by MandoNIC | Feb 18, 2020 | Guestbook
UmAy is a house full with delightful feelings, I couldn’t even dare to imagine its existence for a long time. If I hadn’t actually spent time there I would have thought it is just utopia. All the things that I thought were devalued in the world such as art,...
by MandoNIC | Feb 17, 2020 | Guestbook
In researching the author of the book Syrian Women Refugees 2019, Ozlem Ezer, also the creator of UmAy home and work space, I was very interested in interviewing her in a more formal setting, beyond our conversations over breakfasts and cups of coffee. Ozlem describes...
by MandoNIC | Jan 24, 2020 | Events
Our energetic volunteer from Oregon spent three wonderful, creative, fun, and productive weeks with us, helping us/UmAy around with everything, including preparing and running workshops with Sevil for the local school students. In total 95 students, 7 classes had...
by MandoNIC | Jan 14, 2020 | Events
Ozlem attended the welcoming reception and the Q&A at the Swedish Research Institute of Istanbul: “Translation of words, transfer of culture,” a lively and moving discussion on collective voices, displacement, and nostalgia. Namdar Nasser (writer, poet, and...
by MandoNIC | Jan 14, 2020 | Events
Elif finished Kıvılcımlar during her UmAy stay and generously presented it with a good introduction in English so that Adrienne too was informed about their 8-month-long leadership program for female university students in Izmir, Turkey. Elif mentioned the highlights...
by MandoNIC | Jan 13, 2020 | Events
This training is short but impactful in the way that we will pass it on to others, especially to the local parents through the school activities (see the workshop report’s conclusion). Sevil has been practicing chemical-free cleaning already for years, and is in...
by MandoNIC | Jan 12, 2020 | Events
We watched Anthropocene: The Human Epoch – How Humans Have Impacted the Planet (2019) and had a discussion afterwards. This award-winning documentary by Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky chronicles some devastating environmental...
by MandoNIC | Jan 11, 2020 | Events
A lively gathering of women at UmAy: Elif, Şule, Adrienne, Sevil, Özlem. After introductions, house tour, and Turkish coffee chat, we had a yoga session upstairs. It was a great opportunity to check the space use and talk about it afterwards. Şule is not only an...
by MandoNIC | Jan 7, 2020 | Events
07 January 2020: Ozlem’s attendance to the book launch Kıvılcımlar (Sparks) in Istanbul. The book is about selected young Turkish women’s stories of success in education through Degisim Liderleri Dernegi (Transformation Leaders Association) which provides...
by MandoNIC | Nov 28, 2019 | Events
Sevil learned that she was the first person in the village who visited the center, and offered her time and labor as a volunteer. This private center hosts 45 students some of whom are boarding students. Sevil hopes to keep in touch and observe their activities,...
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