open a cook book and will just do it. 

But my mother in law repeatedly excluded me. And when she did that my husband didn’t talk to them. 

I went through a lot of problems…” 

“…I am thankful for coming to the orphanage. I know how to survive. I also learned how to stand 

up on my own two feet. So, when the time comes I can protect myself. For instance the kids in the house 

aren’t really like that. Its not being aggressive, but always saying something to top up what was said. For 

instance when somebody makes a comment on me I can say that “No, it’s not like that, it’s like this”, so 

I can defend myself easily…I matured a lot at an early age. Like other children, I didn’t play ball, didn’t 

go to the park. I always feel very bad for that. I never had a childhood. That has been a deep hole inside. 

I am still sad about that” 

“… If they had given me an exact time, for instance like “you are leaving at this date, be prepared” 

I could have at least found out about what I could have done, and had did it. But it wasn’t like that. You 

are leaving after a week, 1 week later. You try to arrange everything, pack you luggage...” 

“They didn’t need to say something to me, I have filled the age criteria, I knew they would kick me 

out, so I went before they said anything, because that’s what they do to everyone ….” 

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“Once they are at the age of consent, they say “leave as soon as you can”. I had flunked the first year 

at school…they told me that “leave as soon as possible, why are you staying here, what is your reason, 

you flunked here”…me, as soon as my school finished, they told me to pack my bags, and leave the 

orphanage. And they also deleted my name from the registration, I couldn’t stay” 

“… Each orphanage is not he same. For instance…I have two sisters in the Girls Home. According 

to the family’s condition, they can stay there as long as they want. It’s not like that in my orphanage, 

when you hit the age of consent you have to leave…I saw that the girls in…are attending courses. They 

are also in the orphanage, although they are above the age of consent. But us…” 

- TThhoossee tthhaatt lleeaavvee aa mmaarrkk,, ffoorr bbeetttteerr oorr wwoorrssee:: EEmmppllooyyeeeess ooff tthhee oorrpphhaannaaggee 

Positive or adversary, the behaviour of employees in the orphanage always influences and affects 

the girls. During the interviews certain things were told about the employees. We know that in 

GDSSCP there are people that are working selflessly, and contribute to the development of the girls, aid 

them in the hard times, and present an “exemplary behaviour ” to the girls. However, as well as these 

people that girls look up to, there are also those that are violent, and turn the life of girls into a 

nightmare. 

“At first we had experts from the social services. I really had idolised with them. Their relationships 

and solutions with children had really affected me. I can’t get that out of my head, and that won’t 

change. I actually take you seriously because of them. I think to myself that social services people are 

really compassionate.” 

“There, “this girl is from an orphanage”. To be frank, these made us sad, but I am happy to be 

staying in an orphanage. It was good in everyway, even in terms of discipline…our head master was 

really qualified. In terms of character and also attentiveness…I really set her as an example for myself.” 

“We had a nurse in the orphanage; she was, had a job, a house, work, car and money. Also she 

didn’t have to look after anyone. Half of the orphanage envied her. She was a businesswoman. She had 

a tough personality.” 

“… while we were staying in the orphanage…our children developer…did something, because I 

hadn’t cleaned the oven very well, she made me lick the oven. But from the outside she looked really 

well, I don’t know…people can change. This has tached me to not trust anyone, I never trust anyone.” 

GGiirrllss 

They are young girls and young women, and instead of a couple of them, were all single. Of the ones 

that were married, two of them were pregnant, and one or two of them had no kids. Our participants 

argue that the unfairness they experienced had a little to do with being girls and a lot to do with being 

children from an orphanage and without family. However, they also talked about the “restrictions” of 

being a girl and being controlled by their families and relatives and the hardship of “not being able to


fit” everywhere. Also those that have drug addiction, and violence on the male side of their families, 

have stated that they are “happy to be a girl”. There were various stories of violence that they had 

witnessed and heard about. They linked the violence they had experienced to bad faith and bad people 

rather than to “being a girl”. We also heard stories of rape, but refrained from writing them here so that 

they would be kept a secret. Being sent to the orphanage was mostly followed with their mothers not 

having any other choice, and also related with “being a woman”. Being a girl was only seen to be good 

if you can work and earn your own living. 

- BBeeiinngg aa ggiirrll,, aanndd aallwwaayyss bbeeiinngg uunnddeerr ccoonnttrrooll…… 

“…I don’t know, men can fit in to any situation. If you look outside, even if they are divorced, it 

doesn’t affect them. But because we are girls it really does affects us. In conclusion we are branded as 

widows when we get a divorce …” 

“…We had talked about it in job exams. They would say stuff like: it should be someone we know, 

you should be far away, you are a girl, something could happen to you, we will watch over you. Far away 

wouldn’t be good…” 

“It is actually hard being a girl, anything could happen to you.” 

“My girlfriends would come over and say, “I saw you today. Why did you go to the patisserie 

together? Who was that? Why did you sit with him? He is no good!” and stuff like that... for instance 

in other times, they would actually do the same thing. But it would be a good situation if she is involved. 

I mean, why would it be bad, you are also in the same situation. I wouldn’t criticise anyone if I do the 

same thing myself. Some of my friend did. There were those that we had criticised but it would make 

no difference, they would carry on in the same manner. For instance there was one friend. We had 

talked a lot with her. Actually…we talked a lot and beat her up so much…it was wrong but it was 

because of her. We would say “don’t go”. She would give an adverse answer. She would say “what is it 

to you”. But we actually wanted what was best for her.” 

“… (She is talking about her stepmum) I have one friend. I was crossing the street, and I only trust 

her. My stepmum always asked me why was I was I going to the neighbour, why was I seeing my 

friends. So she is causing problems, between me and my husband. Constant problems. For instance, my 

husband would never hit me, he couldn’t. I remember him hitting me once, because of my step mum.” 

“Men have to earn a living, they have to provide food for the family. For instance, I am a woman, I 

didn’t go to school, didn’t have a school life, but by marrying can live off my husband. But if I was a 

man, I couldn’t have done that. I would have to think about my family, having a family, but you can’t 

do anything if you don’t have a job. But if you are a woman, you can’t find a job, can’t do anything, don’t 

have education, you have to deal with your husband and live off him.” 

- VViioolleennccee,, vviioolleennccee iiss eevveerryywwhheerree…… 

“I like children. I don’t know, maybe, when I was little nobody liked me. When we stayed in my 

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grandma’s house, everyone liked my cousins, and excluded us. They liked us, so that we could go to the 

market or wipe the floors. We were good when we were working, we were their “dear nieces”. But when 

we didn’t, they called us “your mum and dad’s daughter”, they would say “what else can you be 

anyway”. 

“There was constant fighting in the house. My dad would cause constant problems, the garbage 

would be taken out, he would cause problems, dishes would be washes, and he would shout, swear. All 

of the village would come over. It was a disgrace, you should have seen it, my life was a disgrace.” 

“… My brother would beat up my mum all the time, and buy drugs.” 

“I stayed at my uncles for 6 months. And then the sexual assault started. He had four wives. I ran 

away... I was staying in the …orphanage, I am still there. When I was 5 my elder sister, was kidnapped 

and raped, she is in an awful state at the moment.” 

“…Because of my stepdad we couldn’t have stayed in my house…I…because I was smaller than the 

rest I needed motherly love more than others, I would cry a lot, and ask for my mother. I went because 

I had no choice; my sisters didn’t want to go as well. Why would we want to go there, it was beatings 

everyday. But I still wanted to go, I wanted to see my mum. So we would go, and how can I put it, in 

summer holidays and in the 15 day holidays. And that would be a complete disaster…you know how 

step dads are...one of my elder sisters had always worked with her, there always beatings, she would beat 

up my mum all the times.” 

“…my sister … when she would come over, was completely distraught, they would beat me up all 

the time. He always finds faults with me, he would beat me up, it wouldn’t have happened if you had 

not accepted. He beat me up and even tried to choke me up.” 

“Our head teacher would beat children up with a plastic stick. And then what happened. We went 

to a journalist who was also from the same orphanage, and a woman’s society…we went to the head 

teacher. We said that if you do that we would go to the press, this was bad for him…as he would out of 

his job.” 

“My dad died of a heart attack when I was 2 years old. He was 81 years old. My mother was a very 

beautiful woman. She was his fourth wife, she was very young and had went for the money. My 

uncles…gave me to the orphanage… my mum didn’t want it. But they forced her. After 12 years of age 

my brother and I were given to an orphanage. I was beaten a lot, elder children would beat us up and 

take our money. Teachers would wash us with boiling water. My life passed with violence and beatings. 

I would bruise all the time. I would always defend myself, and as a result they excluded me, I would be 

punished and wouldn’t be sent to holiday…and then I became the student head of the orphanage. This 

developed my relationship with teachers and led me to respect them. I froze my duties as the head after 

I started my internship in the kindergarten. But after the new head started beating up children I 

reassumed my position.” 

“My life in the orphanage started with my dad giving me there at the age of 1…I was expelled from 

the occupational high school when I was at 3rd grade. This was due to helping a girl that was beaten by


the headmaster for running away from the orphanage. The head master had beaten her with a wood 

stick and locked her in a room full of mice. I broked the lock of the door. I was the student 

representative of the orphanage when I was 16 and 17 years old. I told the press about the situation. 

Without informing me they made my dad sign a piece of paper and expelled me from the orphanage.” 

“I mean, I was always looking after the young ones that were getting beaten a lot… I went through 

a lot at a young age ….” 

“At 5th grade our teacher was changed and a male teacher came. He was a very tough person. He 

executed a test of 100 questions and he took my paper. He didn’t take anyone else’s paper. Five of us 

were left in the class, he only took my paper. He then said “the time is out”. I went outside. The next 

day he was reading the results. I shouted at him and crossed his path. I told him: “you didn’t take their 

paper and you only took mine”. He slapped me right then and there. His fingerprint was still visible on 

my face. So they came from the orphanage to speak to him, and asked “why is this child’s face like this”. 

At the end of the seminar I received a special certificate from him… but I though that “he only gave me 

this because of the slap” 

“… They liked me. The head master liked me so they were jealous. Because they needed love as 

well they would beat me up when she wasn’t around, they would slap me,…” 

- TThhee bbeelliieeff tthhaatt ““wwoorrkkiinngg eemmppoowweerrss wwoommaann”” 

“… You see women working and spending their wages. It’s great they don’t need anyone. When I 

am married I would work so that I don’t have to bow down to my husband, he would bow down to me 

since I would have an income and I believe in myself.” 

“As long as you are old, believe in yourself and don’t get involved in bad stuff, nobody will harm 

you.” 

“I want a job, money and a happy home. I hate orphanages. When you are sick and there is a 

thunder…you get scared. There is no food or love when you are hungry. ..the teachers would wash us 

with boiling water, when they were mad at us. You can’t put anything in your mouth from morning to 

afternoon. You are a child you want to munch on things but it is not possible. Now at home, I am 

currently working, and can’t sit for 5 minutes. How can I finish the work of 16 people? I want have a 

job before I am married. Otherwise, I would end up like my mum. If she had a job, wouldn’t she take 

us to home? 

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74 

Grup çal›flmalar›... 

Group activities 


Kitap okuma ve tart›flma... 

Reading a book and discussing 

Sertifika töreninden... 

From the certificate ceremony

SECOND CHAPTER 

EEmmppllooyymmeenntt:: 

HHooppeess,, EExxppeeccttaattiioonnss,, PPrroobblleemmss…… 

““II tthhiinnkk tthhee mmoosstt iimmppoorrttaanntt tthhiinngg iiss tthhaatt ((wwhheenn wwoorrkkiinngg)),, yyoouu ccaann ssttaanndd oonn yyoouurr oowwnn ttwwoo ffeeeett,, 

aanndd yyoouu ssttaarrtt bbeelliieevviinngg yyoouurrsseellff.. YYeess,, yyoouu ssaayy ttoo yyoouurrsseellff tthhaatt yyoouu aarree aalloonnee iinn tthhiiss lliiffee aanndd tthhaatt’’ss 

wwhheerree iitt aallll aaccttuuaallllyy ssttaarrttss.. FFoorr iinnssttaannccee,, uunnttiill nnooww wwee aallll tthhoouugghhtt tthhaatt:: YYeess,, II aamm aalloonnee.. BBeeccaauussee II lliivvee 

iinn aann oorrpphhaannaaggee,, II ddoonn’’tt hhaavvee aannyy ssuuppppoorrtt,,……bbuutt aaccttuuaallllyy tthheerree wwaass aa hhuuggee ssuuppppoorrtt bbeehhiinndd uuss,, aa hhuuggee 

ccoouunnttrryy.. AAtt tthhee mmoommeenntt ((aafftteerr tthhee oorrpphhaannaaggee)) II aamm aalloonnee.. SSoo,, tthheerree iiss nnootthhiinngg II ccaann ddoo,, II hhaavvee ttoo jjuusstt 

wwoorrkk..””

76 

WWhhyy ddoo tthheeyy wwaanntt ttoo wwoorrkk?? 


Apart from the two girls we have spoken to all of the young girls want to work so they “are not 

dependent on someone else”. Their shoulders was carrying a life that was waiting to be saved. Firstly 

their own lives, then their mum’s, if they have children, their life and especially their younger sister’s 

and brother’s lives… this was not surprising as the reason behind being them being a “state’s child” was 

poverty and broken homes. Only two people talked about the significance of working for developing 

themselves. 

- YYoouu wwoorrkk ffoorr yyoouurrsseellff,, ffoorr kknnoowwlleeddggee aanndd ffoorr eexxppeerriieennccee …… 

“I need to work so that I can do the things that I want. I can feel confident. Or some things cannot 

be done through reading, you learn more with experiencing things. That’s why it is more important for 

me to live and work. So, it is for knowledge. Maybe for the future, when I might work in a ministry, so 

instead of saying “I wish I was working there” “I wish I was working that way” I choose to work now, 

even though I may not be happy. I want to have experience, or I want to say that: yes I know about those 

issues.” 

“… for me, working is knowledge. …I want to be a good person for myself and the society. Then I 

want to work hard and obtain lots of money…and then being able to spend that money on shopping….” 

- TThhoossee tthhaatt wwaanntt ttoo wwoorrkk ffoorr tthheemmsseellvveess aanndd tthheeiirr ffaammiilliieess…… 

“When I work, I will be financially independent. You will earn your own money. Is there anything 

more honourable than that? You wouldn’t have to ask for money from anyone, you can earn your own 

money, and spend it yourself.” 

“…When you work, you will have stuff like your freedom, you can do whatever you want. You will 

be comfortable and buy anything you want.” 

“I want to work and have my own home. I will do my best to make my family happy. I will also 

work to be protected from my dad.” 

“…For instance, when I work I won’t depend on anyone. Those people that didn’t look after me 

when I was young, are actually thinking about that now, and even though I am not out yet, they are 

beginning to get closer to me” 

“… It doesn’t matter any more. I will do everything, as long as I can to stand on my own two feet. 

I don’t want to depend on anyone.” 

“… I don’t care for a lot of money, I just want enough to heal my family, help them to forget their 

past and to get them a home, that’s all.” 

… (when I work) I can help them more. When I mean helping them, my little brother for 

instance…the youngest one…for instance, if we start working with my sister, his education would be 

up to us, that’s why I want to start as soon as possible.”


“I want to go to school and stand on my own two feet. I am sure that if my mum had a job we 

wouldn’t be in this orphanage and she wouldn’t have done her second marriage…when I start working 

I will bring my grandma next to me and first of all I will rent a house.” 

“… I will make hot meals and have my family move in with me. I will especially dress up my mum 

with white dresses.” 

“I will shape up my life when I start working. Then my little brother’s and sister’s lives…the only 

side I like is that I have little sisters and brothers that I love,…” 

“I don’t want to be dependent on my family. For instance, currently I have a mum, step children, 

step brother and we are in the same environment. I will help them, they should have to help me all the 

time. In conclusion they are my family.” 

“Actually I can say receiving a wage. You can live if you work, you can buy bread, for my daughter 

a good… for instance to my girl that is now 3 years of age, I could not yet bought anything.” 

“…I don’t want to leave my friends, that’s why…I need to work. I help status world even be 

adequate. As long as I can leave the orphanage and rent a house.” 

- TThhoossee tthhaatt wwaannttss ttoo ccoonnttrriibbuuttee ttoo tthhee SSttaattee aanndd tthhee oorrpphhaannaaggee …… 

“I actually want to be a police… “You know the state has done a lot for you, done this and that for 

you” and I say that “at least I want to do something as well”. 

“The future of Turkey…if it continues like this, isn’t so bright…when I work I really want to be 

useful for this country, I want to work for this country. But you can’t do that just being a civil servant; 

I want to study within this mentality and obtain a good position and develop my country.” 

“I was really happy with the Social Services. It was like my home, and I would very much like to 

work in that institution. I will deal with people and help them…This is what I wish for.” 

“… I will donate to the orphanage…how can I say it…what is mostly used in our orphanage 

is…toilet paper. We needed a lot…they give 1 roll for a month!...I had a lot of problems within that 

aspect. My friends also suffered a lot…I actually understood it later on…I will donate a lot of toilet paper 

to the orphanage.” 

WWhhyy aanndd hhooww ddoo tthheeyy wwaanntt ttoo wwoorrkk?? 

Most of our participants have identified how they want to work as a “desk job”. Some of them have 

described it as n active role, somewhere where they can help people and somewhere they feel useful. 

Some of the conversations have shown that their jobs are connected with the things and conditions that 

they wanted to change. But we never came across those that wanted to be employed in the industry or 

in a factory. This can be due to the lack of factories in the Anatolian region, and the girls having no 

knowledge of those. Those sectors that they have witnessed a rise in the status were usually from the 

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service sector. The dog eat dog attitude of the private sector and the large quotas in the governmental 

institutions have lead to the creation of false hopes in their minds. However, in another aspect they are 

noticing that they are receiving less job offers and fewer of them are entering governmental jobs, and on 

another level all the jobs they have prior to the “governmental” sector are seen as temporary, and are 

scared not to receive any job offers from the orphanage and were even rejecting social security payments 

of the places they are working in. 

- TThhee jjoobbss tthheeyy ddrreeaamm aabboouutt aarree iinn tthhee pprriivvaattee sseeccttoorr …… 

“I want nice and quiet desk job. On first leave I want to go to holiday by myself. I want to finish 

university and become a teacher. I want to be a teacher. Because I want to be with children and teach 

them things. Children will give back everything you taught them, what ever you teach will be given back 

to you, I saw this when I was looking after children, if you kiss them they will kiss you back, if you say 

nice things they will say nice things back.” 

“I have not yet worked and I am scared. I am really scared of making a mistake. I want to have a 

job where I can use a computer.” 

“I want to be a PR expert or a psychologist. I want a respected position. But…I don’t want to work 

in…, because there is a lot of gossip. I wan to earn my certificate and earn my living. That is my 

problem.” 

“To be a civil servant, especially in a kindergarten, with children, because my sister is in 

kindergarten and I miss her, also they are very significant to the children there. That’s why I want to 

work in a kindergarten.” 

“I want to work in the office of the major with a computer, and I want to support some people.” 

“I have the support of my teachers. In conclusion I am an orphanage child and they will 

definitely find me a job somewhere. But until they do...” 

“I don’t know, actually when I do work I want to be a civil servant.” 

“…We will see this year. We have lost hope from the government, we will go to university, like I 

said…they talk about the future and stuff, but it’s not like it used to be it is really hard now. In the past 

it was like, even if you didn’t study you would have got a job, it is not like that anymore. My friend is 

still waiting for a job and it has been for 3 or 4 years. I don’t want to be in their position. Frankly, I 

want to work.” 

CCuurrrreenntt jjoobb eexxppeerriieenncceess,, aarree wweeiigghhtteedd ttoowwaarrddss tthhee iinnffoorrmmaall sseeccttoorr?? 

Some of the girls have commenced their job experiences while still in the orphanage, whilst some 

have not held any jobs at all. Girls contributed in our Project are those that went to the orphanage from 

kindergarten stage, and have done their education at night times, actually have little job experience.


However, the first experiences can be those that have been directed from the orphanage to obtain their 

first daily allowances. Their current experiences cover a variety of fields. Although it is hard to find jobs 

that have social security, fixed contracts, structured and abide to certain rules. Meaning their 

experiences come mostly from the informal sector. A serious problem they had was receiving or 

threatening by sexual assault. Request of “sending sexual signals” to customers while working has been 

a degrading and a scary fact. Numerous stories of bad experiences have been distributed with an 

informal information web and have been accredited to all of the private sector…good experiences have 

usually risen from the good behaviour of the boss, showing trust and protection. However due to their 

small number, they are usually not heard of in the informal information web…the result is the hesitance 

and not wanting to work in the private sector. The “state’s children” , prefer to wait until they become 

“civil servants”. 

- JJoobb sseeccttoorrss aarree vvaarriieedd…… 

“First of all I sold bubblegum and chocolate on the streets, I painted shoes, collected paper off the 

garbage, cleaned up in the cement factory and worked in tiling dressed up like a boy.” 

“…After the orphanage some marketing jobs, …being a secretary in the local newspaper, estate 

agent, cashier in a supermarket, in a newspaper booth, at various times…service officer in a hotel.” 

“…I worked in children clothes.” 

“My first job was in a pharmacy.” 

“… I worked in textiles for 1 year, I operated the machinery.” 

“…I worked in furniture shop.” 

“It is not a type of PR but a secretary, general assistant of the boss…like the cutomer services of the 

company...” 

“… I am working in a membership centre.” 

“I worked part time while I was in the orphanage, in things like marketing. After school external 

implant technician, jewellery design, managing café and bars (she counts 4 to 5 brands), sales and 

marketing, also working in a DVD-VCD shop, a computer firm, (provides the name) also a music firm. 

“For the first time I was a coach, for a couple of times. While I was in the orphanage- a jewellery 

design. The orphanage had arranged the fairs and we would sell them. I was also a secretary of a 

lawyer…managed the tea room of the orphanage for 2 weeks…I was offered a job in the honey tasting 

business and thus worked there for 3 months…”. 

“Sales in the canteen…” 

“Sales rep in the shop and the supermarket.” 

“Secretary in an insurance firm.” 

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80 

“Answered phones in a cleaning company.” 

“Voluntary work in the regional Social services office.” 

“I collected hazelnuts for 2 months.” 

“I have a chess teacher in the holidays.” 

“I looked after three kids and an old person.” 

“… Service personnel in a bus firm.” 

“Professional folklore shows in hotels. 

“I specialised in hair implant business.” 

“I have been a tea person, and intern in textiles industry …” 

“Marketing in a local TV station…” 

- TThheeyy hhaavvee uussuuaallllyy wwoorrkkeedd oouuttssiiddee tthhee nnoorrmmaall ssttaannddaarrddss …… 


• The only norm is that there are no rules: Low and infrequent wages, no social security… 

“My reason to leave my job has been the low wage, hardship of working on the streets, and not 

frequently earning from sales and marketing. I also left another position as they didn’t pay for my social 

security payments.” 

“Private sector means no social securities pay. I never had any money to got to he hospital.” 

“I was a secretary in a computer shop. I had no social security and the wage was low.” 

“I had no social security.” 

“I left as I had no social security and had a small pay.” 

“…I worked for 1 year in textiles. I was a machinist… (she talks about social security). Actually 

they did offer social security. They said they would do stuff like security. We knew that they were all 

excuses, they were actually fooling people. And I didn’t want it as well. There is also the belief that “if 

you want security, you won’t get a job from the orphanage. So I didn’t get it done.” 

“… My boss was a woman. She was very aggressive. She would make me refold the dresses that I 

have folded.” 

“(talking about the lawyer that she had been a secretary to) he was very selfish, I was getting 20 

million a week, I stopped working when I started to pay out of my pocket, it wasn’t enough.” 

“… (on her colleague) he was affecting me on a very bad way, was actually shouting at me (on the 

computer) would say that “don’t let this girl write anything”, because I couldn’t write anything and 

would loose information. He would shout next to the customers, so I couldn’t continue, why would I 

go if I can’t be of use, I can’t sit like a bride and do nothing,…”


• Sexual assault and being under the threat of sexual assault 

• SSeexxuuaall aassssaauulltt iinn tthhee wwoorrkk ppllaaccee iiss ccoommmmoonn aanndd ccoommppllaaiinnttss aarree rraarree…… 

“I worked in a furniture shop in Ankara. My boss was a disgraceful man, was sleazy and aged 50 or 

60. His 18 year old son was also working with us. I worked for 1 month, I couldn’t do it so I left.” 

“All of the people in my workplace were men. They would talk about everything next to me. I 

couldn’t stand it any longer. They wouldn’t treat me like a person. They talked about very rude stuff. I 

complaints and although our boss talked to them, they kept on doing the same thing. I couldn’t stand 

it and left.” 

“(on a colleague) … he asked me questions like, “do you a boyfriend?” and stuff, I would say “No”, 

and he would ask me if I had “experienced stuff like that?”. I would say “No” … he would say “did you 

go through some stuff?” then I would say, “No, I haven’t”. Then he would say “but I did a lot when I 

was young”. This has been a lesson to me in that I don’t talk about some stuff. He was thinking of 

different things, but thankfully nothing happened between us.” 

“… It was an honest job, a good job, but then my bosses started causing problems, and I left.” 

“From all of my jobs I had leave due to sexual advances.” 

“I don’t trust the private sector at all. Wouldn’t there be sexual assault in the governmental sector? 

There will be but you can complain about it. It is easier to get a bad reputation in the private sector. I 

didn’t fill the job application form (in ‹fiKUR) for that reason.” 

“… The person next to you looks at you on a different manner. So you just can’t work comfortably 

… if I was a civil servant even if they did look at me in that way I can complain. But in the others if for 

instance your boss does that, who do you complain to? You just have to leave work...” 

• SSeennddiinngg sseexxuuaall mmeessssaaggeess ttoo tthhee cclliieennttss…… 

“My boss saw me as an object. He wanted the customers to come to the café by seeing me. The next 

day he said that “stand outside so that people will see you and come in”. That was very hard for me. I 

left that place…I didn’t fully receive my wage even.” 

“Now…I am working in a subscriber’s centre. My boyfriend’s friend recommended it. Therefore, 

there are no problems. But I do see problems for other girls in the centre. We are required to wear short 

skirts, have made up hair and to wear heavy make up. This is weird and hard for me to oblige to. They 

want me to look into the eyes of the customer’s when we are selling phones. This makes me feel bad as 

it is like I am seducing the customer. (She talks about a small city in the central Anatolian region), in 

… women cannot buy telephones for themselves, so they come with their husbands. Isn’t it strange to 

look into the eyes of the men, while their wives are next to them?” 

- AA ggoooodd eemmppllooyyeerr iiss ssoommeeoonnee wwhhoo ““ttrreeaattss mmee nniicceellyy””…… 

“(talking about being an orphanage kid) they knew it in my workplace … due to the social 

security. I wasn’t going to tell them but, when they offered to pay for my social security and I said “no”, 

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they said “explain”, “why don’t you want it”. So I explained it, but was taken nicely, very differently 

from the other places, they helped me all the time and said that “we are mum and dad”, “you are with 

us” and “please tell us if you need anything”…” 

“…He had actually given the shop to me for safekeeping, I was attending to everything, he was 

occupied with estate agency, so I was dealing with everything, he said that “you are the boss in this 

place”. Everything was under my control, we were getting along really well, I was doing everything, 

therefore, he was very happy.” 

“… My boss was really nice. Even if the wage isn’t good, it is not so important. I had a problem with 

my leg it was varicose veins. It required me to leave my job, as I couldn’t stand up for a long time. I 

could attend university while I was in the pharmacy. I saved up some money …” 

“… I wanted to be in the place of brother, mother and sister of the owners of the company I was 

working for. They were supportive, clever and just the way they should have been, they were thinking 

of me a lot. I didn’t take the duties of an entrance position. I was careful and didn’t usurp my position. 

Although, I hadn’t thought of working outside the public sector, they made me like the private sector.” 

“The fact that I was staying in an orphanage didn’t make a difference to people as I didn’t tell them 

at first. I would tell them after a while, after they got to know me. And this would not make a difference 

to them as they do not judge me afterwards. I get on well with my boss and colleagues. Actually, in the 

last hotel I had worked in, although I had worked there for 1 month I got an offer to be promoted over 

the supervisory position of someone that had worked there for 4 years. So they didn’t want me to leave. 

I had a good communication link with them”. 

WWhhaatt mmaakkeess tthheemm ddiissaaddvvaannttaaggeedd?? 

Our participants have certain disadvantages for the employment sector. They didn’t know, and 

hadn’t used institutional job search facilities. For instance they were familiarised with ‹fiKUR during this 

project. In addition, not just for job search but for career direction purposes, they were unaware of 

institutional services. None of them had received career tutoring in school. They also learned about 

‹fiKUR career consultancy during this project. Although some of them had attended, vocational schools, 

their talent the sector didn’t match and no current employment positions were available in their city 

within that industry. They learned about the competitiveness in the job industry, when they started their 

own job search. 

Although they saw being a girl as a significant disadvantage, they actually believed that bad 

behaviour and assaults in the work place arose from them being an orphanage child. For instance, a 

participant talked about the gender separation of jobs in her region. Ina addition to the stories on 

sexual assault there were those that were told when the sound recorder was turned off. It was those that 

were about the first blame always being on the girls from the orphanage, when something was going 

wrong.


During our talks we understood that the participants had no idea on defending their rights in the 

workplace. How to find a job, what aspects they should be careful, writing a CV of were not their strong 

points. They were not given any information in school. 

- TThheeyy ddoonn’’tt uussee aanndd ddoonn’’tt kknnooww aabboouutt iinnssttiittuuttiioonnaalliisseedd jjoobb sseeaarrcchh cchhaannnneellss …… 

“I had two friends from my block that were working…they said: “come with us if you want to 

work”. T here was a newly opened textiles company that was looking for staff, so they took me in, and 

said “we will give you a try”. 

“They sent me from the orphanage…” 

“I had and internship actually…” 

“I used to look in the newspaper and find some jobs there.” 

“My boyfriend suggested a very reliable friend of his.” 

“My friend said so, I saw them and we agreed.” 

- NNoott oobbttaaiinniinngg jjoobbss wwiitthh sseeccuurriittyy:: ““II hhaavvee nnoo bbaacckkiinngg”” 

“I won all of the exams, but lost all of the interviews. I don’t want to be a help. They don’t take me 

in when I say that. I don’t have backing anyway” 

“Our job papers arrive. But I don’t have hope for these papers, you may ask me “why”. I have been 

to 4 to 5 exams till now…we get high marks from them, but always fail the interviews.” 

- TToo bbeenneeffiitt ffrroomm ccaarreeeerr ccoonnssuullttaannccyy sseerrvviicceess …… 

“(a graduate of the trade high school, is explaining why she is not looking in the area that she 

specialised in) “a field like that…personally, I can not find a job in that area. Even if there is I have never 

heard about it” 

“…For instance, I had a talent for arts, I did paintings in middle school. I came on the second place 

in a contest…I wanted to enter art school. I wanted it and also had the talent, but unfortunately they 

killed the talent inside me…(she gives a name of one of her teachers in the orphanage) didn’t allow me 

to go there, she said : “that’s not good for you, you should go for trade”. I didn’t say anything, didn’t 

even utter a word. I went to the trade high school, but was unhappy …you can not tell your teachers 

how it is …” 

“We didn’t actually go there willingly. Everyone said “go there, go here” and we were in middle 

school and didn’t know anything. I don’t actually like children…I wanted to be a PE teacher, but didn’t 

make it. I was supposed to go last year but the orphanage didn’t allow it on the grounds that “we can 

not pay for two teachers”, there aren’t any problems in our section from the morning classes. They just 

excluded us by saying “we don’t pay”. We were left outside.” 

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“I was meant to go to art school, as I was very talented, especially in painting. They always say in 

the orphanage: “we will send the children to occupational school”. Our teacher was saying that there 

were a lot of boys there. But they don’t send girls to that place; boys are only sent to normal high 

schools.” 

“…I had never thought about doing child development. I mean, I have no idea of anything, in the 

orphanage they ask me “which school do you want to go to?, “you tell us and we will send you there”. 

They said that “you like children so I think you would make a good teacher in child development”. And 

I thought about it, so “is it like being a teacher in a kindergarden” they said “yes”. I thought about it a 

lot. But they also told me about the good sides of, being a teacher. I warmed up to, thinking I would be 

a teacher and stuff. That’s how I got in” 

“…if I had the opportunity to go the university, I would have liked to be a PE teacher. As, I was 

very interested in sports. But right now it doesn’t make a difference …” 

- HHaavviinngg aann aaddvvaannttaaggee iiss ssiiggnniiffiiccaanntt iinn ccoommppeettiittiioonn:: ““eevveerryybbooddyy iiss aa hhiigghh sscchhooooll ggrraadduuaattee,, 

eevveerryybbooddyy iiss ……”” 

“… Now there is some stress of getting a job, entering an exam, passing the exam, and what is going 

to happen in the interview…I think, it is easier to be a university student. Everyone is a high school 

graduate, everyone…that’s how it is…those that think like me, and those that have no common points 

with me, those that have finished high school on a bad average, are in the same position with me, we 

have no difference.” 

- ““WWee wwoouulldd hhaavvee ttaakkeenn yyoouu iinn iiff yyoouu wweerree aa mmaann..”” 

“they don’t take girls to restaurants. My brother worked in a restaurant, and then a café. I applied 

to the same position, but they didn’t take me. The reason given was that a woman can not work till late 

hours, couldn’t do some jobs or couldn’t carry a plae on a certain way. My brother did work. On that 

aspect men have a large advantage. No matter how many places I applied to, they all wanted men. They 

said: “we would have taken you in if you were a man.” 

“…I went to the fruit and vegetable shop…they sell vegetables and stuff. I thought women can work 

in this place. They said that if you were a man it would have been ok”.” 

“…there are not so many job opportunities in the South-East. You know girls stay in their houses, 

wait until they die. I think it is nicer for girls to have special jobs, as men can find a job everywhere, 

can go anywhere comfortably” 

- OOnnccee aaggaaiinn aann oorrpphhaannaaggee kkiidd,, oonnccee aaggaaiinn pprreejjuuddiicceess,, oonnccee aaggaaiinn nnoott bbeelloonnggiinngg,, aanndd bbeeiinngg ooppeenn 

ttoo aassssaauulltt 

“… ok it is nice in the orphanage but when we go outside they say that “these are staying in the


orphanage” they look down on us, or pity us, and label us… when we go outside in Erzincan “look these 

are from… orphanage, these are…”and they look at on a bad way and say “nothing will be of these 

girls”. That’s how they approach me and it is negative” 

“… because we are staying in the orphanage, even in the job environment…people suddenly start 

looking at us differently...” 

“(talking about the assault of her friend…) “you ask me whether I talked about my personal life and 

, that I stayed in an orphanage?” I didn’t tell them that I was staying in an orphanage.” 

“… They didn’t know I was from the orphanage. I didn’t tell them on purpose. I knew how they 

would have approached me. But, I wish I had. I went through that situation…I though they would be 

bad to me because I am from an orphanage” 

“The disadvantage of being a girl, and from the orphanage, is that that there is a prejudgement on 

being from an orphanage, there is everything. To be very frankly they think that “these girls have stayed 

in an orphanage, need money, as long as we give them money, we can buy everything, and buy their 

bodies.” 

“the ones that are staying in the orphanage, can be how can I say it…I mean that they can go in any 

direction…that’s how they look at us mostly…especially men. That’s why I didn’t say anything in the 

beginning. I just introduced my self, then told them, then it didn’t mean anything.” 

- HHaavviinngg nnoo kknnoowwlleeddggee oonn wwoorrkkiinngg lliiffee aanndd rriigghhttss…… 

“…They tell us that “you will be a civil servant” I didn’t even know what it was to be a civil servant, 

do they sit and write stuff? They just sit and deal with the files that arrive…on my mind…I don’t think 

they do much…they would actually say that thought.” 

“I understood the significance of your pronunciation, clothes and body language while working. I 

learned the importance of looking at the person while talking to them” 

“I didn’t have social security. I didn’t know about stuff like that. Now its like can I lead my own life 

and receive my pay cheque, its all ok” 

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Toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri... 

Gender roles in society 


Sosyal aktivitelerden... 

A view of social activities 

Veda yeme¤i... 

Farewell dinner

THIRD CHAPTER 

EExxppeeccttaattiioonnss ffrroomm tthhee PPrroojjeecctt,, 

GGaaiinnss ffrroomm tthhee PPrroojjeecctt 

““MMyy vviieeww oonn lliiffee aanndd tthhoouugghhttss oonn mmyy jjoobbss hhaavvee cchhaannggeedd.. II aamm mmoorree ddeetteerrmmiinneedd aanndd aammbbiittiioouuss.. 

TThhee ffuuttuurree ddooeessnn’’tt ffrriigghhtteenn mmee aannyy lloonnggeerr..”” 

““II lliikkeedd tthhee wwoorrkkiinnggss aass II ssaaww tthheemm.. II ddiiddnn’’tt ggeett bboorreedd,, aanndd ttrruusstteedd iitt mmoorree.. II wwaass aaggaaiinnsstt 

mmaarrrriiaaggee,, lliiffee sseeeemmeedd ppooiinnttlleessss aanndd wwaass ggeettttiinngg uusseedd ttoo llaazziinneessss.. II aamm ddiiffffeerreenntt nnooww.. 

GGeettttiinngg uusseedd ttoo bbuussiinneessss aattttiirree aanndd hhaavviinngg rreessppoonnssiibbiilliittyy ddooeessnn’’tt ssccaarree mmee..””

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TThheeyy hhaavvee mmeett ‹‹fifiKKUURR tthhrroouugghh tthhiiss PPrroojjeecctt…… 


‹fiKUR was introduced to the participant in this project. There weren’t any participants that had 

applied to ‹fiKUR prior to this project. The regional meetings were the first leg of the introduction. They 

made their registration to ‹fiKUR after this Project. 

“Have I actually heard of ‹fiKUR, but how? Those that are looking for a job, go and apply there, 

that’s how I heard of ‹fiKUR, so I had no link from jobs and stuff. As I didn’t work before” 

“I did hear about it before. I even didn’t take it seriously. I thought the day would definitely come 

and it will happen some way.” 

“… Then we received the invitation. Not to us, they had sent it to me. It was written “‹fiKUR” 

and stuff. That’s how I met ‹fiKUR first the first time, prior to that I hadn’t.” 

HHooww ddiidd tthheeyy hheeaarr aabboouutt tthhee PPrroojjeecctt?? 

There were two main channels that informed the participant of the Project: the first is the letter sent 

my ‹fiKUR, an invitation to the regional meetings, and the second has been informal web formed 

between friends. Due to the second source, those that couldn’t be reached by invites, relatives not being 

able to tell them and those that had no job invite from the state was easily reached. These webs 

constitute a very significance place in the hearts of the girls, it fills the compassion gaps, forms a safe 

environment and is therefore trusted. They also gain information that may be hard to come by. Our 

Project is an example of this situation, we have utilised these communication webs. But this web also 

weakens the connection with formal channels, and can lead to incomplete and exaggerated news, which 

can lead on the wrong direction and can also break the hopes of the people. 

“Firstly, I received the envelope. So… “we have this project. Do you want to participate? ”Tthere 

was a meeting time. I wanted to participate. At that moment I thought to myself that if I participate now, 

then I would get a job really quickly. I was very, very happy.” 

“I was very happy when the envelope arrived. I was working in a music shop.” 

“I was very happy to hear about the project. The letter arrived and they wanted me to attend the 

meeting.” 

“My brother told me about it. The letter had arrived in his house.” 

“When they first invited me I was at work. When they said you were being called by ‹fiKUR, I had 

just received my number and I thought my friends were joking with me” 

“… For the first time, I had no idea, my friends…told me about it. They said that “There is 

something like this, I have already sent it, and I said that “I wish” “if there was a possibility I would 

come too” then she said “let’s call them maybe you can come too” 

“They called me from the orphanage and said go to the meeting.”


WWee mmeett iinn tthhee rreeggiioonnaall mmeeeettiinnggss…… 

Although the invitation to take a part in the project had caused quite a stir, most were not fully 

trusting and thought “nothing will come out of this”. Most of our participants had a feeling of being 

abandoned, that was highlighted in the orphanage and if they didn’t study, they can not find a job and 

are therefore left outside, after reaching 18, and leaving the orphanage. Therefore they didn’t trust the 

meeting. With this feeling didn’t believe the things they ehard in the meeting. Afterwards the 

declaration of private sector possibilities have lead them to think they may be loosing their spots in the 

public sector. 

“…I was very excited. I didn’t believe in it, I went and went out. My morale was low, everyone was 

on a different state of mind. I turned from half the way. And thought “ so what there is a 50% chance” 

“While in the orphanage there was lots of people that said they would help out financially but 

didn’t return. Therefore I didn’t believe in it. I told about that in the first meeting.” 

“When I first heard about the project I wanted to attend the meeting. I liked Murat teacher a lot. 

He directed me in the right direction.” 

“In the first meeting there was Hürriyet from ‹fiKUR. We were 20 ladies. In my life, I lacked 

backing the most. This training would support me. I was therefore happy…” 

“I openly said that, “it probably wouldn’t happen”, “they are just making us to fill these forms as a 

formality”. So I didn’t think it would happen.” 

“My job was arranged by my teacher. My boss was very sleazy, and had not paid my social 

security for 5,5 months. He didn’t want me to attend the meeting. I went nevertheless. There were 

10-14 girls there. I was very surprised. My friends were overdressed and didn’t believe in the Project. I 

did take it seriously, I was very worried when they said two people would be chosen as a result of it…” 

“Murat came to the meeting. There were around 10-15 girls. On one way you are hopeful but I 

thought I couldn’t attend it. I though it was just like a job interview. I wanted to be called. I wanted to 

use this opportunity.” 

TThheenn,, tthhee lloonngg wwaaiitt tthhaatt bbrreeaakkss hhooppee…… 

The first thoughts of “nothing will come out of this” and, “the forms are filled out as a formality” 

signals the loss of hope. Therefore, they didn’t believe what was explained in the beginning sections of 

the Project. During the two month wait for the training, they have thought how right they had been, of 

course until they were invited … 

“I haven’t heard of ‹fiKUR before, only in here. Ayflen says that... “in Ankara there is a computer 

class or this and that class, do you want to go?”. And I said “Yes”. Then she gave us a form. And we 

filled it out… then they said that you will leave on Sunday 21st of June” we couldn’t go on that day. And 

then after it didn’t happen, I thought that it wouldn’t happen once again…I stopped dreaming about it. 

I didn’t forget about it , I just let it go. I thought that “it wouldn’t happen” as 1,5 months had passed. I 

could do …I was devastated.” 

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“When Ayflen teacher phoned me in the music store, 3 customers were waiting for me. Tit was the 

best thing in my life, as in my life there were only problems and fights existed..” 

“I took the Project seriously. I was so happy to receive the phone call.” 

“I wasn’t expecting them to call after the meeting. I was surprised to hear from them. The waiting 

period has been painful. Just when I was loosing hope I said:” it is a “serious task”” 

“ …It was the last day, the day I arrived. (on her friend) I said “it is your choice”, and “at least do 

something”. But she said that there was no time to loose and today was the last day. I then said “maybe 

it will happen one day”, the next day she said that “they called me and they are inviting me as well”. At 

that moment I was very happy, because I wanted it as well. “I was very happy to come. I just got on the 

bus and came over”” 

WWhhyy ddiidd tthheeyy ppaarrttiicciippaattee?? 

They wanted to attend this project due to different reasons. Some thanks to the hope they would 

get jobs at the end of it, some because they thought the training they received would be beneficial 

regardless of the outcome, and some to distance themselves from the worrying environment they were 

in and get a breath of fresh air... Most spoke of the positive effect the certificate would have on their 

chances of finding a job. They attributed much more merit than us to the certificate they would receive 

if they were successful in the exam after the training. The certificate was like a key: A document 

relating to quality would open the doors to a proper workplace. 

“I mean I only went in for computers. (Referring to the computer course). I followed job 

advertisements, went to so many job interviews but couldn’t get in. If they don’t ask for anything, they 

ask for a computers certificate. I said to myself, at least if I got a job in textiles or… etc, if I got a job in 

places like that, I would work myself too. I would pull myself together. There were times when I 

couldn’t even find the money to buy bread. I suffered so much, suffered so much.” 

“I am here to get my certificate and get a job.” 

“I am here to learn Computers”. 

“I was overjoyed. Because I don’t want to work in such awful jobs. I was so happy. If I can just 

participate in this, I’ll definitely get a job. That’s the way I channelled my thoughts, and directed myself 

towards it, to participate. I said to my mum, “I am so happy mum, I am going to attend”. 

“I was happy, Because at least I could gather my thoughts, and distance myself from the problems 

at home” 

“So, you see, I really wanted to go. You see, I was so happy. So, I would be going to Ankara. And 

it had everything on the form: “Choose two professions you would like. Indicate your favourite with 

numbers. First, I wanted beauty specialist, a lot. Second, Computers. Everyone was like this, they either 

picked their own course or computers”.


“This was my only consolation. If it didn’t happen, I would be going back. I wasn’t from Ankara but 

I got picked. It was a huge chance. I wanted the course for the certificate most of all” 

“…At the end of it is a certificate too. So, you network, give job security, and inform us on subjects 

we have no knowledge of.” 

“…During the meeting, I got this good opportunity, and I thought to myself, I should take 

advantage of it.” 

“My sole reason for coming here was, the woman at my workplace knew everything but never let 

me touch the computer. When I returned to the workplace, I would say “I know Computers”. I 

wouldn’t feel dominated by her showings of superiority. “This is a chance for me”, I said to myself.” 

“I am here to develop myself, to learn my rights and never be dominated.” 

“I am here to get a good education and gain self-respect.” 

HHooww tthheeyy aarrrriivveedd 

They hit the road with many questions on their mind, many worries in their hearts and doubts. 

There were people who borrowed the money for the trip. To be frank, if their expenses during the 

project were not compensated, they would not have been able to come. The came with trepidation, their 

trip passed filled with thoughts of what they might find ahead. People who were making their first 

intercity journey, people who didn’t leave the bus when it stopped for fear of getting lost or something 

happening to them… People who did not move from where they got off the bus in Ankara until they 

were greeted 

“I left their … orphanage in 2003. I was on a picnic. When I got home, I opened the letter my 

neighbour received, and was delighted. I became anxious too, how would I get to Ankara? I was glad 

when I learnt we had 3 friends at the bus station.” 

“…I had financial difficulties. They sent me in a hurry anyway, no money. I worked on it and came 

back.” … “They pay for everything anyway”, I said.” 

“ I was scared of the illicit issues. The doors, our safety overnight is important, you know. My 

grandfathers were anxious. “Can you do it?” they said. “I am now the man of the house, I can go 

anywhere.” I said. My mum will trust me, she won’t let them talk. If they had protected before, they 

would be talking now.” 

“As I was working and living with my mum I had think about, financial issues. I knew I could have 

received the tickets from the fund. My mum got a loan and I was able to come.” 

“When we got on the bus we were scared and excited with (tells the names of one of her friends). 

We were so happy to see the teachers. (She is talking about Ayflen KARAKULAK that welcomed the 

participants from the bus.)” 

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“When I was in the car, while coming here, I hadn’t though of people in that way, people are very 

nice very warm. I wanted it to continue this was forever.” 

“In the hotel I felt safe, just like the way I felt in the orphanage… I was worried in Ankara. But I 

learned that if you have money then you wouldn’t have problems. It would have scared me to be in 

Ankara without any other girls from the orphanage.” 

“We arrived with 6 people. We were all friends. If I had came alone there would have been a time 

to think. I didn’t get excited. If there was a problem I would call GDSSCP, I will find out the address of 

the place I was supposed to stay and find it. 

HHooww ddoo yyoouu ffeeeell ssppeecciiaall?? 

All of them told as they eased their worries after being welcomed by the warm behaviour of the 

Project representatives. “Feeling special” actually starts in this point. They all had a very good 

impression of the behaviour of the Project representatives from the start to the finish of the Project. 

Almost all have stated that they felt “special and significant for the first time” “have realised that they 

were valuable” “were respected”, they have made these remarks about a number of times. Their 

happiness was derived because of these factors. 

“Ayflen teacher’s warmth, showed us that they were taking us seriously and that we were being 

valued.” 

“The only group that were treating us like that because we were who we were (on the Project 

group), therefore I would like to thank ‹fiKUR” 

AAccccoommmmooddaattiioonn rruulleess 

The condition of staying with one other person in a room had surprised and also made the 

participants happy, in addition to the hotel personnel’s professionalism and respectful behaviour. 

“I was expecting a worse place, I was in a luxurious place. This place is very luxurious for me. We 

have everything, a tv, computer, food…no carpets, boarding school, I used to wait 2 weeks for a bath. 

There is warm water everyday. It is rude to complain when we don’t sweat for anything and do not have 

to make an effort.” 

“…when the hotel said “please wait the room will be cleaned” I was very excited as they showed 

they valued us.” 

“how can I put it I never though this place would be like this, we were going to stay in a hotel and 

stuff. On the normal places we go to they are not hotels but are how can I put it…I thought we would 

stay in a place like an orphanage. Because in everywhere we go, we stay in a place like an orphanage…I 

didn’t have large expectations of this place. And that was good.”


“… I didn’t know it would be like this. Everything is very nice and disciplined, everything has been 

though about and considered…they thought about everything to make us comfortable. I want tot hank 

you for that. And I am saying this with all my heart.” 

““WWee uunnddeerrssttoooodd eeaacchh ootthheerr;; wwee wweerree ccoommiinngg ffrroomm tthhee ssaammee ppllaaccee”” 

The first days of the program were cheerful but cautious. They didn’t want hotel personnel and 

those people that they would meet in the social activities to know that they were coming from the 

orphanage. They were happy when we asked their permission for photos and videos. They were afraid 

to be recognised in the media by the people they know and by their relatives. We have actually seen the 

impeccable and hurtful behaviour of media that did not care about the value of human life and 

emotions, in the first certificate celebration. 

The education period lead to new friendships. 

“I thought that coming from different orphanages would lead to formation of different groups and 

that there would be a cold atmosphere. But everyone took care of each other. We understood each 

other, as we had shared the same experiences and we were all coming from the same place.” 

“On the first day somebody had said that, “maybe you will have nice friendships”, and stuff...this 

was returned back to me. That to have friends we would have to spend more time and share lots of 

things, and we actually didn’t know anyone. Maybe we could have been good friends. Just “friends” 

perhaps…maybe when we meet them a warmer atmosphere can be achieved. But to be “close friends”, 

that is hard to establish…I just couldn’t say out loud these words they were all just stuffed in my mouth. 

Now we have met the girls and everything is great. My thoughts are slowly changing. I am grateful that 

I haven’t said those words then, maybe I could have hurt my new friends. It is just as well I dint say 

those words.” 

AAnndd ttrraaiinniinnggss…… 

The program they had participated was made up of, occupational trainings, strengthening trainings 

and social activities. They said a lot about the trainings and have written down a lot to the assessment 

forms. To some what they learned was good whereas some found their trainer’s to be nice. Some have 

stated that the training was tiring whereas the others have stated that it had changed their lives. They 

were very pleased with the trainers. Here are a few examples.: 

“I think the trainings are very, very good…I wasn’t expecting these additional lessons, I just it 

would be computers. Really, I think it is very, very good, I mean, for them to think like this…who have 

thought about it, and how? I wouldn’t have been able to think of these. It is great that they have thought 

of these.” 

“The way I talk and my gestures have changed, I will have a certificate, (on her family) wherever I 

will find a job, we will go there. I think 90% of the places I apply to will accept me.” 

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“The first was very important for me. I saw that I didn’t know anything. Although I have been a lot, 

I didn’t know anything, I learned about, what I did in the past, what I am doing now, in what type of a 

job I should have and my rights. If the employer want respect my rights, I know what I should do.” 

“…I completed all of my shortcomings here, I think. I learned how to talk to someone my age and 

my elders, I learned to be scared, I knew a little before, I was scared that people would react badly.” 

“(She is forming a link between the trainings and Turkey) … I think it will be better for women as 

at least 23 more girls are looking towards the future. They will show themselves in the equal position 

of maybe on a better position than man. Those that participated in this course are aware of that now, at 

least are getting to understand it better.” 

““AAllll tthhee yyoouunngg ppeeooppllee sshhoouulldd ttaakkee tthhee ssttrreennggtthheenniinngg ccllaasssseess pprriioorr ttoo ssttaarrttiinngg tthheeiirr jjoobbss”” 

Within this Project the strengthening trainings were directed at girls that have been grown up in 

orphanages or inexperienced young girls or factory workers, to help them to deal with problems that 

may arise and to learn about different institutions and companies. The interviews have shown that, these 

trainings have really had a strengthening effect. For instance, nearly all of them were happy with the 

civil servant exam that they had taken, and linked their success to this project. 

“The Project is so perfect…you said that “we will do it, it will happen”. That was good for me. I 

had no fears of worries. I hope to get a certificate from the course and… go to university… I decided to 

go back to school. I feel more confident now. I will have a certificate. My exam went well. Even though 

I was scared. I am fine now.” 

“I though the strengthening classes would be different and actually it was something completely 

different. For instance, I was scared of marriage, I was scared of communicating, I feel developed now. 

I know how to act on a better level. I know what I have to do when I start my job.” 

“Young people should definitely have this training before starting work, because all of them were 

lessons that are necessary.” 

“We received a lot of information on numerous topics by visiting various institutions. All of them 

were aspects that are significant for us. We had the opportunity to witness how people are working in 

a hard manner, and even though we didn’t work ourselves we came close to it.” 

“For instance I had decided to divorce with my husband. I had given a consent paper to my sister…I 

told my sister “how can I afford this, how can I find a lawyer” the bar! The teacher said that “those that 

are in financial difficulty, can ask for legal advice from us. You can receive advice from the Bar. You can 

go to Women’s associations” and stuff. We have learned a lot about the law. 

“The education is really good and qualified. Especially the strengthening class. We have learned a 

lot. I was telling my fiancée the last day, I was saying “I”, “have learned about my rights”, “I am not as 

easy as before”, he told me why I had gone to that place, you talk more (she laughs). So I learned a lot. 

None of us knew that much. Whoever says that they did is lying. The stuff we knew wasn’t based on 

anything.”


“Knowing you legal rights before starting to work, how to act in the workplace are very important. 

It is also important for me that women know their rights.” 

“I learned not be wait empty handed in the workplace, not to allow people to walk over me.” 

“... As I told you before, even if I did defend myself I didn’t know where to complain to. But now, 

if somebody will do something, I know I can go to the police…I used to be really scared in the past.” 

NNooww tthheeyy aarree mmoorree rreeaaddyy ffoorr lliiffee…… 

The program has positively affected them. They were very influenced by the Project Working 

Group, they have formed trustful relationships and has seen them as role models. Their last assessments 

were very positive, and they felt more ready for life. Two things were certain, they were confident and 

would be responsive to the invitations that would come outside of the GDSSCP. Most have said that they 

were interested in the job offers from the private sector. After a while those that found a job in the 

private sector agreed with this point. 

“Actually, at first I didn’t want to come, just in case I wouldn’t receive a certificate. But I am glad I 

came. I learned a lot from the girls and the teachers.” 

“At the first glance, I was a very shy girl before I came to this place. I got over that now. I used to 

get excited a lot. For instance, in the occupational course we make a speech. I couldn’t do that, but I 

can now. I got over that uneasiness. So I learned a lot here.” 

“I was scared of meeting tough people here. I was very surprised to meet people like my mum, when 

I first met them it was very weird to me. Then I got used to it. I was worried about succeeding. Getting 

a job, my big dream, can now come true.” 

“…After the training I started talking nicer, and my knowledge increased. There are a lot of good 

points and aren’t any bad points…I believe that my relationship with people will be better. I learned a 

lot about body language, although I knew a little I didn’t know this much. I know what people are 

thinking about me, I know about women’s rights, we stressed a lot on the topic, it was the right thing 

to do…after the interviews when forming a dialogue with people, I believe I can be a better teacher to 

my students.” 

“I have positively influenced. I will put the information to use on topics like women’s rights, the 

rights that I should protect, reproductive health and things on work life. I really got used to this place. 

The program was really good, but I wish that there were more of courses on resolving conflict. I learned 

how to act in the society. And also rules to follow in meetings, and how to fill free time. I wan to be like 

our social services expert Ahmet teacher. I really like his ideas and attitude. But now I do think that I 

can be like him” 

“…I attended this Project while working as a shop assistant. I passed the Ministry of Education 

exam, I will be a civil servant, I have saved my life” 

95

Anneme Beyaz Elbiseler Giydireceğim - Türkiye İş Kurumu

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